Extreme weather events can knock out power in very unpredictable ways. From high winds to hail or even the rare seasonally extreme ice storm, outages can last anywhere from a few hours to more than a week. It helps to have a backup plan for powering your house, and home generators have been the staple for decades for a few very good reasons.

1. Continuous Power Production

Solar systems and home wind generators have become very popular, and they are also good investments. Unfortunately, they frequently cover only a portion of a home’s energy needs. The right electric generator supplements those systems well, producing enough extra energy to keep vital appliances up and running. If you don’t have an alternative energy source at home, they are even more vital. To learn how much generator capacity you need to power the parts of your home you consider vital, talk to an electrical contractor Van Buren AR about your options.

2. You Save Money During Weather Events

Weather events don’t just cost you money when your property is damaged or you lose time at work due to lack of power. They also cause extra expenses at home in ways that some people never think about. Long outages cause food to spoil in freezers and fridges, which means taking the time to clean them out and paying the cost of restocking. Even short outages often cause a sharp spike in personal food costs because with common kitchen appliances out for many people, the best option becomes delivery or a restaurant with power in the area.

3. Stay Productive at Home

Many people have jobs that include working from home at least part time, with some industries continuing work from home policies as a standard for everyone. It’s not just because of the pandemic, either. Remote businesses have been on the rise for years because of savings to company infrastructure. During a power outage, many cell phone providers stay up because of their own power backups. With the right generator, you can keep your home office powered up and online by taking advantage of common phone features like mobile hotspot to stay on the job.