Although a generator is a big investment, I wanted peace of mind
Last spring, right as the weather warmed up, we got hit by a big storm. The increase in temperature caused rapid snowmelt. There were also torrential downpours and high winds that knocked down branches and took out power lines. There was widespread flooding, and we were without electricity for four days. With no power, the sump pump failed to start up and our basement filled with water. We couldn’t take a shower, flush the toilet or do laundry. We couldn’t run the coffee maker, microwave or dishwasher. Food in the refrigerator and freezer spoiled, Going without air conditioning was very unpleasant. The house quickly became overheated and uncomfortable. It was impossible to get a good night’s sleep. Because of the rain, we couldn’t even open the windows. I had concerns with mold and mildew growth. While no air conditioner was aggravating, it wasn’t as problematic as a power outage in the winter would be. When the temperature drops below freezing, there’s the risk of the water pipes freezing. We could be forced to brave icy roads and snowy conditions to stay at a hotel. There’s the potential of safety risks and major damage. I decided to invest into a permanently standby generator. Although a generator is a big investment, I wanted peace of mind. If the electricity goes out, the generator will automatically start up within minutes and power all of our appliances and systems, including the sump pump, furnace and air conditioner. I don’t even need to be on the premises, and because the generator runs on natural gas, it will operate for as long as necessary.