Page 12 - Hawaii Renovation - March 5, 2023

12 HAWAII RENOVATION MARCH 5, 2023
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT AUTOMATIC
HOME GENERATORS
Do you know how much a power outage costs? When the power goes out, it af- fects more than just your ability to watch TV or read with the lights on. Food and medicine in your refrig- erator and freezer can go bad. Your basement may flood if the sump pump goes out, and you may need to relocate to a hotel for your fam- ily’s safety and comfort. If any home systems fail, you may be looking at costly repairs.
An easy way to protect your home and avoid power outage-related costs is to invest in an automatic home gen- erator. To help you understand the ben- efits of owning your own automatic home generator, Kohler expert Mela- nie Tydrich offers the following seven most commonly asked questions.
automatic transfer switch (ATS) signals the generator to start. In just 10 seconds, the ATS transfers your power from the utility grid to the generator. It powers your home until utility power is restored, then trans- fers power back to the grid.
3. WHAT CAN IT POWER?
A home standby generator can power corded items like electronics, cell phones, refrigerators and freez- ers. More importantly, it can power products hardwired to your home, such as central air and heating sys- tems, sump pumps and lights. Secu- rity systems and even garage doors are sometimes difficult to operate when you don’t have power.
electrical loads.
Even though generators are work- ing hard to supply power to your home and appliances, you don’t have to settle for a noisy model. Look for a generator that has been designed and built to operate with minimal noise. Remote monitoring via an app is also a helpful feature to have be- cause you can see the status of your generator when you aren’t home and a power outage hits.
6. WHAT SIZE GENERATOR DO I NEED?
The right size generator for your home depends on your power needs. Kohler has a handy Generator Selec- tor tool to get a ballpark cost. How- ever, if you’re serious about buying one, you’ll want to receive a detailed estimate from your local Kohler Generators dealer. These profession- als will analyze your home’s electri- cal load and specify and install your generator system.
1. WHAT IS AN AUTOMATIC HOME GENERATOR? HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM A PORTABLE GENERATOR?
An automatic home generator pro- vides backup power when you need it and stands by when you don’t. Like an air conditioning unit, the generator is permanently installed outside your house. When the power goes out, it turns on. The unit shuts off when the main utility power is restored.
7. IS INSTALLING AN AUTO- MATIC HOME GENERATOR A DIY PROJECT?
Portable generators are useful when you don’t have utility power available, like camping, tailgating or at a work site. However, you’ll need to refuel them regularly, so you’ll have to re- member to safely store fresh fuel in your home. Also, you’ll have to oper- ate them outside, which means run- ning outdoor-rated extension cords.
4. DO YOU NEED TO BE HOME TO OPERATE THE GENERATOR?
Installing an automatic home generator isn’t a project you’ll want to do yourself. Because it requires working with gas and electrical con- nections, you’ll want to hire a quali- fied professional who can make sure it’s installed properly.
2. HOW DOES AN AUTO- MATIC HOME GENERATOR WORK?
5. WHAT FEATURES SHOULD A QUALITY HOME GENERATOR HAVE?
Your generator runs on your home’s existing natural gas or liq- uid propane system, which makes it incredibly convenient. When the power goes out or drops below an acceptable level (brownout), your
Because your automatic gen- erator will power your home dur- ing a power outage, you’ll want a durable and reliable engine. Gen- erators from Kohler, for example, are equipped with heavy-duty, commercial-grade engines that fire up quickly and can handle heavy
You don’t need to be home to operate the generator. An automatic home generator is just that, automat- ic. This completely hands-off unit turns on during a power outage and turns off automatically.
Automatic home generators aren’t a luxury. They are an investment in keeping your family safe and secure during a power outage. They give you the ability to live life uninterrupted because they can power anything in a home, from lights and HVAC to ap- pliances and tech. These generators provide peace of mind, and more im- portantly, they provide resilience for you, your family and your community. To learn more and find a dealer, visit kohlergenerators.com.
This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.
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