When the power goes out, you want to be ready. But what do you do when you live in a small space such as an apartment? What is the best generator for an apartment?
Keep reading to learn about the best indoor generator options you have for keeping the lights on in your apartment during a power outage.
The Sensible Prepper To-Do List
Practical preppers understand a few important things. First, they cannot avoid disasters, so they prepare for them in the best ways they know-how. Second, disasters will not last forever, so smart preppers are buying time until things return to normal.
Your search for a generator should lead you to an affordable, small generator that will get you to buy as you wait for the power to come back on.
As you begin your search for What is the best generator for an apartment?, you need to complete a few tasks first. Create a to-do list of these tasks, and then start shopping for a generator.
Check With the Landlord
Start by checking with your landlord to make sure you can have a generator in the apartment. Your building may already have a generator in place that you do not know about.
Audit Your Energy
Next, evaluate your needs. Run an energy audit of your home so you know how much power you currently use and how much you would need if the power went out.
Take a hard look at all of your appliances. Are you using power as efficiently as possible? A good generator will supplement power, but it will not provide the seemingly endless supply that you currently have.
Look at weatherization in your home as well. Do you have leaky windows that are costing you more in heating, for example? Does your door need weather stripping?
Basic fixes like these will lead to less need for power and lower energy bills overall.
Furthermore, it’s helpful to know how much power your appliances need before purchasing the most cost-efficient generator on the market. So check out how much power your fridge needs along with other major appliances.
Read Reviews
After you’ve evaluated how much power you really need to run your home, read all of the reviews on the indoor generators. Apartment generators are different than generators for big buildings and homes.
What Is the Best Generator For an Apartment?
The best generator for an apartment will run off propane, solar power, or lithium batteries. Traditional generators run off gasoline or diesel, but you cannot properly or safely store a gasoline or diesel generator in an apartment.
Thus, you need to look for a generator powered by propane, sunlight, or a lithium battery to keep your family safe during a power outage.
As you look for the best generator for your apartment, keep in mind that most power outages last less than two hours. So you need a generator that will meet your basic needs for that amount of time. Having something lightweight and mobile makes it an even better generator because then you can easily take it with you if you have to move at a moment’s notice.
Here are a few of the best generators for apartments available today.
Power Banks
A power bank is a small generator with enough power to charge all of the basic devices in your life. While it may not keep your fridge running, it will allow you to charge several phones and even tablets at once. Some power banks will have enough power in them to keep essential appliances like CPAP machines running all night.
The ZeroLemon ToughJuice Pro 30000mAhP PD Power Bank markets itself as the toughest USB-C PD external battery pack. You can use two 18W or 20W USB C PD power adaptors to charge an external battery while you’re charging your devices.
Ultimately, the theToughJuice Pro is an ideal solution when your phone power is running low. It does not charge a laptop, but it can charge phones, tablets, and even earbuds.
It’s also the most inexpensive charging option since you’re just charging devices and not powering an entire apartment.
Solar Powered Generators
Solar-powered generators work especially well since you’re using a limitless resource, the sun, to power the generator. You don’t have to worry about toxic fumes filling your apartment.
You also do not have to worry about finding fuel for your generator, since the fuel is shining on the balcony.
The Ecoflow Eco River Power Station has proven itself to be one of the best solar-powered generators on the market.
It consists of 3 pure sine wave AC outlets of 600W each. As a result, it can run several essential devices for a long period of time.
The eco flow stores its power in a lithium-ion battery. You can charge it from a traditional AC current or DC outlet, or you can plug the generator directly into your solar panel.
So if you’re already set up with solar panels, a solar generator makes sense. You can continue to charge the generator, and it can continue to serve you well until the power comes back on.
Balcony Generators
Apartments in general run low on space. While you need a generator, you don’t want to end up using it as an end table in the living room because you ran out of space.
A balcony generator is ideal for apartments not only because of the space but also because of safety. Propane generators work especially well on the balcony since they have a fuel source that you do not necessarily want in your apartment.
Furthermore, because the ALP is a lightweight generator, you can take it with you when you go camping or if you need to move from your current location in a hurry. It runs on propane and not gasoline, making it EPA and CARB-approved and safe for your apartment.
You can use your ALP generator to charge the power banks in side your home as well.
Stay Powered
What Is the Best Generator for an Apartment? The best generator will meet the needs of a sensible prepper and keep your family safe. It will be portable, efficient, and powerful enough for your particular needs.
Are you seeking to become a sensible prepper? Check out our website. We have several articles that review products and inform preppers so they can be ready when the next disaster strikes.