Best Ways To Power Your Home During a Power Outage
Winter is almost here, and that means there is probably a lot you need to do to prepare for it. One thing that many people forget to prepare for is the possibility of a power outage. Snowstorms are much more likely to take out the electricity than thunderstorms, so ensuring your house is ready to take that hit is a smart move. If you’re unsure as to what your options are, though, then this list of the best ways to power your home during a power outage is just the thing you need.
Reliable Battery Sources
If you want to keep things basic, then stocking up on batteries is the way to go. Most power outages don’t last very long, so this will be good enough in most cases. However, for more extreme instances, you can buy higher capacity batteries to run functions of your home in the case of a catastrophic power outage. The last thing you want is for your house to become freezing and for your food to start going bad, so these batteries will help you hold out for longer.
Solar Panel Battery Systems
If you like the battery idea but want to turn it into one of the best ways to power your home during a power outage, then you’ll want to set up some solar panels. These can hook up to your high-capacity batteries to refill them while the power is still out. As long as you get enough sun each day, you should have plenty of electricity to keep your home running.
The only downside is the initial cost. Solar panels are very expensive to purchase and install. However, after you’ve had them for long enough, they will eventually pay for themselves thanks to the amount of energy you’ll save.
Gas-Powered Generators
If you can’t afford solar panels, or you don’t get enough sun for them to work effectively, then you might want to look into gas generators. They are much more reliable. Most people who have one only have portable ones. While they’re quite effective, they can’t power an entire house on their own.
Whole-House Generators
That’s why it may be better to invest in a generator made for powering your whole house. These are very effective and much cheaper than solar panels. You just need to hook them up to your gas system for consistent results. We personally recommend propane since it won’t have any environmental impact.
Make sure that you have enough gas before a big storm hits. There is a lot that goes into how propane delivery systems work, but in order to have as much gas as you can before a power outage, you’ll want to top off your propane tank before the storm gets there. If you run out during that time, the roads might be too bad for them to be able to reach you for a refill. It’s always better to prepare.
