Most people go through the occasional power outage. Electrical storms, high winds, and even flooding can knock out power lines or transformers. In fact, there are around 2500 power outages each year in the US.
For businesses, this can mean lost sales, lost data, and even damage to valuable equipment. That means you need some kind of backup plan in place.
You can use uninterrupted power supplies to safeguard your computer equipment. Unfortunately, they don't help with any of your other equipment. That's why many businesses consider a natural gas backup generator.
If you're considering a backup generator, keep reading for the pros and cons of natural gas generators.
Pro - Cleaner
When considering generators, it typically comes down to a diesel vs natural gas backup generator choice. Between these two types of generators, natural gas options prove far cleaner in terms of the environment.
It has far lower emissions than most fossil fuels in terms of CO2, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur oxide, some of the main environment damaging emissions.
Con - More Dangerous
Under controlled conditions, natural gas is a safe fuel source. Of course, that same holds true for all fuel sources. Unfortunately, the times when you need a commercial or industrial generator aren't typically well controlled.
Natural gas can prove very explosive. That means that any break in a natural gas supply line becomes very dangerous in the presence of an open flame or sparks, which often occur in emergency situations.
Pro - Readily Available
One of the big pros of a natural gas backup generator is its ready availability. Most urban areas include lines that bring natural gas right into your home or business. That means you should have little or no trouble hooking up your backup generator after you buy it.
Con - Emergency Availability
Emergency situations are notoriously unpredictable. Utility services go down for a variety of reasons, some of them safety-related and some situational. If a gas line breaks somewhere, it can disrupt the supply for everyone down the line.
That means that you can find that your generator has no fuel if an emergency situation damages the supply lines.
Pro - Low Odor
Deisel has its upsides, but it can prove a smelly solution when you use it as fuel for your generator. A key benefit of natural gas is that it offers you a low-odor fuel source when your generator turns on.
Is a Natural Gas Backup Generator Right for Your Business?
A natural gas backup generator isn't a flawless solution. You must worry about a fuel supply and potentially even explosive danger during severe emergency situations. Of course, most power outages don't happen during severe emergency situations.
Most power outages happen because of severe weather, not a natural catastrophe. In those situations, the natural gas supply typically goes unaffected. That makes it a reliable power source during your typical power outage situations
That lets you close your doors or keep them open under controlled conditions.
Looking for more business tips or emergency advice? Check out our General section for more posts.
