Wind, rain and snow are predicted this winter in the Northwest, which brings the fear of losing power for several days at a time. Many of the inconveniences are obvious and just a nuisance – no light at night, no oven, refrigerators with spoiled food, a flooded basement and lack of work productivity, especially if you work from home. It becomes more than a nuisance though if you have life-saving devices that require electricity. It can literally be a life or death situation for many people.
So the short answer to whether you should get a portable generator is: What are the life critical things you need power for? If you do not have a landline, do you have a back-up plan for charging your cell phone or other important devices in your home?
There are of course pros and cons to purchasing a portable generator. Cost and safety both play a big role versus the convenience of ensuring your power will stay on during a storm. While they start at about $300, a high-end generator can cost between $1,000 and $5,000 (depending on the size and power needed).
The absolute most important aspect of owning a portable generator is to use it safely so you don’t put your household at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. This is why YOU MUST READ THE MANUAL.
If you are weighing the pros and cons of purchasing a portable generator, give us a call. We can help you determine if it would benefit you this winter and the safest place to put it.v