How Long Does A Standby Generator Last?

How Long Does A Standby Generator Last?

standby generator

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A standby generator can last several years, which is itself a great reason to have one. Teague Electric helps folks install both portable and permanent generators, but here we’d like to focus on the life expectancy of the latter. We’ll also show you a few warning signs that you may need to replace an older or outdated unit.

What is a Standby Generator?

Standby generators serve homeowners as an emergency power resource whenever you lose power. There are many critical reasons to own some sort of standby unit, including to preserve the food in your refrigerator or freezer. It also helps to have one to make sure you can still work from home during an outage.

One of the greatest advantages of a permanent generator is its built-in ability to shut off by itself once your primary power source resumes. These are also simple-to-use, low-maintenance items, and therefore a wise investment for any Kansas City homeowner.

Other Great Reasons to Invest in an Electrical Generator

  • They automatically detect an outage and turn on without you having to fumble with equipment in the dark.
  • Generators come with plenty of fuel, so you won’t have to refuel it in the middle of a major snowstorm.
  • We can tailor them to fit your specific needs without forcing you to buy something expensive and unnecessary.

You can learn more about generators by watching this interview with Teague Electric’s Jimmy England on home generator installation.

How Long Do Generators Typically Last?

The overall longevity for your back-up generator will depend on how often you use it, the size of your home (or business), and how well you maintain it. While the maintenance isn’t complicated, it can make all the difference between a generator that lasts 20 years as opposed to 40 or more.

When in doubt, one of our electricians can check on it during a home safety inspection. This involves getting into the components to see if there’s anything defective. As a rule of thumb a reliable generator, from a reputable manufacturer, can last about 40 years.

Warning Signs You Need a New Standby Generator

If you encounter any of these warning signs, contact us ASAP for a diagnostic inspection.

  • You notice lots of rust, debris, dust, and other common signs of wear.
  • The technology is outdated, which you can tell for sure if the model no longer has tech support from its manufacturer.
  • It’s several decades old, or you’ve had it since you bought your house, and have no idea how old it is.
  • You’ve expanded your home and wonder whether it will cover you effectively during the next outage. This is an important concern if you added lots of new lighting or energy-intensive appliances.
  • Last, but not least, if you just suffered a power outage, and your generator didn’t work properly, it’s time to consider replacing it.

Call Teague Electric for Professional Electrical Installations

Since a broken generator won’t do you much good, you should schedule a service appointment with us to help determine your options. Our electricians can look over all the components and see whether it needs replacement parts or if you’d be better off with a new one.

When you work with us for any electrical installation, you gain the peace of mind of knowing your home is in the hands of a professional. That’s the reason we’ve been in business since the late 1970s. We also have an outstanding aggregate review score of 4.8/5.0 on GuildQuality (based on over 1,600 reviews).

If you’d like to install a standby generator for your Kansas City home, contact Teague Electric for prompt and reliable service.

Author picture
Author picture

RYAN BEALMEAR

President