Why Home Battery Backups Beat Generators
Why Home Battery Backups Beat Generators
As power outages are sadly becoming more popular as the time goes by, more and more homeowners are now looking into energy storage solutions for their homes, to keep energy running.
For several years, backup gas generators were the most popular solution to be fully protected during these outages, but thanks to the ever-evolving technology, this has now changed, and the greenest, safest solution out there has become solar energy paired with battery backup.
Keep reading to see why a home battery backup setup is a much better solution than a generator.
Here at Terawatt Solar we provide the best PV system coverage in the industry with an 8-year cost-free warranty on product replacements, as well as giving all of our customers an app to monitor system status and electricity generation as well, to ensure they have that extra peace of mind.
Ultimately, when choosing a solar panel for your home, it’s important to consider a variety of factors to ensure that you’re making a sound investment. Efficiency, durability, and warranty are three of the most important factors to look for in a solar panel. By choosing a panel that is highly efficient, durable, and covered by a comprehensive warranty, you can be sure that your investment will provide reliable and efficient energy for many years to come. So get in touch with one of our experts here at Terawatt Solar, we would be happy to answer any questions you may have and support you with your switch to a greener, cleaner energy source.
Why Home Battery Backups Beat Generator
Home Battery Backup Is Quiet
For those who have heard a generator working before, they can all agree that it is quite noisy, reaching up to 8.5 decibels (which can be similar to a police whistle or a lawn mower).
In the long run, this noise can be quite frustrating to you and your neighbors, and noise pollution has been linked to the following issues:
- Hearing loss
- Sleep disruption
- Cardiovascular disease
- Reduced productivity in work and school
- Negative social behavior
- Annoyance reactions
Needless to say as well, that power outages are stressful occurrences and the extra noise created by generators can only add to the annoyance and stress. As a matter of fact, generators are often in violation of many HOA bylaws and city ordinances.
On the other hand, a home battery backup system is completely silent and can only be heard if standing right next to it, closely listening to it working.
Home Battery Backup Is Using Green Energy
Diesel-powered generators emit dangerous gasses such as nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and other hydrocarbons. Propane and natural gas generators emit dangerous gasses too.
Everyone knows how dangerous it is if you get stuck in a garage with a car running, so imagine how it’d feel to have generator emissions close to your home.
As a matter of fact, during the disaster caused by Hurricane Irma that hit the USA back in 2017, more deaths were attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning caused by generators than the storm itself.
Not to mention the sad, increasing trend of deaths and of hospitalisations caused by portable generators and other fuel-burning appliances.
Batteries don’t emit any sort of emissions, they are completely sealed and have no negative impact on your health nor your family’s
Batteries Are Smaller than Generators
Although some portable generators can be fairly small, built-in generators can occupy a fairly large amount of space in your yard and may require a fairly big concrete pad to house it safely.
On the other hand, backup battery storage can be easily mounted on the wall and doesn’t require any sort of construction to keep it safe. Batteries are usually installed a few inches away from the wall and can be installed near your solar equipment or garage shelving.
Backup battery storage, meanwhile, is wall-mounted and does not require any construction work. Batteries can be installed a few inches away from the wall and can be positioned near your solar equipment, garage shelving, etc.
With A Home Battery Backup Your Power Is Instantly On
Since even the best generators may take a few seconds to turn on in case of a power outage, these few vital seconds could cause a fair amount of stress in the household.
If you have a smaller, portable generator that needs to be manually connected, the stress will definitely increase especially if you have to hook it up in the middle of a storm.
However, if your home has a battery backup system installed, circuits are instantly connected to the battery power, as batteries can react to outages in a fraction of a second. Your appliances or family won’t even notice!
As a matter of fact, Tesla had some issues with its Powerall in the past as batteries worked so quickly that homeowners didn’t even notice an outage happening. This has been now rectified by Tesla, ensuring that a notification is sent through its mobile app to homeowners alerting them of any detected outages.
Battery Backup Is Reliable
One of the most evident advantages of owning an electric vehicle is that it doesn’t require regular, costly maintenance caused by fuel engines, nor pricey and regular oil changes
Similarly to the above, home battery backup systems as well require little to no maintenance compared to fuel-run generators.
As an example, usually generators require to be inspected at least once a month to ensure the internal components are working properly and are lubricated. The majority of homeowners will need to call a qualified technician at least once a year to ensure that it is still functioning correctly.
There is nothing worse than owning an expensive generator, only to find out that it doesn’t work when you need to turn it on!
Typically, generators need to cycle at least once per month to make sure all the internal components are lubricated and operating properly. Most homeowners will also call out a qualified technician to inspect the generator on a yearly basis to ensure it’s in good working order. After all, the only thing worse than paying for an expensive generator is having it not working when you need it most!
With a home battery backup system, there is no need to carry out all this costly and time-consuming maintenance, and it will always be ready to be used right aw
Home Battery Backup Is Earthquake Proof
After a natural disaster such as earthquakes or hurricanes, local utility companies usually will turn off any natural gas service to avoid any further issues such as fires or explosions.
Of course, if you have a battery backup system installed, you wouldn’t have any issues when this occurs, which is an extra benefit!
With A Home Battery Backup Your Power Is Instantly On
Since even the best generators may take a few seconds to turn on in case of a power outage, these few vital seconds could cause a fair amount of stress in the household.
If you have a smaller, portable generator that needs to be manually connected, the stress will definitely increase especially if you have to hook it up in the middle of a storm.
However, if your home has a battery backup system installed, circuits are instantly connected to the battery power, as batteries can react to outages in a fraction of a second. Your appliances or family won’t even notice!
As a matter of fact, Tesla had some issues with its Powerall in the past as batteries worked so quickly that homeowners didn’t even notice an outage happening. This has been now rectified by Tesla, ensuring that a notification is sent through its mobile app to homeowners alerting them of any detected outages.
Battery Backup Equals Energy Independence
The idea of being fully energy independent is becoming more and more appealing to homeowners, who strive to be self-reliant and be less dependent on the electric grid with time.
Having a combination of solar and battery backup can allow you to generate, store and use your own energy when you please, considerably reducing the dependence on the local utility grid.
Battery Paired With Solar Can Run Indefinitely
Generators have limited backup duration depending on the amount of fuel you have available, so once the propane or diesel runs out, then the generator will stop working and will leave you without power. The only exception to this would be generators fed by an underground line.
On the other hand, when a homeowner pairs a battery backup system with solar panels, they can run on power pretty much indefinitely. You can do so too by simply setting your household consumption equal to the solar system’s daily output, which means that the solar battery will keep recharging itself and you could run without grid power indefinitely!
Home Battery Can Save You Money
Realistically you only need a backup generator when you have a power outage. Let’s say that you have three full days without power a year: that still means that it’s less than 1% of the time without power.
So you will be spending potentially thousands of dollars for a solution that has very limited benefits from a long-term perspective.
On the other hand, solar panels linked with battery systems can be used every day of the year and can help you save money in the long run by load shifting and time of use savings, which can reduce your electricity bills considerably. Plus you are fully covered when you lose power. A win-win situation!
The Bottom Line: Home Battery Backups Beat Generators
It is clear to understand that having a home battery backup clearly has more advantages than using a generator during power outages, especially when matched with solar panels.
Homeowners are more and more seeing the advantages of the battery backup system set up not only in terms of savings, but also for the sake of fighting climate change, which is something that has become critical in the past decades.
Get in touch with our experts here at Terawatt Solar to find out what the best solutions for your property.
