Long-term power outages are costly, affecting comfort, safety, and productivity. Investing in a Cummins QuietConnect™ home standby generator can save you from these expenses, making it a valuable solution for homeowners.
Prepare for what to do in a power outage
Power can go out at any time, but finding peace of mind doesn’t have to be a headache. Cummins QuietConnect™ home standby generators are safe and convenient backup solutions for your house.
Stock up on essential supplies
Stow away nonperishable food, family-sized water, manual can openers, flashlights, and batteries. Prepare in advance for any medical necessities.
Charge electronics
Keep mobile phones charged and gas tanks full — Your phones and your vehicles are your lifelines to the outside world. If you have an EV, make sure it’s fully charged.
Create disaster prep kits
Use our Power Outage Ultimate Checklist — It provides in-depth information about what to do before, during and after an outage. It even shows you what to do for family members with medical needs.
Consider a whole house generator
Achieve peace of mind and consider a Cummins QuietConnect™ home standby generators. In the event of a power outage, your generator will automatically switch on and keep you powered
Find the right backup generator for a house power outage
Cummins manufactures high-quality standby generators suitable for homes and small businesses and provide dependable backup power across a range of applications. Use our generator size calculator to plan for your specific needs and prevent inadequate power during emergencies. Factors to consider when calculating include:
- Home Square Footage
- Home Essential Units (Heating, Cooling, Garage, Pumps)
- Family Essential Units (Kitchen Appliances, Laundry Appliances)
- Added luxuries (Hot Tub, Pool, Sauna)
After completing the calculator, you’ll receive custom information about your recommended whole house generator, estimated installation cost, financing options, and how to connect with your local dealer. Not ready to calculate? Find a Cummins home generator dealer in your area who can help with your sizing and installation questions.
- If you don't have a generator during a power outage, prioritize safety by keeping the fridge closed to preserve food.
- Avoid fire hazards by refraining from using candles or stoves/ovens for heat.
- If you have a whole house generator, operate it according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- For portable generators, use them outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Maintain proper ventilation and never use generators indoors.
These precautions will help ensure your well-being during power outages.
Severe storms can cause short-term or long-term power outages, but finding peace of mind doesn’t have to be a headache. Cummins QuietConnect™ home standby generators are safe, permanent and convenient backup solutions for your entire house.
After a power outage, prioritize safety by considering these tips:
- Discarding perishable food and medications that may have spoiled.
- Check with your insurance to determine if they cover any damages resulting from the outage.
- Take the time to inspect electrical appliances for any potential damage before use.
- Reset clocks, alarms, and other electronic devices.
- Additionally, consider replenishing emergency supplies, such as batteries and non-perishable food items, to prepare for any future outages.
Find a dependable generator for house power outages
Cummins QuietConnect™ home standby generators are safe, permanent and convenient backup solutions for your entire house.
Whole House Generators
Generator size hinges on your power needs - balance budget with comfort during outages. Cummins offers different sizing options for your requirements.
Automatic Transfer Switch
Cummins ATS instantly senses interruption then disconnects from the power grid while simultaneously connecting your generator to the home’s electrical system.
Connect Cloud App
Advanced remote monitoring allows you to monitor your generator at no cost and from almost anywhere while using a mobile device.
Find Cummins home generator dealers near you
Our dealers are just as reliable as our product. Authorized Cummins Dealers have in-depth product knowledge, all the required professional licenses, and meet our rigorous standards for installations, warranty repairs and a full range of services. One will work with you throughout the purchase, installation and ownership of your generator.
Talk to an approved Cummins dealer and learn how Cummins can give you peace of mind. Please ask your nearest dealer if they offer special financing on a home or portable generator.
House Power Outage FAQs
A Cummins home standby generator is installed with a Cummins automatic transfer switch. This transfer switch constantly monitors the electric utility power coming into the home. If it detects a break in service, it will automatically disconnect the home from the electric utility line in a split second and turn on the Cummins generator to power the home instead. The generator is fed either by a natural gas line or by a propane tank. While the Cummins generator is powering the home, the transfer switch will continue to monitor the electric utility line. Once it detects that power has been restored, it’ll automatically disconnect the generator from the home’s electrical system and reconnect the electric utility. The generator and the transfer switch do all the work without any manual interference. In some cases, you may not even realize there’s a power outage until you look out the window and see all your neighbor’s houses are dark.
Ensure that generators are used, maintained, and operated in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. If there is a concern that the installation standards have not been met, get an appropriate party, like the installer, out to inspect it. Give the generator a break that allows for any concentrated exhaust to clear away from the area. Open your windows and doors during this break to air out any concentration that may have collected in your home. Check the exhaust system for corrosion, obstruction, and leaks every time you start the generator and every eight hours when run continuously. Ensure that your generator is being appropriately maintained, including regular oil changes.
A permanently installed whole-home generator requires no manual hook-ups during a power outage. A Cummins home standby generator is installed with a Cummins automatic transfer switch. This transfer switch constantly monitors the electric utility power coming into the home. If it detects a break in service, it will automatically disconnect the home from the electric utility line in a split second and turn on the Cummins generator to power the home instead. Once it detects that power has been restored, it’ll automatically disconnect the generator from the home’s electrical system and reconnect the electric utility. A portable generator does require a manual hook-up.
Just as critical as having a Cummins Authorized Dealer professionally install your backup generator and transfer switch is making sure you choose the right size generator for your home. If it’s too small, the load won’t be able to power everything in the house. If it’s too big, you’ll consume extra natural gas or propane when you use it. The easiest way to make sure you select the right size generator is to have your dealer do it for you. But if you want to get a feel for how much generator you’re going to need, Cummins has an excellent blog post on calculating the generator wattage you need or you can use the generator size calculator at Cummins.com.
If you want to power your whole home and carry on as if nothing has happened outside, then a Cummins QuietConnect™ standby generator is the way to go. This permanently installed generator will be strong enough to run all or nearly all the devices in your home. With a portable, you will have to size the generator set to power only certain essential devices. There are other differences to consider before purchasing a home standby or portable generator. Your friendly Cummins dealer will be happy to walk through all of them with you. To get connected with a Cummins authorized dealer, visit our find a dealer page here. You may also want to use our generator sizing calculator to get a rough estimate of how much power you need. We make the generator buying process easy.
