Rural living can be a lot of fun, but when you have frequent storms that knock out your power for days on end, it’s less so. Luckily, you have some options that could help keep the lights on during a rough storm. For most folks, a backup home power supply comes down to installing solar panels or a generator. Both options have their advantages, but which one’s the best? Here’s what you need to know when deciding between a generator and solar panel installation.
Generators, Pros, and Cons
A generator is a useful thing to have around, especially when you live in an area like Kansas City that has frequent and heavy storms that knock the power out relatively frequently. With a generator, you can weather almost any storm as long as you’ve got propane in the tank or enough fuel to fill a smaller one.
The value of having a generator largely depends on the size and how it’s hooked up. If you have a generator that’s large enough to power your home and runs off of your propane tank, you’ll get a decent value, they even start up automatically. However, if the power goes out for a number of days, you might find yourself low on propane and stuck having to get it filled again, especially if it’s in the winter. Having to refill your propane tank can cost a few hundred bucks.
If you’ve got a smaller generator that you have to fire up yourself, you’ll get less value comparatively, but it can help you get by. You’ll have to fill it with fuel manually.
The biggest con associated with having a generator is that you have to pay for the fuel. Over the course of a lifetime, those costs can add up.
Solar Panels and Solar Battery Backups, We’ve Got the Pros, but where Are the Cons?
Solar panels are a terrific one-time investment that pay themselves off and once they do, you never have to sink another cent into them again.
A solar battery backup for your home is a fantastic way to save money and the environment at the same time. You can have your solar panels programmed to store excess energy into a solar battery that can be used for backup power when the power gets knocked out.
Every sunny day will help add to your reservoir of excess power that you can keep storing and holding onto for a rainy day, literally!
Unlike a generator that you have to pay to keep feeding with fuel, once you’ve got your solar panels and battery backup installed, you’re good to go. You’ll be able to power your home on the extra energy your solar panels built up and stored in the battery.
The best advantage here is that it’s a one-time cost for installation. Once you’ve paid for the installation you’re home-free. There aren’t any major cons to having solar panels.
Making the Smart Choice
While it’s true that generators provide homeowners with value and peace of mind, you’ll have to keep paying for that peace of mind over the years which isn’t really peace of mind at all. Do your pocketbook a favor and spring for solar panels complete with a solar battery backup that will kick in whenever you lose power.
Have a chat with Live Smart Construction and ask about the benefits of having a solar battery as your home power supply backup!