There are a lot of generators offered for sale locally and on the Internet. All sizes, all styles, all prices. How do I separate between the good, the bad, and the ugly...and, most especially, the unsuitable? How do I choose?

Well...it's not too difficult–if you avoid a few common pitfalls. Let's use the following process:

What to Avoid!!

1. Eliminate the Unsuitable:

Don't choose a gasoline generator set! There're dangerous. They have small tanks. They are portable. They are not automatic. And they are usually poorly made, with no dependability or longevity.

Don't buy a portable generator set! Most of the reasons from above apply. They have small tanks. They are not automatic. They are usually poorly made, with no serious dependability or longevity. A home electric generator should be a permanent addition to your home, not something you drag out, in the middle of the night, when you lose power. Most importantly, the NFPA code will not allow this fuel for home standby use.

2. Eliminate the Bad/Ugly.

Don't buy a poorly built (low quality) generator set! You'll regret it very soon. It will not hold together. It won't be ready to perform when you need it. You will be "tinkering" with it all the time. Who needs that?

A generator set is only as good as the sum of its components. And low quality components will rob you of the dependability and longevity you should have.

Look at the construction. Poor quality equipment looks cheap!

Don't buy too cheap a generator set! A cheap set is a poorly built set. You get what you pay for. See above.

Don't buy a brand that is new to the market! Many companies flooded into the market in the last 5 years. They thought they saw an opportunity to make money during, and after, Y2K. Most of them put together poorly designed and constructed equipment. Where are they now? Many have already gone out of business and many soon will. In fact, it's uncertain if any of these new-comers will survive.

Find out which companies have a track record of 10 years or more. Check out their web sites. If they don't mention a track record of 10 years or more, they don't have it, and should be avoided.

What to choose!!

3. Choose the Characteristics You Need.

The right size for your application! See the sizing discussion earlier.

A natural gas, propane or diesel unit! See the fuel discussion earlier.

An electric generator designed for permanent mounting! They will be more attractive, less troublesome, and are usually of higher quality.

4. Choose a Quality Generator Set.

Buy a quality generator set-the best you can afford!
When buying a car, you may not buy a Rolls-Royce, but you probably won't buy a Yugo. Most people want value, not just a low price.

You must be careful not to pick the "Yugo" of the generator world. Unfortunately, there are many poor quality generator sets out there. They are sold cheap to unsuspecting purchasers who can't, or won't, take the time to determine quality.

Greed has caused a large number of makers to jump into this business in the last few years. They are counting on uneducated customers to pay too much for poor quality equipment. Don't fall for the seduction of the low initial price. In the generator world, you do get what you pay for!

Buy a generator set with a good warranty/guarantee!

Poor quality equipment tends to have a poor warranty/guarantee-or no warranty/guarantee at all! This is major warning factor. Look for the warranty/guarantee!

Picking a Brand

5. Purchasing Checklist.

In summary, here's what you should look for:

• Correct size for application
• Natural gas fuel
• Not portable
• Not poor construction (compare prices!)
• Established brand
• Suitable for permanent mounting
• A quality product
• A good warranty/guarantee