A generator large enough to power all refrigerators/freezers...can pay for itself.
A set large enough to also run the A/C and a few lights is a nice convenience, but the beauty of living here is that you don't have to worry about water lines freezing and bursting in extreme cold...during an extended outage.
In cold northern locations, ensuring that you have the ability to heat the entire home during an electrical outage...can save tens of thousands of dollars.
Whatever you do though, ensure that the gen-set is properly wired so that it won't back-feed into the power grid...and potentially kill those utility workers restoring power.
Generator Safety | Dubois REC
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But, if installed incorrectly, your generator system could threaten the lives of family, friends, neighbors, and electric utility crews trying to restore service.
There are specific ways to properly install generators in your business or home.
Safe Electricity strongly suggests you have a qualified electrician assist you.
To safely operate a standby generator, make sure it has a transfer safety switch to isolate the load from the normal utility source. Without this safety switch, there is a chance electricity can travel back through the lines, causing "back feed." Back feed creates a dangerous hazard for anyone near lines, particularly utility crews working to restore power.
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