Generator Buying Guide
If you need a portable and convenient power source for powering outdoor equipment or as a back-up resource during an emergency, then you’ll want to get a generator. Generators are a great tool to have on-hand for a variety of power needs, but it’s important to think carefully about what you need from a generator before you buy one.
Manor Home Center in Oakland is your Maryland generator dealer. Here are some things you’ll need to think about when you’re shopping for a generator.
Cost
Standby and portable generators don’t come cheap, but portable generators tend to be more affordable. You also don’t want to go with the cheapest option available since it may not have enough power for your equipment. Look up and compare prices online before you go to a dealership and set yourself a reasonable budget that also takes into account fuel for the generator as well as maintenance costs.
Size
How big your generator is will determine how much power it can supply. You really don’t want to get a generator that’s nice and compact only for it to fail to power up your equipment or electronics. Make more space in your house, garage or basement to store the size of generator you need, rather than trying to get a small one that won’t meet your needs. Having extra power is always better than having too little.
Wattage
This is the actual measurement of power that your generator is capable of supplying. You will need to do some math to determine how many watts each appliance, electronic, tool or device will use that you’ll power with the generator and add these up, then add a little extra to get a bare-minimum wattage for your generator.
Why do you need a little extra power? Because many devices require more energy to start up before they start running. For example, an 800-watt device may require 1200 watts to start up, and if your generator falls short of that amount, then your device won’t turn on.
Fuel
Finally, you should consider what type of fuel you will need and how you plan to power the generator. Obviously, you can’t hook it up to the electrical grid, especially if it’s used for emergencies where the power is out! Many generators are powered with propane, gasoline, diesel or solar power.
The easiest and cheapest fuel options of these are propane and gasoline, since they’re readily available. Diesel fuel is efficient and burns slowly, which is best if you use your generator more often. Solar is more sustainable, but it can be more expensive to buy a solar generator and hard to get it powered up on a cloudy day. It’s ideal to have more than one fuel source for your generator so that you aren’t stuck if one option doesn’t work.
When you’re ready to see some models, visit our website or our dealership in Oakland, MD, to view our full stock of new and used generators for sale. We even offer financing options to help you get what you need. Manor Home Center proudly serves Garrett County, MD, and Morgantown, WV.