Wind storms in Davis County, heavy snow in the mountains and summer monsoons in Southern Utah all knock out power. Two technologies keep a home running: a standby generator and a battery system. They solve the problem differently.
Standby generators
A standby generator sits outside on a pad, runs on natural gas or propane and starts automatically through a transfer switch. Its strength is runtime: as long as fuel flows, it runs, and it can carry large loads such as central air, a well pump or an electric range. It makes noise, it needs yearly maintenance and it has to be placed with clearance from windows and doors. See generator installation for sizing and options.
Battery backup
A home battery stores energy from the grid or from solar and switches over in a fraction of a second. It is silent, needs almost no maintenance and can live in a garage. Its limit is stored energy: one battery carries essentials such as refrigeration, lights, internet and a furnace blower for many hours, but heavy loads drain it quickly unless more batteries are added. Paired with solar, it can recharge each day. See solar and battery backup.
Which should you choose?
- Long outages, well pumps or whole-house coverage point toward a generator
- Short outages, quiet operation and solar owners point toward batteries
- Rural properties with propane often suit a generator
- Some homes combine both for long winter outages
Do not forget the panel
Either system connects at your electrical panel. An undersized or outdated panel may need an upgrade first, and both systems benefit from surge protection.
KITMUND designs and installs backup power for homes and businesses across Utah, including Bountiful, Park City, Cedar City and Moab. Call (888) 633-7804 for a site visit.