Whole home generators keep power on, even during a hurricane
BY JOHN P. DAVID
Pinecrest Tribune
Coral Gables resident and retired schoolteacher Diane Dolcourt had a somewhat atypical adventure during the days following Hurricane Katrina. Though her home lost power from FPL, she was able to keep her lights, refrigerator and even central air-conditioning running like normal for several days because two years ago she invested in an whole-home automatic standby generator system.
" These systems should not be confused with the gas-powered portable generators found at most home and hardware stores. While the portables are only capable of running a handful of appliances via direct connections from extension cords, the automatic standby generators are fixed, permanent systems that connect directly to a home's existing circuits to provide power for the entire premises. They offer automatic and trouble-free continuous power and, since the homeowner is not involved with the engaging and refueling, the systems avoid the most common hazards of the portables. In addition, they are surprisingly quiet and environmentally friendly.
The automatic standby generators are powered by liquid propane or natural gas. For homes that are not connected to a natural gas line, 500-gallon propane tanks are installed underground to store and provide enough fuel to power most homes for between four to eight, days. The generators engage within approximately 30 seconds of an outage and they automatically disengage when the power company restores the power.
For Dolcourt, that meant that her home was never without power during Katrina, and she and her slept each night in normal, air-conditioned comfort.
"As power outages become more frequent, because of hurricanes and other reasons, an automatic system is a no-brainer," said Dolcourt.
These systems typically cost between $13,000 and $26,000, including installation and all of the necessary permits, so they are not for everyone. However, for those homes in excess of $300,000, they represent an ideal hurricane preparedness and home improvement option that can be financed at today's historically low interest rates via an equity line.
"The beauty of the system is that it is truly automatic," said HJ. Frank, founder of Personalized Power Systems in Boca Raton, the largest residential automatic standby generator dealer in the United States, "'within moments of an outage, the generator turns on and starts powering the home in less than a minute. Plus, the system is safer and more economically friendly than gas-powered portables."
As the awareness and popularity of automatic standby emergency generators grow, they are likely to become one of the most desirable amenities of single-family homes in South Florida.
"The systems enhance the value of a property and protect it from disruptions," said Frank. "We believe they have a place in most every home in the state."
For more information on automatic standby generators for residences and small businesses, contact personalized power systems at www.generatortogo.com or call 561-391-8190
Picture: HJ. Frank, founder of Personalized Power Systems