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whole home generator

Generator vs. Home Battery Backup: A Decision Guide

A whole-home standby generator can run for days but costs around $18,000-$20,000. A portable generator is the cheapest way to keep essentials running, but it takes the most work and carries a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if not managed properly. A home battery is silent, switches over instantly, and covers a typical one-day outage. Plus the newest version of home battery backup comes with a low upfront installation and a subscription fee.

The right pick depends on how long a typical outage lasts in your area, what you need to keep running, and what you can spend.

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Should I Install a Whole Home Generator?

Thinking about installing a whole house generator for your home on the Texas Gulf Coast? Good call. The Gulf Coast is prone to hurricanes, flooding and power outages.

A whole home generator can be a good value if it brings you peace of mind and convenience during power outages and emergencies. They can automatically activate when the power goes out, so you barely notice a power outage. But they can be expensive, costing $8,000-12,000 to install.

Here’s what you need to know about installing a whole house generator in Houston or elsewhere in Texas.

Before purchasing a whole house generator, take a look at this article on portable generators for your home. And consider a home battery backup + energy option. You’ll get a full home battery backup system installed for under $700, pay a monthly fee and commit to using a specific retail electricity provider. Your REP will charge your battery when prices are low and sell power back to the grid when demand is high.

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