Nobody wants to be subject to hours of 60-70 decibel sound constantly, nor do we want to suffocate on hazardous and odorless fossil fuel gases like carbon monoxide released as part of the process of combustion. We generally keep generators outside our homes for these reasons and more. However, keeping them in the outside environment also has its disadvantages. Rain, as well as snow and heavy winds, have the capability of damaging your portable generator.
Generators are equipped with multiple electronic parts and alternators which when exposed to moisture can pose significant hazards. Just for that reason, we have sheds or enclosures in which you can keep them without the risk of having them malfunction when you need them the most. Portable generator sheds come in various shapes and sizes, and it can be a hassle when you’re out to choose one for your home.
What To Consider Before Buying A Shed For Your Portable Generator?
Take Dimensions Into Consideration:
When out to buy a shed for a portable generator, make sure to first measure the dimensions that you’ll be needing. You don’t want to buy a shed which is too small or too big, you want it to fit just right. Have it too big and you’ll be worrying over how to move it around from one place to another and facing difficulties when wanting to store it.
Have it too small and run the risk of your generator not fitting into the enclosure. For that reason, the market offers enclosures which come in all kinds of sizes and shapes. Choose the enclosure that is fit for your generator.
Can It Help Reduce Sound?
The second thing that you would want to consider would be the enclosure’s ability to reduce the amount of sound your generator makes. If you’re living in a city and have a number of neighbors who are not very appreciative of the loud sound your generator makes, then you must have an enclosure which promises sound reduction. Furthermore, if you’re using your generator for a night out camping, then the distraction made by the sound will bring you and everyone around you down and will prevent you from focusing on the activity.
If you have a generator which makes a lot of noise, then you would have to buy an enclosure whose material is quite dense and is able to absorb the sound waves coming from your generator. However, if your generator is relatively quieter, then you won’t need any rough and tough enclosure. A simple one would do just fine. If you can’t find an enclosure which is efficient in sound reduction, you always have the option of insulating its walls yourself. There are many materials in the market designed specifically for the reduction of sound. Although having to buy insulating material separately for your enclosure seems to be a little heavy on your wallet, having it installed would bring you peace of mind, literally.
Some sound absorbing materials include acoustic foam, which is usually used in studios to avoid having the sound of echoes enter the recording, as well as the sound absorbing foam, and acoustic panels. These materials can be found easily on major online marketplaces or in your local home stores. Applying these materials to your generator enclosure is not a very hard task either. All you will have to do is to use some glue and stick them to the walls and the ceiling of the enclosure.
Where Will The Generator Be Used?
The third factor which comes into play when thinking of buying a tent for a portable generator is the environment in which you want to use your portable generator. Whether it rains, snows or is extremely hot in your area or the area where you want to take your generator; all these become a crucial part of the decision-making process behind buying a shed. If it rains a lot, then you must buy a shed made out of a material which resists water instead of absorbing it. Having a wooden enclosure, in this case, would be detrimental. Wood absorbs water which makes it soft and unable to sustain pressure without breaking. In this case, I would suggest that you buy an enclosure which is either made out of steel or one which is made out of water-resistant cloth, the kind that is used to build tents. If it snows a lot where you reside, then it is wise not to have a steel enclosure.
Since the generator produces heat, and in turn uses that heat to produce electricity, having a steel enclosure in a snowy climate would serve counterproductive. Since steel is a good conductor, it gets very hot and very cold very quickly. Having a steel enclosure for your generator where it is cold would be like going against the flow of water. The work that your generator is doing will get reversed, and less power will be produced.
Availability Of A Functioning Air Flow System
The enclosure should have a functioning airflow system. Since essentially what your generator is doing is burning off fossil fuels and then using the heat produced to create electricity, there are a lot of hazardous gases that are being released. Further, since the gases produced are hot and heavy, this runs the risk of having your generator overheat and stop functioning. Therefore, it is essential that the shed you want to buy comes equipped with an airflow system.
If it doesn’t, it is not very hard to create one. Though I would not suggest it, since it runs the risk of your generator being exposed to outside weather, it is very possible to make two holes in the enclosure to ensure that air is being ventilated constantly.
Other Considerations:
Aside from the factors I mentioned above, there are other things to consider as well. When buying from the market, you are likely to find many sellers of essentially the same type of product. Therefore, it is important to get a general overview of the sellers and customer experiences when they have bought from a particular seller.
Other important factors include price as well as durability, and mobility. The price should be reasonable enough to offer good value while the shed should be made using any of the tough and resilient metal alloys, hardwood or any other durable material.
Remember…..
If all else fails, then you always have the option of building your own portable generator shed. The materials used can easily be found in any home store in your area. Though you will have to go through the discomfort of having to assemble the shed yourself, you’ll have the comfort of having built it using your own hands.