Businesses that Need Backup Generators

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Backup generators are responsible for saving lives and businesses when the power goes out. When you take a closer look at all of the ways you use electricity on a daily basis, it’s easy to see that you don’t want to be without power if you can help it. For some businesses, it’s even more important than others to have a backup generator. Not having one could prove very costly.

Is your business protected? Let’s take a look at a few businesses that should have a backup generator on hand for emergencies.

Bakeries Businesses that Need Backup Generators

When it comes to places that need backup generators, places that deal with food and health code regulations such as restaurants usually come to mind. Unfortunately, most people don’t think about a small bakery needing that same backup.

A bakery has the same health codes that a restaurant has, and while a lot of the inventory may be shelf-stable, there are a lot of delicate ingredients such as butter, eggs, fruit, and cream that could quickly be destroyed.

Landlords

As a landlord, you can really improve your tenant’s experience, reduce your turnover rate, and create a competitive edge by having backup generators on your properties. Not having to worry about losing power goes a long way with tenants, which means you can set the rent a little higher and you probably won’t have to worry about having empty properties for very long.

Construction Sites

When it comes to construction, you may use a backup generator for backup if you lose electricity, but more than likely, that generator will be the only source of power you have on new construction sites. Having one you can rely on is essential to finishing the job on time.

Office Buildings

You may not think about your office building as needing a backup generator because no lives or inventory are at risk if the power goes out, right? While this is true, it interrupts the workflow and could potentially mean missing deadlines and losing important accounts.

If you run a business that can’t afford to lose power, you need a backup generator you can trust. Call Kinzie Backup Generator Systems at 301-469-7800 today to discuss an installation.

The Kinzie Advantage: What Our Customers Have to Say

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At Kinzie Backup Generator Systems, we pride ourselves on being a community-minded company; just ask the dozens of satisfied customers who call us at a moment’s notice when there is a power outage in their homes.

Over the years, we have kept the customer-written letters that exemplify what Kinzie Backup Generators stand for, and we want to share those with you.

The Kinzie Advantage: What Our Customers Have to SayProfessionalism

The Kinzie Advantage is about upholding excellence in service and quality, and we do that at all costs:

“The real measure of a contractor is how he behaves when something unexpected happens…I don’t even know how much that cost was, because Kinzie absorbed it without even mentioning that fact to me. That’s how you want a reputable contractor to behave.”

Trouble-Shooting

Our twice-a-year maintenance contract is put in place to ensure the seamless operation of your machine after the initial installation:

 “The work was done quickly and professionally. Several sub-contractors were involved, and their work was scheduled and managed perfectly. A few months after installation we had a small problem with noise; Kinzie solved it for us right away. The twice-a-year maintenance contract has been a comfort as well.” 

Reliability

Our customers know that Kinzie backup generators are trusted and reliable:

 “I thought you folks might like to know…the storm brought down some trees in the Village.  We had a multi-hour power outage yesterday, and we’re having another one as I write this.  The generator worked like a champ.”

Quick Response Time

And that we have fast turn-around because we understand the severity of the situation:

“…was extremely responsive and did a very good job. I would highly recommend to others.”

There are many advantages to having a Cummins backup generator installed in your home by Kinzie Backup Generator Systems. Visit our facts page for a complete list of features.

Why You Need a Generator in Your Home This Winter

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Winter brings more than plush falling snow over ice-capped hills; it can also rear its ugly head in the form of harsh winter storms, savagely wiping out your home’s power. When this happens, you’ll need a plan B: a backup generator. Here’s why.

Why You Need a Generator in Your Home This Winter

Functionality

If your power goes out, you can’t function properly. Food will spoil because the fridge isn’t powered. That’s a lot of money gone to waste, especially if power is out for an extended period of time. What about your home’s security? Power outages affect home security systems. Home medical equipment that also depends on power to operate is also affected. This could gravely become a life or death situation if there is no quick way of turning the power back on.

Stay Warm

If you’re going to be cooped up in your house for a few days because of piling snow, you’ll want to be comfortable in your home. That means taking safety into your own hands by making sure you have backup heat. This is especially true if you own a home-based business. Your livelihood depends on it!

Prevent Flooding

Without backup power, how will you be able to run your sump pump? You’re going to need it if runoff from melting ice and snow flows into your basement, which is detrimental to the structure of your home and will result in costly repairs.

At Kinzie Backup Generator Systems, we’ve seen the damage a brutal winter storm can do to the functioning of a home. That’s why we use a top-rated line of Cummins Generators during our installations. Find out how resilient these machines really are in the face of ugly winter weather!

Benefits of Investing in Regular Generator Maintenance

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Your backup generator is probably something you tend to forget about until you really need it. If it’s not properly maintained though, it could let you down when you need it most.

Don’t get caught in the dark! Today we’ll look at a few important benefits of investing in regular generator maintenance.

Save money

Although you will have to pay a modest fee to maintain and service your generator, adhering to a regular maintenance routine can actually save you money in the long run.

Businesses can lose tons of money if they’re forced to close their doors during long power outages, for example. Homeowners, meanwhile, can face their own set of costly issues when the power goes out. Sump pumps stop draining water from basements, heaters stop warming cold pipes and refrigerators stop preserving perishable food items.

A well-maintained generator can last for tens of thousands of hours. If properly taken care of, your generator could continue to serve you through years of power outages.

Avoid costly repairs or replacement

Regular maintenance can prevent and correct a variety of issues such as algae buildup in the fuel system, clogged fuel injectors and dead batteries. If left unchecked, some of these issues could permanently damage your generator, forcing you to invest in expensive repairs or purchase a new one. With proper maintenance, you can avoid all these problems and more.

Reduce risk

Power outages can be downright dangerous during extreme weather events, particularly if you have family members with health concerns. Having a well-maintained generator on hand in case of weather emergencies can ensure that everyone stays safe during prolonged power outages.

Finally, remember to pay close attention to your generator’s weekly test schedule. Once a week, your generator’s motor should kick on for 10-15 minutes to perform a self-diagnostic test. If it misses this test, it means that something is wrong and you should notify your maintenance team immediately.

If it’s been a while since your generator was last serviced, Kinzie Backup Generator Systems can work with you to develop an effective maintenance plan for the future. Give us a call or contact us online to learn more.

Smart Homes, Smart Solutions

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More and more people are turning their homes into smart homes these days. When you have a smart home, you can control everything from your lighting to your thermostat to your home security right from the palm of your hand through the use of a tablet or smartphone. The rising Internet of Things – a term used to describe the growing network of internet-connected devices and appliances – allows the different systems inside your home to work together to keep everything operating smoothly. However, there are a number of potential problems that can arise when you trust your smart home with all these responsibilities. Most notably, what happens when the electricity is out?

When the power is out, your smart home isn’t smart without a generator. You can have all the gadgets in the world hooked up, but they won’t be able to do their jobs if you don’t have any electricity coming into your home to power them. That’s why at Kinzie Backup Generator Systems, we absolutely recommend that anyone have a Cummins backup generator installed, but especially those who have a smart home.

Having a backup generator will keep your home powered and running at all times. A backup generator can keep the power in your home on for days and even weeks in extreme cases. This allows you to keep your smart products online, meaning that your network of smart home management devices can continue to serve you, even in the event of a wide-scale power outage.

Keep everything connected at your home even when the power is disconnected by installing a Cummins backup generator from Kinzie Backup Generator Systems. Our experts are happy to speak with you about the advantages of installing a Cummins generator and how you can design a system that will keep you and all your Internet of Things devices connected no matter what happens. Make the smart choice for your smart home and learn more about backup generator systems today by calling 301-469-7800.

Backup Generators and UPS: Keeping Power On

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Whether you run a business that would be negatively impacted by a power outage or you worry about how you and your family would survive without having power in your home for an extended period, you should consider installing a backup generator or an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) so that you don’t have to worry about either of those scenarios. You should also learn the differences between a backup generator and a UPS so that you know which one is a better option for you.

Backup generators and UPS are both great for preventing serious damage to electronics and the loss of data that you have stored. They are also both able to keep the power running in a home or business in the event of a power outage.

Backup Power GenerationBut the biggest difference between them – and the thing that makes backup generators a better option for most people – is that backup generators are able to stay on a lot longer than uninterrupted power supplies. In fact, many backup generators are designed to last for as long as you need them to, provided you have them connected to a fuel source. On the other hand, a UPS kicks on following a power loss, but is only designed to provide short-term power. A UPS will give you the time you need to power down electronics and save valuable data, which is why many data and computer centers choose to use them, but a UPS relies on a battery to keep it going, and like any battery, the amount of power that it can provide is limited.

When it comes right down to it, only you can decide whether a backup generator or a UPS is better choice for you. But the average home or business owner will find that a backup generator will be the more convenient option to keep the power on in whatever circumstances may occur. Kenzie Backup Generator Systems can speak with you about how one of our generators can benefit you and show you some of the whole-home and business generator options we can install for you. To learn more, give our experts a call today at 301-469-7800 or request a quote online to find out how a generator can keep you and your home or business protected.

Advantages of Permanent Generators vs. Portable Generators

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Permanent Generators Losing power as a result of a hurricane, snowstorm or another weather-related event or service downtime can be incredibly frustrating. If the power doesn’t return to your home for several hours – or, in a worst-case scenario, several days – you could be forced to throw out food that has gone bad, layer up your clothing to prevent the cold from affecting you, or even suffer from burst pipes or other issues as your home cools to the point where it affects your plumbing.

All of these reasons and more are why the New York Times says more and more homeowners have turned to generators in recent years to keep the power coming to their homes during outages.

If you are considering investing in a generator, you will typically be considering two main options: A portable generator or a permanent generator. Portable generators are typically cheaper than permanent generators and, during short power outages, they will do the trick once you pull them out of storage and get them going. But in general, installing a permanent generator is a much better idea and will absolutely prove to be a better long-term investment.

Permanent generators are safer and quieter than portable options and designed to start automatically at the first sign of power loss which means there’s no need to fuss with unburying your generator and hoping you remembered to gas it up and maintain it between uses. These generators are also nearly impossible to steal since they are large fixtures and hardwired to your home, which adds security and peace of mind.

These generators are also able to provide enough power to keep your entire home or selected circuits powered for days on end. In fact, if you have a permanent generator hooked up to a natural gas line, it can usually provide power for the full length of any outage, which means you will be able to go about your business as normal even when your neighbors are still waiting for the lights to come back on. With a backup generator installation, regular maintenance and routine inspection done by the team at Kinzie Backup Generator Systems, you’ll never have to worry about power becoming a problem for you or your family.

Best of all, permanent generators will usually increase the value of your home, as well, and provide another great selling point if you list your home on the market in the future. So what are you waiting for? If you have been thinking about having a generator installed, Kinzie Backup Generator Systems can give you a quote and walk you through all of the benefits having a system installed. Give us a call at 301-469-7800 today for more information.

Whole Home or Select Circuit: What’s the Difference?

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Power OutagesIt’s never a good thing when our homes lose power. However, having a backup generator can help you keep the lights on even when everyone else on the street is in the dark. If you’re looking for one for your home, chances are you’re trying to decide whether you want to configure a whole home or select circuit generator system. Both provide backup power, but what’s the difference between the two?

Whole Home Systems

A whole home generator is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. This type of backup system includes a generator with enough electricity-generating capacity to back up the electrical service for all of the breaker panels in your house. This means that when the power goes out, the whole home system will kick on and power up everything within your home. Once it does, it will seem as through you haven’t lost power at all and you will be able to go about your day as you normally would.

Select Circuit Systems

As for a select circuit, that involves having a generator attached to only the circuits you would need most if an outage occurred. These systems work by connecting the generator to a breaker panel with a 100- or 200-amp automatic transfer switch. When the system detects a loss of power, these select breakers are then powered back up by the generator. This type of system is perfect for anyone who realizes outages are normally temporary but want to keep the essentials, such as heat, targeted lighting and kitchen appliances running during the down time.

Pricing a System

Pricing for these different backup systems varies for two different reasons. Whole home systems are priced out by the size of the home they will be serving. Larger homes with a higher power demand will require a more powerful system. Select circuit systems, on the other hand, don’t need to provide complete power, but instead targeted electricity, which means that these systems have a more adaptable price that is based on how many distinct breakers will be served by the backup system.

If you’re interested in getting a backup generator system installed for your home, Kinzie Backup Generator Systems can help. For more information or to have a system installedwhy call us today at 301-469-7800 today!

 

Winter Maintenance for Your Backup System

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A backup generator system is incredibly worthwhile, especially during the winter months. If a storm or other problem with electrical service in your area causes your home to lose power, having a backup system installed ensures that your home will stay lit and warm during the inclement weather.

Preventative MaintenanceWhen service is turned off to a home during the winter months, the situation can become dangerous quickly. The temperature inside of your home can dip down to a dangerous level within just a few hours, and in addition to the discomfort and health risk of this cold, there is also an increased chance that the pipes in your home will freeze and burst, creating a big mess if power isn’t restored quickly. It’s why many homeowners have chosen to install backup generator systems to protect themselves in the event of a power outage.

You need to do more than just install a backup generator system to protect your home, though. You also need to do preventative maintenance on it and winterize your system so that it’s ready to go if your home ever loses power during the winter months. So what’s involved with winterizing a backup generator?

To start, it’s important to test and run your backup generator system before it starts getting cold outside. This allows you to see how the system runs and identify any potential problems with its operation. If you notice that your generator is running strangely, sputtering or showing any other symptoms of irregular operation, call for maintenance on your system to ensure that it’s winter ready.

You should also change the oil and oil filter in your backup generator system to make sure that all lubricants are fresh and ready to keep the motor running during the cooler months. You’ll also want to check the condition of electrical components within the generator, including the battery, spark plugs and ignition contact points. During the winter months, you’ll also want to inspect your generator regularly and prevent snow and ice from building up on or around the unit. This can block ventilation or put stress on the generator that can impact proper operation when you need it most.

At Kinzie Backup Generator Systems, we can help you make sure you’re ready for winter with our preventative maintenance service. We inspect your backup generator, perform an oil change annually, inspect all connections, hoses and belts for leaks and much more. Best of all, when you buy a new generator system from us, you’ll receive two free maintenance visits during the first year to help you make sure that your system is ready to go whenever the power goes out.

The last thing you want to do is wait until it’s too late to seek service. Whether you need maintenance for your existing system or are interested in learning more about installing a new backup generator, find out more today by calling Kinzie Backup Generator Systems at 301-469-7800.

Backup Generators – A ‘Sound’ Choice

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Backup Generators Installing a backup generator outside of your home is a great way to ensure that you can continue to go about your business in the event of a power failure. But one of the biggest complaints that homeowners often have when it comes to backup generators is that they can be incredibly noisy. Generators made by companies like Kohler, Generac and Briggs will often make a lot of noise and can cause friction between neighbors. Fortunately, though, there is one company that makes keeping the noise down a priority in the design and construction of its backup generators.

Cummins generators are the quietest generators on the market right now, and you will be doing a service to both yourself and your neighbors when you purchase one. Often times, local governments and homeowner associations will limit the amount of noise that you are allowed to make with a generator. For example, Montgomery County in Maryland has a noise limit of 65 decibels during the day and 55 decibels at night. If your generator makes more noise than that, you could be subjected to fines, and you will surely upset those around you who are forced to listen to your generator all day and all night long.

With a Cummins generator, however, you won’t have to worry about making too much noise, since the company has worked tirelessly to create quieter models. The Cummins RS-20kw – one of the most popular Cummins models – registers at just 62dba, for example, which is significantly less than similarly capable Kohler, Generac and Briggs models.

If you are thinking about installing a new generator outside of your home, you should seriously consider getting one manufactured by Cummins. Kinzie Backup Generator Systems can educate you more about them and even provide you with an on-site demonstration to allow you to hear for yourself the difference of sound production from one of these units while running.

Learn more about installing a Cummins generator or request an appointment to learn more by calling Kinzie Backup Generator Systems at 301-469-7800 today.