The storm has been raging for a while now. The thunder rattles your home as lightning flashes outside your window with increasing frequency. The lights begin to flicker, and then suddenly everything is dark and quiet. You light some candles and at least you can see again. But the Internet, TV and heating and cooling system aren’t working. And your cell phone power is running low.
As you look around for more candles, you begin to consider such things as keeping your refrigerator and freezer doors closed so the cold air doesn’t escape. At this point, you’re probably thinking the same thing as many of your neighbors: I wish I had a generator!
Generators for Rent
Not everyone needs a permanent stand-by generator. They do offer convenience, especially in high-risk areas where hurricanes and other severe weather events are known to occur. But they are expensive and fuel storage can be an issue.
Many tool rental stores have small, medium and large-sized generators available. Before renting a generator, it’s important to be prepared and know what to expect. For most average homes, an output of around 4,000 to 5,000 watts should be sufficient to provide power to the “essentials,” such as lights, refrigerators, microwaves and water pumps. But appliances such as HVAC systems and electric stoves require a more powerful generator that you may not be able to plug into your home’s electrical panel unless it has been properly configured.
Lights and small appliances can be plugged into smaller generators. But assuming the generator is fueled by gasoline, make sure you know how long the generator will run on one tank. A typical generator will run through at least 10-12 gallons of gas per day. It’s not always practical or safe to store that much gasoline around a home, especially for an extended period of time. Not only can this be unsafe, but the gas will eventually break down and lose its effectiveness. Therefore, you may want to consider a propane-powered generator.
Because of the fumes they emit, always keep generators away from the home and in an open or well-ventilated area. Also, never plug a generator directly into a wall outlet. When you rent a generator, read the owner’s manual to ensure you understand its operation and potential hazards.
Remember, during an outage there will likely be a rush to the tool rental store for generators. When this occurs, those who hesitate are usually left in the dark!
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Written and Published by One Stop Rental