Skip to content

The Canada Post strike will impact the delivery of your bill. Switch to e-billing and pre-authorized payments to ensure uninterrupted access to your bills.

Don’t Be Left in the Dark. A Backup Generator Will Have You Powered Up in Seconds.

From thunderstorms to ice storms, when bad weather hits, a home standby generator can keep your family safe, warm, and connected. At Reliance Home Comfort®, we offer rental, sales, service, and installation of residential generators, so you’ll be ready to beat the next blackout.

 

Beige Generac generator

About Generators

Why Should I Invest in an Automatic Backup Generator Instead of a Portable Generator?

A power outage can get expensive. Lost food, a flooded basement and the disruption to your family life – not to mention the problems it could cause if you are running a business or working from your home. That’s why a backup generator is a smart investment for Canadian homeowners.

Trying to decide which emergency backup power option is right for you? Here are a few things to keep in mind.

A home standby generator is a backup electrical system that comes on automatically to provide power in the event of an outage – whether you are home, or away. No more sitting in the cold and the dark wondering when the power is going to come back on.

A residential generator is installed outside your house like an A/C unit. Within seconds of detecting a power outage, it automatically distributes backup power to your entire home, or to cover select loads.

Reliance offers a wide range of top-quality residential generator solutions from Generac. Whether you need 9kW or 22kW, we can help you determine the right size generator to keep your life powered.

Reliance makes it easy to be ready for the next power outage. Our Home Comfort Advisors and licensed electricians can help you choose a generator that is the right size for your home, and you’ll enjoy expert installation and maintenance services – all for one affordable rental payment. Ask us about our financing options.

With so many backup generators to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start.

That’s why it’s a good idea to work with experts, like the team at Reliance. We can help you choose a generator that is the right size for your home, your lifestyle, and your budget.

Call for your free generator consultation today.

  1. Our Home Comfort Advisors conduct an on-site visit to review available generator options and to schedule a pre-inspection.
  2. Our certified electricians and gas fitters conduct a pre-inspection of all electrical and gas elements.
  3. Our electricians will determine any installation needs and permit requirements.
  4. We will also determine which fuel option will work best – natural gas or liquid propane.

3 Causes of Generator Failure

A well-maintained home generator can last years, however, occasionally, things do go wrong. Here are the most common causes of generator failure:

Even though your home generator is hardwired into your home a battery is used to start the generator when the power goes out. These batteries can fail over time.

A common issue related to generators not starting when needed is the master control set for “Auto” (automatic) operation is not set or mistakenly leaving the Emergency Stop Pushbutton depressed. After any activity is performed on or near a unit, always double check to assure that the generator set controls are set for automatic operation.

Automatic transfer switches (ATS’s) have moving parts and with that are susceptible to mechanical failure. Moving parts can seize if they remain in one position for long periods. It is best to ensure that moving parts will continue to operate smoothly with a monthly exercise that includes electrically operating the transfer switch with a loaded generator run.

Performing actual outage tests that cause the ATS to function will aid in exposing potential problems. Periodic lubrication of bearing points and inspection for electrical contact erosion are essential to good equipment health.

Prevention & Troubleshooting

There are a few simple things most homeowners can do to keep their residential generator in tip-top shape.

5 Tips for Generator Maintenance


  1. Keep the unit clean and free from debris.
  2. Make sure it is in ‘auto’ mode so it will start automatically if the power goes out.
  3. Be sure to monitor your generator’s LED and Codes on a regular basis.
  4. Be aware of your generator’s condition and know when to call for service help.
  5. Have your unit serviced regularly by a trained professional.
Video thumbnail
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WOf04K2kD_Q" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
When the power goes out – no one wants to be left in the dark.
Blackouts are inconvenient; the virtual meeting cut off, the lights going out, the stove not
working and the endless questions from the kids asking what happened to the Wi-Fi. And
then there is that final moment when the battery in your phone dies. Welcome to the Dark Ages.
In extreme cases where the power is out for a considerable amount of time there could
also be the expense of groceries spoiling in the fridge, or potential safety issues
when it is -30 out and you don’t have heat or hot water. Losing power during extreme
weather conditions can be serious business.
We can’t stop power outages from happening, but what we can do is help to minimize their
impact on our homes.
Being prepared for a power outage can provide real peace of mind – and by taking a few
simple steps, you should be able to stay safe and comfortable.
Think ahead. Be sure to create a plan so that everyone understands what to do in the case
of an emergency. It can outline safe exit routes, meeting places and designated roles
for family members.
An emergency contact list is also important and should include your local hydro provider
so that you can quickly report the outage and keep in touch for news and updates.
It’s always a good idea to maintain a well-stocked and easily accessible emergency kit. You never
know when events like power outages may occur, and you’ll want to be prepared.
Flashlights & New Batteries
Candles & Matches
First Aid Supplies
Bottled Water
Non-perishable Food Items
Emergency Radio
and Cash
And don’t forget to re-stock your kit after each use.
You’ll want to protect your sensitive electrical items such as computers, televisions and certain
home appliances by unplugging them or using surge protectors to avoid damage if the power
spikes.
And don’t forget…
To keep mobile phones fully charged – with a battery back-up
Keep your vehicle gas tanks full
Don’t open your fridge or freezer unnecessarily
Make sure that your carbon monoxide detectors have battery backup
And if the outage happens during the winter months and lasts long enough that frozen pipes
are a concern, you can create a slow drip on both hot and cold water faucets in the
kitchen and bathroom to help prevent frozen pipes from bursting.
One of the ways that you can help to keep your family safe, warm and connected is with
a backup generator from Reliance™.
It’s a smart investment for Canadian Homeowners and one that can help offset the disruption
of a power outage by getting you powered back up in seconds and helping to avoid any potential
loss or damage.
A home standby generator is a backup electrical system that comes on automatically to provide
power in the event of a blackout – whether you are home or away.
They are installed outside your house like an air conditioning unit – and within seconds
of detecting a power outage, they automatically distribute backup power to your entire home
or to cover select electrical loads.
The great thing is that there won’t be any more sitting in the cold and the dark worrying
about when the power is going to come back on. No heating or cooling loss, no food to
worry about and no missing work or all-important video game tournaments.
Backup generators of this type run on natural gas or propane, depending on your supply,
and are fairly easy to maintain.
Reliance makes it easy to be ready for the next power outage – and our Home Comfort
Advisors and licensed electricians can help you choose a generator that is the right size
for your home.
And while buying can make sense for some homeowners, many Canadians prefer the peace of mind and
flexibility that comes with renting their backup generator from Reliance.
You’ll get expert installation
24/7 live telephone support
No charge for repairs
Service, as soon as same-day, including weekends and holidays, all for one affordable monthly
payment
To book your FREE in-home consultation today, Call on Reliance™.

Reliance has over

130,000+

5 Star Online Reviews

Here’s Why Chatham Homeowners Choose Reliance

Featured Generator Resources

More Generator Resources

©️ 2020 Generac Power Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

*Subject to rental program terms and conditions. Replacement provided within minimum term.