People living in areas that are subject to frequent power outages (such as southeastern Florida) know the importance of having a standby generator installed in their home.
Between frequent lightning storms, older infrastructure, and the risk of tropical storms, all local homes can use a whole-home generator. But if your generator isn’t working when the power goes out, it’s a waste of space in your yard.
The best way to keep up with the state of your backup power supply is by using generator monitoring.
Testing
If you count on your standby generator for peace of mind during thunderstorms and power outages, you need to take every precaution to make sure it’s going to work when the power goes out.
How do you know when your whole-home generator is working correctly? Good generator monitors will test your unit weekly, turning it off and then on again. If anything is wrong the standby generator won’t go back on again, much like an electric light won’t go on if the circuit breaker has been tripped.
Once the monitor sends you a signal telling you that there’s a problem with the generator, you can repair it before the machine is needed during the next power outage.
Remote Alerts
Some generators give off an alarm when something is wrong, but if you’re not home, or if your air conditioning unit is too loud you may not hear anything before it’s too late.
With generator monitoring, the smart sensor on your machine checks on a regular basis, or checks constantly, and will send you a message if something is wrong.
You can choose to get a recorded phone call, a text message on your phone or an email, depending on the monitoring company you employ.
Fuel Level
You can monitor your system all day long, but if your power supply doesn’t have fuel it won’t work during a blackout. The fuel level in your standby generator is probably one of the last things you think to check every week, but you can have a monitor check it for you.
Some generators have level checks built in and you can have alerts sent to your phone or email. If your generator doesn’t include a fuel check, you can install one very easily, then synch it with your monitor. You’ll always have a full generator, and one less thing to have to worry about.
Vacation Peace of Mind
Installing a whole-home generator adds a great deal of peace of mind when you’re on vacation, but to be completely sure your home will still be in good shape when you come back, a monitor is best. If the power goes out while you’re in another state and the generator doesn’t go on, the message you receive can give you time to call a neighbor or friend to add fuel or remove your frozen food before you can get back home.
You can take your family on vacation secure in the knowledge that your belongings will be just as you left them when you get back.
Health Concerns
For most people, keeping the power on is a convenience issue, but for those with health problems it can be literally life or death:
- Diabetics who take insulin have to keep their supply in a cold storage place or it will go bad.
- Patients with breathing problems need to run CPAP machines or breathing treatments.
- Even electric carts and wheelchairs have to be recharged on a regular basis, making a standby generator a crucial element in day-to-day health care.
If you or your family members need electricity to keep yourself healthy, generator monitoring can be a crucial part of protecting your health.
Recent Comments