Generators & Air Conditioning: Know about an essential item of your home
The power supply is something that every home needs, no matter how small or large it is. However, natural climatic events like hurricanes, wildfires, and storms can disrupt the power supply. Living without a power supply is no less than a nightmare. Problems become severe when you run out of clean water and have no idea what to do now. In such situations, the generator can be the only solution. It can keep your air conditioning unit in working condition without a power supply. You can use lights, TV, Wi-Fi, and other electronics too.
Many companies are manufacturing generators and a common person has no idea about the suitable one for his needs. Here we are discussing some basic things about generators. We will discuss the size, type, and model of common generators, which you can use when there is no power supply. Our focus will be on the HVAC system, and we will discuss generators with particular reference to that.
Suitable generator size for your air conditioner
Generators act as a power source for your home, when there is an outage. You can use appliances and use lights and air conditioning systems too. Generators are available in different sizes, usually from 800 watts to more than 500,000 watts. Depending on needs, types of generators are also different. You have to find the suitable one according to your requirements. Following are a few things that you must know.
Running watts: If you look at your HVAC system closely, you will notice a label that has the wattage requirements of the unit. Usually, a standard window Air conditioning unit requires 1,000 watts of power to run, but the requirement of a central heating and cooling unit could be 10,000 watts. So, you have to decide according to your needs.
Power to start the unit: Every generator requires more power to start, as compared to the running power. You can find details about the start-up watts in the manual of every home appliance. Normally, Start up wattage is more than two times that of running watts.
Surge watts: If you are running your HVAC unit at a high level but for a short time, it will need surge wattage. It’s required for a few seconds only. You can find it in the user manual.
Calculate your requirements: If you want to run other appliances with your generator, you need to calculate the power requirements before you buy. To run multiple appliances you will need a large generator and if you want to run an air conditioning unit only, a small one will be enough.
Calculate your requirements
When we talk about calculating the power you need, usually people have no idea about the power usage of different appliances. If you know the watts required to run these appliances, buying a new generator will be easier for you. Every home Appliance has different power requirements. For instance, a central air conditioning unit needs 2000- 4000 watts, and a window air conditioner can run on 600 – 1500 watts. The requirement for room heat will be 1300 and for the water heater, it will be more than 3000. These are just the general average requirements for the guidelines. For specific requirements, you have to see the user’s manual.
Another important thing is the duration of use. If you want to run the air conditioner for a few hours, a small generator will be enough but if you want to use it for a long time, you may need a larger one.
Which is the best generator for an Air conditioning unit
The Watt size of generators is different and we can divide them into three different categories.
The largest generator is the one designed to provide power to the entire house. In case of a hurricane or any accidental blackout, it acts as a power source for all home appliances. These generators are very large in size and are installed in the house. You can shift to them as your primary source manually, but automatic switches are also available.
The other type of generator is called a portable generator. It is usually used for outdoor activities like camping and outdoor parties. It’s small in size and its price is also affordable. They can run one or two small appliances of the house during a hurricane. These generators cannot run huge HVAC units.
The third type of generator is called an inverter. They also provide electric supply but they don’t make a noise like other generators. They convert AC power into DC, so they are named inverters. They are suitable to run battery-operated devices.
So to run your air conditioning units you will need a large-sized generator, as small ones have low power capacity.
How does a generator work?
Generators use different power sources to generate power for your home, diesel and gasoline are the common fuels but some work on other propane fuels as well. Gasoline generators are commonly used as they are easy to operate and can be shifted from one place to another. A good gasoline generator can run a window air conditioner. But these are very noisy. Moreover, they also produce fumes, which are harmful to human health.
Nowadays, solar power generators are also available. These are safe for the surroundings, but they are expensive as compared to others. Moreover, they need more maintenance than gasoline generators. The initial cost is high and the maintenance cost is also high.
Where to buy a generator?
Once you have decided about the type of generator you need and what should be its power capacity, now you need a reliable source to buy. If you are on a budget and you need a generator for a specific function, you can get it on rent as well.
If you want to buy, contact a reliable vendor. Hire professionals for installation as the installation of new switches and Wires is involved.
No matter if you are installing a generator or have a portable one, always use it outside the home. It must be 20 feet away from the building. Don’t forget to install carbon monoxide alarms, before you start your generator.
About Century Air Conditioning & Heating
Century Air Conditioning & Heat was established in 1986. We’re a family owned and operated HVAC contractor in Orlando, FL. For over 36 years, we’ve been a trusted source for air conditioning equipment, heating equipment and related services. Century is an A+ BBB accredited business.
Air Conditioning & Heating Services Offered in Orlando and surrounding Central Florida Areas:
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| HVAC Air Conditioning Maintenance | Orlando Air Conditioning Service |
