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uttermost weather condition and increased demands on the great power grid can lead to blackout that are inconvenient at good and unsafe at worst . have a powerful and honest whole - house generator on standby assuage the risks associated with power outages .

A startling 94 pct of American household are without whole - theatre generator benefits , agree to Kohler Energy , a global drawing card in backup force solutions for more than 100 age . This entail a meaning portion of American families are defenseless against potentially animation - threatening power outages . intellectual nourishment storage , mogul - dependent medical equipment , and cellar - saving sump pump are among the electrical energy - run devices that you do n’t want to be without in times of parking brake — not to mention high temperature or strain conditioning .

Only one house in a suburban neighborhood has lights on during a storm.

Photo: Courtesy of Kohler

What Is a Standby Generator?

A standby author is a system that automatically provide mogul to a domicile when the magnate grid goes offline . Today ’s standby generators , such as theKOHLER 26 kW Home Generator , activate mechanically when they discover a major power loss to immediately supply crucial electricity to a abode .

The dear whole - house generator is one that is permanently installed in a fixed post outside the home plate , like to an air conditioning unit . Standby generatorsconnect to a place ’s integrated supplyof lifelike gas or propane to bring about enough electric tycoon to supply an entire home . These differ from portable generators , which get their fuel — typically petrol or propane — from a unintegrated rootage , postulate frequent and manual refueling .

Whole - house generator are typically enclosed in a weatherproof caparison to protect them during spoilt weather .

A red Kohler 26 kW home generator installed outside of a house.

Photo: Courtesy of Kohler

Peace of Mind for Most Homes: The KOHLER 26 kW Generator

Kohler ’s most popular generator , the26RCA , can power all circuit in tumid homes . It handles need load such as warmth pumps and air conditioners without sacrificing power to other circuit . Its maximum phone output is 67 decibels , which is about the sound of normal conversation . Plus , homeowners can customize the unit with one of 11 color and three disguise pattern .

See the KOHLER 26 kW Generator

Benefits of a Whole-House Generator

While portable author can be useful in a pinch , they wo n’t be able to handle an entire home ’s needs for an extended point of time , and the homeowner must start one manually in the consequence of a power loss . When a whole - household generator kicks in automatically , on the other hired hand , power continues to feed seamlessly to everything in your home for as long as you require it , offeringnumerous benefitsfor the wellness and safety of your family .

For people receiving medical care at home base , for example , power to CPAP or nebulizer equipment is of the essence . Those who trust on sink pumps to keep their home safe from implosion therapy need a reliable power supply from a dwelling house generator , especially during inclement weather condition when swamp risk increases .

Everyday appliance , too , are authoritative . If you buy in up the fridge and freezer in anticipation of a big tempest , you definitely do n’t require that food to spoil due to deficiency of power . Keeping the AC or heat running during gridiron failures is indispensable too , as is the continuous operation of your home ’s security system .

A Kohler standby generator installed outside of a home in the rain.

Photo: Courtesy of Kohler

Choosing the Best Generator for Your Home

Look at a number of factors whenselecting a author for your house . Among the most crucial is the amount of power your household needs to run smoothly during a blackout full point . Also , recall about the relative frequency and duration of power outages your neighborhood typically run . You ’ll want to find a source that can get in touch with the needs of your picky situation . TheKOHLER 26 kW Home Generator , for example , can supply ongoing power to a home over several days or weeks .

Think about enduringness when choosing a generator — you’ll need one that will be reliable in all types of weather , year after twelvemonth . Also , consider check with your homeowner association , which might have size or interference restrictions you ’ll want to take into account .

For Larger Homes: The KOHLER 48 kW Generator

The 48RCA is another terrific choice for rest home standby source . At 48 kW , this unit has good deal of power for everything in a home with 200 amp religious service . Its commercial-grade - form engine can restore electricity to critical systems or appliances within 10 seconds when tap into a home ’s natural gas or propane fuel supplying . TheKOHLER 48is also exceptionally unruffled .

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What It Takes to Install a Standby Generator

Putting in a standby author is emphatically not in the DIY realm . This complex undertaking should be handled by licensed professionals — both an electrician and a pipe fitter are postulate — who have considerable experienceinstalling standby generators .

Additionally , these installs typically expect permits of various character , and sorting out codes and regulation in your particular jurisdiction can be an exercise in defeat . It ’s often best to knead with someone , like your local Kohler dealer , who can help bring down through reddened tape recording and make the process smooth .

How to Use a Generator During Power Outages

Professionally installed , high - tone standby generators such as theKOHLER 26 kW Home Generatorconnect to a home with an automatonlike transfer switch as part of the setup . The transfer switch is connected to both the author and to the independent electrical panel of the rest home .

The robotic transfer of training switch monitor the electricity received from the utility service . When it detects an outage , itautomatically switches the office sourcefrom the public utility company to the standby generator . This process takes about 10 seconds , and the householder does n’t have to do a thing . The generator will continue to power the home until the transfer of training electrical switch detects a signal from the usefulness , at which time it switches the power beginning back to the grid .

When Backing Up Just the Basics: The KOHLER 10 kW Generator

TheKOHLER 10RESVcan easily start and run a 5 - ton melodic phrase conditioner . It will power most appliances in a little home or a few critical items in a larger home plate , all while offering a compendious footprint for those with space constraint . Like all Kohler generators , the 12RESV alsoprovides advanced voltage and frequency regulation to protect sensitive electronic devices during power outage .

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When to Buy a Whole-House Generator

Thebest clip to purchase a standby generatordepends on where you live . You utterly want to have one in place before storm time of year hits , and that deviate , of form , from region to region . If you live in a hurricane - prone area , for example , have a generator set up well before former June , when hurricane activity begins . If insensate , snowy winters are common in your climate , believe purchase a generator in belated summer or early fall .

Sometimes it ’s not a storm but rather extended high temperature waves that can bring a power power grid down . If you live in an area plagued by summer blackouts or brownouts , get your generator install before summertime ’s punish temperatures kick in .

All that aside , the short answer , ultimately , is that now is the best prison term to install a whole - house generator , while protecting your family is top of mind .

A blue Kohler home generator installed near a coastal home.

Photo: Courtesy of Kohler