Hello and welcome to your home for reviews, discounts and more on portable gas generators. Power outages are happening way too often these days; they always seem to happen at the most inconvenient times. Depending on the cause of the power outage, it can be hours or even days before electricity is restored.

When the electricity fails, your gas powered generator will become your most important possession; as soon as it is operational, you know that your food won't go bad, the lights will turn on and you can resume your normal life. But, what if you don't have a gas powered generator? If you don't have one, once the power is out, you'll be seriously considering buying one as soon as you possibly can.

Choosing a portable gas generator can be a difficult task because there are many different and confusing options. To run only the necessary appliances during a long-term power outage, most homes would need a generator in the 10,000 watt range.

Depending on how big your home is, this would run your fridge, heater, televisions, computers, clothes dryers and the majority, if not all of your lights. If you get your water from a well, it can power the pump, also. Acceptable models in this watt range cost about $1200.

Wheel mounts make the gas generator very portable and allow you to move it easily. It should be located outside more than fifteen feet from the house for safety. Putting the generator on level ground will stop accidental fuel or oil leaks.

Usual sources of fuel for generators are diesel and gasoline. Look for a gas powered generator with features like a large gas tank, electric start, hour meter, and automatic shutoff feature for low oil. It is important to opt for heavy duty wheels and handles on larger models to help you move the generator with ease.

Electricity is usually transferred from the generator to the appliance via correctly-sized extension cords. There are problems with this plan. Some appliances, like furnaces and well pumps, don't accept cords. Also, the loss of power could damage both the generator and the appliance, if the cord is too long. Rugs or carpets over or under the cords can cause a fire hazard.

Experts suggest you hire a licensed electrician to install a manual transfer switch to operate your portable generator, though actually using the generator doesn't require one. It will take the power created by the generator and connect it directly to your home circuit box.

It may cost you another $150 to $300, but this transfer switch eliminates the need for dangerous extension cords, and deletes the chance of electrical feed-back, which could hurt the people who are trying to restore power.

If you only want to run your coffee pot, tv and fan, you can find a generator to do that for between $300 and $400. Depending on your budget, you can choose what you'd like to have the power to run.

By flipping a switch, you can choose what appliances and circuits to power if you utilize a transfer switch. You must closely watch how many appliances you power and their wattage; the transfer switch is usually wired to more circuits than the generator is equipped to power at once.

Here are the tips to consider before taking any action: First, know your needs, whether you’ll use it for an alternative source of power supply or for temporary use for your appliances.

Second, determine the size and condition according to your needs, such as the voltage, watts and its limit. This measures the capacity, as this is considered as a critical point before you decide upon the kind of apparatus that you are really looking for.

Third, check everything from its cord, the physical condition of the item, and make sure to have its manual to ensure the proper installation.

Lastly, always consult from the reliable users or vendors to help you determine the quality of portable gas generators compared to their cost.  Make certain of its maintenance to ensure that the gas generator you chose lasts for longer years. Sometimes, these generators come with a warranty tag and if you find one with a warranty, you should certainly opt for that, even if you need to shell out a few extra dollars for buying it!

As power outages and blackouts happen more often, a gas power generator is no longer a luxury item; it is a necessity.