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10 | Four Seasons Hemet Herald | AUGUST 2021 | What?! The Power is OUT AGAIN! Things To Consider Before Installing A Home Generator Any external power wall or generator that is attached to a structure or natural gas line is subject to review and approval by the Architectural Review Committee. Here is some additional information concerning home generators. Generator Capacity: At the top of the list of important considerations is generator capacity. Generators are rated by the number of watts they produce. A thousand watts is called a kilowatt (kW), so a 10kW generator can produce 10,000 watts of power. The more devices you want to power, the bigger (and more expensive) the generator you'll need. A typical portable generator might produce 2kW to 4kW, whereas a 20kW rating is quite common for a whole- house generator designed to power your entire home. If you're only concerned about keeping a few lights on and powering your refrigerator and freezer, you can get by with a relatively small generator, perhaps in the 5-10kW range. Furnaces and air conditioning units require much more power — for a medium-size home you'll probably need a generator in the 20-22kW range. Choosing the Right Fuel: Your generator won't do you any good if it doesn't have fuel. In the event of a natural disaster, fuel supplies may be limited or unavailable, so you'll need a sufficient quantity of fuel to last for an extended period of time. The four fuels that are primarily used for generators — are gasoline, diesel, LP gas, and natural gas. While gasoline is the most common fuel for portable generators, it's a poor choice for whole-house generators. Gasoline is highly volatile, making storage difficult, and it deteriorates over time and will be worthless after a year or two. LP Gas (Propane): Clean-burning LP gas is safe and easy to store. Home storage tanks range in size from 100 to 1000 gallons, and most areas have local dealers who can set you up with a tank and deliveries in a jiffy. Propane is an excellent fuel for a standby generator, since you can easily have a large, stable supply of fuel on hand. Natural Gas: It burns cleanly, and natural gas supplies are rarely affected by natural disasters. With a natural gas-powered standby generator you'll be ready to keep the power flowing through almost any circumstances. Installation • Electrical connections – Standby generators utilize an automatic transfer switch that detects a power outage and starts the generator. Depending on your configuration, the switch may then transfer control of your power to a separate breaker panel that will send electricity to only the circuits you've chosen to have powered. • Plumbing connections – If you're using natural gas or LP gas to power your generator you'll need to connect the gas line or propane tank to the generator. And you'll need to be sure you have the correct valves to handle the type of gas you're using. • Building permits/HOA restrictions – In our Four Seasons Community, Architectural Review Committee approval is required. Additionally, a building permit from the city of Hemet is likely required for the installation. Inspections may be required as well. • Site selection – Your generator will have specific manufacturer's guidelines for proximity to your home, and you'll need to consider how close the unit's exhaust is to windows or other entries to your home as well as your neighbor's home. Your best bet? Hire a professional to do the job. They'll have the background and knowledge to ensure a safe and smooth installation. In addition, professionals that specialize in whole-house generator sales and installation can assist you in choosing the generator that best suits your needs. Architectural Review Committee