Backup Power Options for Your Home

Power outages are a fact of life in Indiana. Whether it's an ice storm in February or a severe thunderstorm in July, most of us have experienced that sudden, uncomfortable silence when the lights go out and everything stops. The question isn't whether you'll lose power — it's how prepared you'll be when it happens.

The good news is that there are more backup power options available to homeowners than ever before. Let's walk through each one, weigh the pros and cons, and help you figure out which approach makes sense for your situation.

Option 1: Portable Generators

Portable generators are the most common entry point for backup power. You can pick one up at any home improvement store for $500–$2,000, and they'll provide anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 watts of power.

The appeal is obvious: they're affordable, available immediately, and simple. Fill them with gas, pull the cord, plug in an extension cord, and you've got power for a refrigerator, a few lights, and maybe a phone charger.

But there are real drawbacks:

• Manual operation. Someone has to be home to set it up, start it, refuel it, and monitor it. If you're at work or traveling when an outage hits, you're out of luck.
• Carbon monoxide risk. This is the big one. Portable generators must be operated outdoors, away from windows and doors. Every year, people die from running generators in garages, basements, or too close to their homes. It's a real and serious hazard.
• Fuel storage and availability. You need to keep gasoline on hand, and it goes stale. During major storms, gas stations are often without power themselves — so the fuel you need might not be available when you need it most.
• Limited capacity. Most portable generators can't power your entire home. You're running extension cords to individual appliances, and you have to manage the load carefully to avoid overloading the unit.
• Noise. Portable generators are loud — often 70–80 decibels, about the volume of a vacuum cleaner running constantly.

Portable generators have their place for camping, job sites, and very occasional short outages. But as a primary backup power strategy for your home, they leave a lot to be desired.

Option 2: Standby Generators

A standby generator is a permanently installed unit that sits outside your home on a concrete pad and connects directly to your electrical panel through an automatic transfer switch. It runs on natural gas or propane.

How it works: The transfer switch monitors your utility power 24/7. When it detects an outage, the generator starts automatically and transfers power to your home within about 10 seconds. When utility power returns, it switches back and shuts down. You don't have to do anything.

Pros:

• Fully automatic — works whether you're home or not
• Powers your entire home (when properly sized)
• Runs on natural gas or propane — no gasoline storage
• Quieter than portable generators (65–69 dB for most residential units)
• Runs weekly self-tests to stay ready
• Increases home value by 3–5%

Cons:

• Higher upfront cost ($5,000–$15,000+ installed, depending on size)
• Requires professional installation (permits, concrete pad, electrical and gas connections)
• Ongoing fuel costs during operation
• Annual maintenance needed (oil, filters, battery checks)
• Some noise during operation (though much less than portable units)

For homeowners who want reliable, automatic, whole-home backup power, a standby generator is the gold standard. It's the solution we install most often, and it's the one our customers are happiest with long-term. For a deeper dive into sizing, brands, and installation, read our complete guide to residential standby generators.

Option 3: Battery Backup Systems

Home battery systems have come a long way in recent years. Products like the Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ Battery, and similar systems store electricity in lithium-ion batteries that can power your home during outages.

How it works: A battery system charges from your electrical panel (and from solar panels, if you have them). When the grid goes down, the battery takes over — seamlessly and silently. Most systems include their own transfer switch and smart management software.

Pros:

• Completely silent — no noise, no exhaust
• No fuel needed — charges from the grid or solar
• Instant transfer — even faster than generators
• Can be paired with solar panels for true energy independence
• Low maintenance — no oil changes, no moving parts
• Eligible for federal tax credits (30% through the Inflation Reduction Act)

Cons:

• Limited capacity — a single battery unit (typically 10–13.5 kWh) will power essential circuits for 8–12 hours, but won't run your whole home for days
• Higher upfront cost per hour of backup compared to generators
• Not ideal for extended outages without solar to recharge
• Can't power very high-draw appliances like electric furnaces or large AC units for long periods

Battery backup is an excellent choice for short outages (a few hours to a day), for homes with solar panels, and for people who value silent, clean operation. But for multi-day outages — which do happen in Indiana during major storms — a battery alone may not be enough.

Option 4: The Hybrid Approach (Generator + Battery)

Here's where it gets interesting. More homeowners are combining battery backup with a standby generator to get the best of both worlds.

This approach reduces generator runtime (and fuel consumption), eliminates the noise for brief outages, and provides the long-duration backup that batteries alone can't match. It's more expensive upfront, but it's the most resilient setup available for a home.

How to Decide: Assessing Your Needs

The right choice depends on a few key factors:

• What are your critical loads? Make a list of what absolutely must stay powered: refrigerator, sump pump, medical equipment, HVAC, well pump, security system. This determines the minimum capacity you need.
• How long do your outages typically last? If you rarely lose power for more than a few hours, a battery may be sufficient. If you've experienced multi-day outages, you need a generator (or a hybrid).
• What's your budget? Portable generators are the cheapest option. Standby generators are mid-range. Battery systems and hybrid setups are the most expensive upfront but may save on operating costs over time.
• Do you have solar (or plan to)? If so, battery backup becomes much more attractive, as your panels can recharge the batteries during the day. Our guide to home power self-sufficiency covers how solar, batteries, and generators work together.
• Is someone always home? If not, a portable generator isn't practical. You need an automatic solution — either a standby generator, a battery, or both. If you're also considering an EV charger, factor that load into your backup power sizing.

Indiana-Specific Considerations

A few things specific to our area that should factor into your decision:

• Storm season is real. Indiana sees severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and ice storms that can knock out power for extended periods. The 2022 derecho left some areas without power for over a week.
• Rural power reliability varies. If your home is served by overhead power lines in a rural area, your outage frequency and duration are likely higher than someone in a well-served suburban neighborhood.
• Natural gas availability. Many homes in northern Indiana have natural gas service, which makes standby generators very practical. Rural homes without gas can use propane.
• Sump pumps are critical. Basements flood in Indiana. A backup power system that keeps your sump pump running is worth its weight in gold during a spring storm.

Not Sure Which Option Is Right?

That's what we're here for. We've helped hundreds of homeowners across Plymouth, South Bend, Warsaw, and the surrounding area figure out the best backup power strategy for their situation. Sometimes that's a standby generator. Sometimes it's a battery system. Sometimes it's both. And sometimes the honest answer is that a portable generator is all you need right now.

We'll listen to your situation, look at your home's electrical system, and give you an honest recommendation — no pressure and no upselling.

Call Banner Electric at (574) 936-9715 to talk through your options, or request a free consultation online.