Power Trip

How whole-home generators help life run smoothly

By Liesel Schmidt

We’ve all watched the shocking videos of devastation across the Southeast from recent storms and the chaos that ensued in mountainous Western North Carolina. Heavy rainfall preceded Hurricane Helene, an extremely large storm that washed away roads, bridges, houses and entire communities. The storm’s fury killed over 200 people and cut off communications and access to resources to thousands more along its path from the Gulf of Mexico up and through the Blue Ridge Mountains.

This supposed 100-year disaster was a wake-up call for many who were impacted across the region. Days and weeks after the storm, entire towns remained without power and access to the internet. Even for those who were fortunate that this was their biggest challenge, the broad range of the storm made it difficult to impossible to find alternative accommodations where they could wait it out. Without a full gas tank and plenty of cash, leaving was impossible from some locations.

A whole-house generator suddenly became less of a luxury than a necessity. While portable generators are great for short-term emergencies, most require gasoline or propane canisters. In areas where power restoration took a long time, finding either fuel became difficult to impossible. Those with whole-home generators fueled by large propane tanks or a natural gas connection fared far better.

While recent events are outside the norm, power outages are hardly unusual in mountainous regions. A quick check with local generator companies indicates that sales are up, fueled by people who either had no generator or found their portable generator useless when the local gas station remained without power long after their supply ran out.

A big plus with whole-home generators is uninterrupted power, even when the outage is short. Most people with home offices rely on an internet connection to keep working. With so many powerlines above ground, weather events, tree limbs falling, or even traffic accidents can cause unexpected power outages. Battery backups work for short periods, but a generator ensures that workdays are uninterrupted and that vacationing families can enjoy their time here without inconvenience.

One of the most significant benefits of a whole-home generator is, of course, the immediate backup power it provides. Unlike portable generators that require manual setup, a standby generator automatically turns on within seconds of a power outage—no fumbling with gas cans or extension cords in the dark. With a generator, vital systems—including electricity, heat, lights, internet modems and security systems—stay operational, even when the rest of the grid is down.

Extended power outages are incredibly inconvenient and can trigger damage from freezing pipes to short circuiting appliances with power surges. HVAC systems electronics, household appliances, wells, and certain septic systems are especially vulnerable to damage caused by an abrupt loss of power. Keeping a mountain home ready for occupancy throughout the year is much easier with a whole-house generator. Many homeowners prefer to run heat at a very low setting instead of winterizing, so they may continue using vacation homes sporadically throughout the year without concerns about bursting pipes or damaged appliances. But it can be risky business without a generator backup.

Comparatively speaking, whole-home generators are considerably more convenient than portable versions. They are an investment that some may think is pricey or unnecessary. However, the uptick in sales activity after Helene indicates that when power loss is regional and fuel for portable generators is scarce, the havoc of such powerful storms has motivated many to reconsider. Home offices can remain operational and eliminate the expense of evacuation, offsetting the initial investment. In communities where groundwater and septic rely on power, the need to evacuate becomes essential rather quickly. Self-contained power allows home offices to remain operational and the need for evacuation less likely.

From an investment standpoint, homes equipped with standby generators command a higher resale value. In addition, many insurance companies offer reduced premium rates for homes with generators, which help reduce the number and dollar value of claims related to storm damage or theft during outages.

Safety is always a consideration, and local generator companies selling both whole-house and portable generators stress that users should understand their equipment and maintain it for optimum performance. Portable generators can be a deadly carbon monoxide hazard if fumes leak into the home. Whole-house generators should be inspected and maintained regularly for best performance and safety.