Are you are a “doomsday” prepper, or someone who just likes to be prepared for certain situations?

One of the only ways to be completely prepared is to buy a generator. There are two popular kinds of generators: there are standby generators and portable generators. A standby generator is one that is ready for you even if you are not home to keep your property protected and ready.

Portable generators are great for camping and activities outside, but also have many other benefits. Even if you are not a prepper, there are a lot of good reasons to have a generator installed, and why selecting a generator that is right for you is important.

Your life may depend on it.

Your life, or the life of someone you love may require electricity for many reasons at one point or another. Most medical equipment relies on electricity, and having the ability to ensure that they will work in any situation can be vital. For example, CPAP equipment relies on electricity to work. These machines keep people alive in their sleep.

Without it, how will they be able to sleep? Or, how will they be able to clean the machine to keep from getting sick? It is also important to consider that many medications require refrigeration. If you or someone in your family relies on these medications, and there is no way to store them, what will you do? Having a generator helps to avoid this pitfall in a powerless situation.

You cannot rely on solar panels to provide electricity.

Though solar panels have many, many economical and ecological benefits, they cannot be the only thing you rely on in the case of a blackout. You may have been under the impression that solar panels will keep your electricity running.

But the reality of the situation is that the power company may control your supply of electricity, abandoning you when the power is shut off. If the outage was planned, this is much more likely to occur as the electric companies may be trying to conserve more power. 

Your car may not work.

With everything going on with the climate today, more and more people are investing in electric or hybrid cars. But what happens to electric cars when the power goes out? Even with advanced notice, it is really hard to keep these cars charged and available for use without power.

Families that rely on these kinds of cars to get around can end up stranded and scrambling in outages that last for more than a few days. Having a generator mitigates some of these risks.

Maintaining a sense of normalcy.

Probably one of the most popular reasons to own a generator is for the pure comfort of having the electricity to go about your normal life. Keeping the lights on can help retain normalcy, and keep you and younger ones calm during the dark times.

A permanently installed generator can allow you to have complete access and use of amenities within about thirty seconds of a power outage. This is quick enough to avoid interrupting pretty much anything that you were doing before the lights went out.

Air conditioning and heat rely on power.

Another fairly obvious reason for owning a generator is to have the ability to control the temperature in your home. This is even more beneficial for those who happen to live in more extreme conditions. Generators can keep you from freezing. There are a lot of regions in which power failure in extreme cold can be lethal. If not just lethal over time, the fact that your pipes can freeze and cause damage should also influence you to install a standby generator.

On the other end of that spectrum, those living in extremely hot regions (this is particularly true with the elderly), a generator can be life saving from the heat. Fortunately, your pipes cannot get damages like they would in the cold. But extreme heat can also lead to serious health risks. Being prepared with a generator in these regions can be life saving.

Security systems.

Having a standby generator can ensure that your property is safe from intrusion. Or at least, your alarm systems will be working in the event of one. While authorities are assisting the community for safety reasons, thieves can tend to take this opportunity to act as they are sure that security systems will not be working.

Having a generator will allow you to keep your systems running. In the event of a break-in, the authorities will be notified right away, and you and your family will remain safe and comfortable.

Sump pumps.

If you regularly rely on a sump pump for your basement or crawl space, a generator is a good idea. You’ll need it to power the sump pump to keep things dry and prevent any possible water damage. Sump pumps are essential for anyone that lives in a flood zone.

In this case, you’ll want a stationary generator to be installed on your property. This can be really important if water damage and flooding are prevalent in your life.

Food.

Likely one of the most popular reasons to own a generator is to prevent the spoilage of food. Generally a freezer will last about 48 hours after a blackout before the food inside becomes unsafe to eat. Without refrigeration, food safety becomes an issue as harmful bacteria may quickly begin to develop.

With this in mind, having a generator ready is the best way to avoid foodborne illness. It may even save you from having to throw away tons of food.

Whatever your reason may be, having a generator in the event of a power outage can be extremely beneficial and potentially lifesaving. Start the process by researching what you need and finding a power company that is able to help you get started.