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How to Choose a Whole-House Generator

February 13, 2023

whole house generator installed outside the house

See if any of this sounds familiar: You live in Tornado Alley and have lost power more times than you can remember. Or your area gets hit with nasty snow and ice storms that snap the electric lines. Maybe you live in a flood zone that takes out the utility poles. If any of that rings a bell, you need a whole-house generator from Tri-State Water, Power & Air, and you need one soon—before the next natural disaster hits.

What Is a Whole House Standby Generator?

Your car has a battery, your phone has a battery, and your remote control has a battery. A Tri-State standby generator is basically a battery for your house. It’s designed to kick on when it detects a disruption in electricity coming into your home, then turn itself off as soon as power is restored to essential appliances.

The size of your whole house generator installation is based on what possessions you want to power in the event of an electrical outage. Here are a few things to consider powering with your home standby generator:

  • Your refrigerator and freezer
  • Necessary medical equipment for your or a loved one’s continued health
  • Your HVAC system to keep you warm or cool
  • Your microwave or oven to cook
  • A few lights to guide you in the dark
  • A cell phone charger to keep your phone charged, so you can stay in touch with the electric company, family members, or medical personnel

The more belongings you want to power, the larger the whole house generator needs to be. It has nothing to do with the size of your home. Just your power needs.

How Do Tri-State Whole House Generators Work?

Tri-State whole house standby generators are fueled by either propane or natural gas. Each fuel type has its own benefits and drawbacks.

Propane costs more, and you have to refill the tank periodically. But it delivers more than 2 ½ times the power per cubic foot than natural gas.

Natural gas is cheaper, but if you don’t already have natural gas running to your house, it can be expensive to hook it up.

Some features of Tri-State whole house generator installations include:

  • Automatic transfer switches – These detect when the power goes out and turns back on.
  • Remote control monitors – These give you a visual confirmation of the standby generator’s performance.
  • Rust-resistant casings – These protect the inner workings of your whole house generator from whatever Mother Nature throws at it.
  • Weekly systems check – You can do a complete systems check of your standby generator to make sure it’s ready in the event of a power outage.
  • 24/7 emergency service – If something happens to your generator at 3 a.m., we’ve got your back. We’ll come out and see what’s going on and fix it, whether that fix is a simple part swap or a new whole house generator.

Why You Should Choose Tri-State Water, Power & Air for Your Whole House Generator

At Tri-State, we know you have your choice of whole house generator installation companies. We stand out from the crowd because we’ve been in business since 1992 and have extensive experience and an excellent reputation. We’ve maintained an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau for years.

Most importantly, we have a decades-long list of happy customers for whom we’ve installed whole house generators. Why wait? Contact Tri-State Water, Power & Air today to talk to one of our generator specialists or schedule a free consultation at your home.

These folks are great! Had two whole house generators installed and both are flawless. Customer support is top notch. Highly recommend.
CG Anderson
Standby Generator
Josh is friendly, professional, quick and considerate! He answered all of my questions, did a great job, and was also friendly with my dog!
Sarah N
Bathroom Remodeling
Tri State Water Power and Air just installed three whole house water systems for my family. The representative that came to my home was very courteous, professional, and not pushy.
Dianne H
Standby Generator
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