No one likes when a power outage hits their neighborhood, especially if the power is out for a prolonged period of time. While a power outage can be a nuisance, it's barely disruptive if you have a generator. A generator is a simple, gas-powered device that you should think about owning. You can buy generators of all sizes at hardware stores. A visit to the store in your area will give you a chance to check out some models, talk to a salesperson, and find a generator that will suit your needs. Here are some reasons that it's a good idea to own a generator.

Prevention Of Food Spoilage

One of the big concerns when your home loses power is that your refrigerator and freezer will begin to warm up. Keeping the doors of these appliances closed will prevent the rapid loss of cold air, but the internal temperature will begin to climb over time. If your power outage is prolonged, there's a good chance that some of your food items will spoil. If you were to lose a majority of the items in your fridge and freezer, the monetary value of the spoilage may be very high. When you can quickly use extension cords to plug these appliances into a generator in your yard, you'll be able to keep your food from spoiling.

Power For Medical Devices

Having a generator also allows you to have a power source for certain medical devices that you might not otherwise be able to run during a power outage. If you have a family member who uses an important medical device daily, a generator is a good investment. For example, if someone has sleep apnea and uses a CPAP machine to provide oxygen at night, you can simply run an extension cord from the generator to the bedroom so that this machine can continue to operate and perform its vital function.

Ability To Work From Home

If you work from home, you don't want to let a power outage get in the way of your job. For example, if you're scheduled to join an important video conference at which you'll be presenting something to your colleagues or clients, you don't want to worry that your home will lose power. Having a generator will provide peace of mind in the event of a power outage. It won't take you long to restore power to your computer and other devices. 

For more information, contact a hardware store near you.