Whether you know it’s coming or you’re taken completely by surprise, getting stuck in a power outage can be a real hassle. But the best way to prepare yourself is by getting a backup generator and with so many different options out there from which to choose, it can be tough to figure out what exactly you need to ensure your home isn’t left in the dark.

The bottom line is that living in a power outage for even an hour or two can be more than just a simple inconvenience, it can be extremely costly. Think about everything you rely on for a comfortable existence in your house and consider how many of those things are powered by electricity. Your refrigerator and freezer holds much of your food, if that fails for any extended period of time all of those items will spoil.

Not only are you left without fresh food but think about how much money you will have wasted on purchasing that inedible food. What about our cell phones, laptops, tablets, and so many other devices that we use over the course of the day? Without a power source, those things will eventually run out of charge and become useless.

Homes that operate a sump pump as a way to keep the basement from flooding or rely on electrical current in order to regulate the temperature indoors might incur repair or replacement costs if those critical systems can’t operate.

Audit Your Home

Before you go backup generator shopping, you need to figure out what kind of generator will best service all of your home’s electrical necessities. Once you have an idea of the power load you will have to supply should an outage occur, you can decide on what type of unit to purchase.

Some homes will best be served by manual transfer switches, others may need a portable generator that can be carried anywhere around the house for convenience. These units are available in many different power capacities and outlet options.

Fuel Choices

With so many different backup generators on the market, you should also consider how you plan to fuel the generator as this can have an effect on your preparatory routines as well. Most of them are powered by natural gas or propane and the one you select for your home should make it easy to maintain a consistent supply on hand.

You do not want to be without the proper fuel when your generator needs to be switched on.

Portable Vs. Stationary

Another thing to consider as you prepare for an outage is whether or not to have go with a portable unit as mentioned earlier or a stationary option that is always hooked up directly to the electrical system of the home. The latter option provides current directly to the home’s most critical systems so you can live comfortably as you would on any normal day or evening.

Keeping all of these things in mind as you shop for the right generator can ensure that you are always prepared for the next significant power outage.