Ways a Backup Generator Can Protect Your Business
Ways a Backup Generator Can Protect Your Business
Power outages cost the American economy billions of dollars each year. Unfortunately, these power failures can occur when you least expect it. For a business, this can be financially devastating. Whether the power goes out for a few minutes or several days at a time, you can’t afford the downtime. A backup generator can help you keep operations going continuously. It will provide an uninterrupted power supply for your computers, equipment, security systems, and other critical business components. Let’s take a look at some of the ways a backup generator can protect your business.
Provides Peace of Mind
A power outage for any length of time can be stressful. A 2018 survey reported that approximately 25% of businesses experience a power loss at least once a month. Imagine if it was your business, and you went without power for hours, or even days. The halt in production means you could miss deadlines and potentially lose customers. Knowing you have a backup power solution can give you peace of mind that you’ll have a reliable source of energy whenever you need it most.
Safeguards Your Facility
Most security systems require a constant power supply to work effectively. When security systems are down due to a power loss, your business will be vulnerable to break-ins and other security breaches. While power outages don’t usually last long, burglaries only take a few minutes. Leaving your business exposed for any amount of time puts your company at risk. You need a powerful backup generator to keep all your security systems active.
Maintains Digital Communication
From sales calls and marketing to customer service, digital communication is vital to the success of your business. When the power in your facility is interrupted, your computers and phones will go down, effectively cutting your lines of communication to your employees or customers. Being unavailable may leave a negative impression on new customers, who’ll bring their business elsewhere. With a backup power system, you can eliminate communication barriers and keep operations flowing without disruption.
Protects Electronic Data
Computers, some machinery, cash registers, and phone systems require a network to communicate with each other. These systems also store important data, which makes operating your business more efficient. If you were to experience a sudden power failure, your data systems could become damaged beyond repair. You could lose vital customer information, contact logs, invoices, and other essential data. A backup generator will protect your data by mitigating the risk of a total power loss on your premises.
Offers Financial Security
From machinery, computer networking, and phones to lighting and security systems, you rely on the main energy grid to run your daily business operations. If those operations were to suddenly be disrupted, the financial impact could be substantial. However, if you have a backup generator with an automatic transfer switch, your bottom line will be protected. When the transfer switch detects a loss of power, it will automatically switch the power supply to the backup generator. Once the main power is restored, power will be switched back to the primary grid, and the generator will be signaled to turn off. This entire process happens without any involvement on your part.
Prevents Health and Safety Issues
Power outages can cause electronic devices and equipment to malfunction. The loss of lighting is also detrimental to the safety of everyone in your building. Accidents become more likely after a sudden power outage. The heaters and AC not working further increases the risk for health problems. With a backup generator, you will ensure the lights will stay on and that your industrial equipment will function normally.
Don’t Forget Maintenance
One of the best ways to ensure that your backup power system will protect your business is by ensuring it is well-maintained over the years. Scheduling preventive maintenance can help you keep many problems at bay. Your maintenance technician will check all of the following components:
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- Oil: Making sure your generator has a regular oil change will pay off in improved efficiency and smoother performance as your system ages.
- Coolant: With quality coolant circulating throughout your engine, you can control engine temperature and prevent many problems that occur due to overheating.
- Fuel: Industrial generators typically run off diesel or natural gas fuel. If your system uses diesel, you’ll want to ensure it maintains the recommended fuel level. Generators that are constantly run with low fuel pull in excess contaminants from the bottom of the tank, which can affect engine health.
- Filters: Keeping your filters clear of debris will go a long way toward extending the life of your generator. Clean filters keep surrounding dust and dirt away from your critical engine components.
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- Cleanliness: Your generator should be cleaned regularly, as dust can build up on its exterior during its normal operation. Make sure the generator is completely cooled down, and then you can wipe it with a soft, slightly damp cloth. Never spray water directly on the unit.
- Hoses and belts: These can become cracked or loose as they age. If you notice an unexplained reduction in efficiency or any strange noises from your generator, you should have it inspected right away to ensure your hoses and belts are in good condition.
- Engine function: You can prevent many problems with your generator by checking its engine function regularly. Allowing it to run each month for at least 30 minutes at a time will help you identify performance issues so that you can have the unit repaired quickly.
Invest in a Reliable Backup Generator
Now that you understand the main benefits of having a backup generator, you’re ready to make your investment in a new system. At Valley Power Systems, our team is here to help you find the perfect power solution for your business. We are also happy to help with all of your generator installation, maintenance, and repair needs. We partner with businesses of all sizes in California. Contact our sales team today to find out more about our products and services.
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