Protecting Homes from Power Outages is Becoming Easier

By simply flipping a switch or inserting a plug into an outlet, Americans enjoy countless appliances and gadgets, from refrigerators to electric foot massagers. However, while consumers seem to take electricity for granted, a recent national survey revealed that more than 70 percent of homeowners are concerned about losing power.

Given the fact that nearly 90 percent of U.S. households experience power outages at some point during the year, homeowners are seeking ways to protect their possessions and loved ones. Approximately 10 percent of U.S. households have found a solution: the home generator.

This number is increasing as more Americans - sick of drying out basements or throwing out refrigerators full of food due to power failures - are looking to the home generator to prevent costly power outage-related damage. In fact, the survey revealed that more than 15 million Americans are planning to purchase a standby generator for the home within the next two years.

"With a standby generator in place, homeowners can feel secure that daily life will go on in the event of a weather or utility crisis that results in loss of power," says Pat Simpson, HGTV host and corporate spokesman for Briggs & Stratton. "It's an affordable way to ensure that your refrigerator, furnace, lights, well pump and other appliances are functional when you need them."

Generators have made major strides in recent years by becoming more consumer-friendly. Whether a homeowner needs a portable generator or a permanent standby model, what once seemed to be an overwhelming decision to many is now easier. Portable generators are available to meet the power needs of many household items with wattage requirements of 4,000 to 10,000 watts. When using a portable generator, it is critical to have a Manual Power Transfer System, which eliminates the need for extension cords and makes transferring standby power to a home fast, safe and easy. Portable generators are generally less expensive than their permanent counterparts.

Permanent generators may be slightly more expensive, but their overall value and convenience can prove priceless when a big storm hits. These units connect directly to the home's natural gas or propane fuel supply and offer between 5,000 and 20,000 watts of power. Permanent standby generators can sense a power disruption, automatically start, and remain on until the line power has been restored, which is a valuable asset for those who may be away from home when power is lost.

"During severe storms, a generator can pay for itself after just one major event by protecting a household from damage," says Simpson. "It provides peace of mind by controlling and minimizing the inconveniences that come with power outages."

When using standby generators, it is important to have a basic understanding of safety issues before operating the unit. Briggs & Stratton offers the following tips to help you safely operate your generator when you need it the most.

Always run your generator outdoors in well-ventilated areas.
Maintain your generator engine according to the maintenance schedule for peak performance and safety. Check engine oil daily or after eight hours of operation.
Do not operate the engine near combustible materials.
Keep gas fresh. If you do not plan to use your generator for up to 30 days, stabilize the gas with a gas stabilizer.
Never plug your portable generator directly into your house circuit.
Protect your generator from exposure to rain and snow. Operate generator in an open canopy whenever possible.
Turn engine off portable generator and let cool two minutes before refueling.

Americans are turning to standby home generators to ease power outage concerns.