Are Portable Generators Better?
When Are Portable Generators the Best Choice?
Portable generators are often the go-to choice for consumers when they compare to the more expensive whole-home generators for several reasons. And it's no wonder why. Portable generators start at hundreds of dollars compared to thousands. The cost advantage is very appealing, but will a portable generator satisfy your backup power needs?
Whether a portable generator can work well for you depends on what your backup power needs are. These types of generators definitely have their useful place, but it isn't ubiquitous.
Pros and Cons of Portable Generators
A few of the reasons portable home generators are preferred are:
- Price: They're less expensive
- Portability: They're able to travel
- Immediately Available: More readily available for purchase
The pros of portable home generators can sometimes make them an appealing option. However, when you go with the less expensive portable generators as opposed to the more expensive whole-home generators, you're sacrificing certain things. The major cons with portables are:
- Limited Power: They cannot power your whole home
- Not Automatic: Requires manual startup
- Limited Service Providers: Fewer companies locally service them
These cons can be deciding factors for whether a portable generator is the best choice for you. Lacking the same power that whole-home generators have, portables are not going to be able to power your air conditioning unit and major appliances, and it will only have enough juice to energize select parts of your home. Often you can run a few appliances and a handful of lights with a portable, but not much more at one time.
Price Usually Decides It
Price matters. Portable generators are a few thousand dollars when purchased and installed with a home transfer switch (which is what allows you to plug directly into your home as opposed to dragging extension cords through open windows or doors), while a home backup generator is going to cost $7k to $20k depending on the size and type. This is usually the deciding factor for most consumers. The second most deciding factor is how much of your home is really needing to be energized.
How Can I Learn More?
A great place to start to learn more and help make that difficult decision of which generator is best for you is ConsumerReports.org. Then, in addition to more reading online, talk to an expert. A conversation with one of our team members is free and can help us to understand what needs you have. From there, we can help recommend a backup power source that makes sense for you.
Ready for Your Generator?
Whether you're decided on a portable or whole-home generator, give us a call. We can help you decide by providing the information you need, such as pricing, availability, and performance metrics related to the unit you're considering.