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Recent cold snaps in the South made it evident that a back-up source of power is not a luxury, but a necessity.
Natural disasters, poorly maintained infrastructures, or even civil unrest are all reasons you should consider having a back-up power source. When it comes to generators you have two options a portable or standby generator.
Both have their own unique benefits depending on their intended functions. Let us go over portable vs standby generators and find out which is best suited for your needs.
Portable Generators
Portable generators are exactly what the name implies, portable. Since portable generators can be moved around, they tend to be smaller. With their reduced size, they also produce less power.
When discussing the pros and cons of a portable generator, this next detail can be both depending on the situation. A portable generator can be connected to your home’s circuit breaker panel, but it also has individual sockets.
An obvious con is the noise produced by a portable generator, they do not work quietly. You will also need to have a large amount of fuel stored away to power this generator.
Standby Generators
Standby generators are an investment, but boy can it pay off.
A standby generator is installed by a professional and will be able to provide enough backup energy to power your entire home. You will not need to worry about storing fuel or any loud noise. Standby generators will not produce any stinky fumes and can run for weeks.
You may even forget you are running on a generator. As that is what their intended purpose is. You will see not decrease in your quality of life.
When it comes to the pros and cons of a standby generator, the price will be the largest con. That may be the only one though.
A Portable vs Standby Generator
Let us do a quick recap.
If you are working on a budget a portable generator is for you. Considering taking your generator along with you on camping trips, or keeping out in the garage or workshop? A portable generator will still be your best option.
For heavy jobs and instant generator power, there is no better alternative than a standby generator. A standby generator will cost you a hefty sum, but your home will not face any side-effects of an outage.
When it comes to the pros and cons regarding the types of generators available, you should also consider their power source. A solar powered generator can be the best option for you in case of any type of disaster or outage.
Power What You Need
We have gone over both portable and standby generators. We have gone over what each can provide the user with and noted some differences between the two.
You can choose a portable generator if you need immediate backup throughout your home. Or, you can opt for a standby generator if you like to have more control over what you will be supplying power to.
Regardless, you have your basic information covered. You can now make an informed decision. Interested in learning more about a portable vs standby generator? Check out our other articles on generators.
