Residential generators come in a few different options. Before you decide on a natural gas generator for home, it’s important to understand the differences between natural gas generator sets and other residential generators. For example, the fuel source and its sustainability will be a primary reason to take into factor when choosing one generator set from the next. In this article, we’ll take a look at those factors along with other pros and cons of using a natural gas generator at home to help determine the best choice for your own emergency power needs.
Fuel Source Options
When it comes to emergency power for residential areas, natural gas generator sets are only one of four different fuel source options. The other primary fuel sources commonly found in residential generator sets include diesel power, gasoline, propane gas, and, of course, natural gas. Each of the fuel sources comes with its own set of pros and cons, but for the purpose of this article, we’ll focus mainly on natural gas.
Natural gas is an abundant fossil fuel that is made up of methane and mostly comes from a domestic source. Since natural gas has no color and no odor, certain compounds are actually added to it that give it a distinct smell to alert anyone around of gas leaks. Natural gas burns considerably less CO2 than other fuel sources (up to 50% less), making it more eco-friendly than both oil and coal. It’s also mostly harvested domestically, with North America producing as much as 97% of all the natural gas used throughout the entire United States (according to the International Gas Union).
Pros & Cons Natural Gas Generator For Home
The most common advantage of having a natural gas generator for home use is the benefit of not having to stockpile fuel. Since natural gas is readily available and delivered to residential areas via natural gas pipelines, there is no need to store copious amounts of fuel during emergency preparation. This also means never falling victim to the volatile market that causes sharp rises in fuel prices – especially during emergencies and natural disasters.
The most significant disadvantage of having a natural gas generator for home use relates mostly to long-term use. Though natural gas is affordable, it is not as efficient a fuel source as diesel fuel, for example. This means that running a residential natural gas generator for any prolonged period of time can quickly add up financially.
Keep these things in mind while researching different residential generators and speak to a generator supplier first to have any questions you might have answered. You can shop for a natural gas generator for home use online at MTS Power Products right now or call 305-634-1511 for further assistance.
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