Good Reasons To Rent A Generator Instead of Buy One

Simply put, buying a portable power generator can cost you upwards of hundreds of dollars all the way to thousands, and if the recession still has you in it’s choke-hold, it can be difficult to swallow your away around the concept of shelling your hard-earned cash for a brand new portable power generator.

Portable power generators are useful, granted. They’re convenient during power outages, blackouts, or any natural disasters that can down the power lines in your area. They also make a good power source when you’re out on a hunting, hiking, fishing, hiking or camping trip.

But the idea of buying a portable power generator you’re only likely to use a couple of times a year at the very minimum can be off budget in a big way. If you rent generators instead of buying them, you’ll be able to save a bundle on your backup power source.

First off, estimate what you can afford. Rental fees on power generators will depend on what state you live in, what your wattage requirements are, and how long you plan to rent the equipment. Then, too, the kind of fuel the generator runs on will contribute to renting costs, be it diesel, gasoline, propane or natural gas. If you’re the type of person who prefers your peace and quiet, there are a good number of silent generators on the rental market. Rental fees for a silent generator model may steeply differ from their noisier cousins, as low noise generator equipment is much in-demand these days. To get an idea on the fees involved, check out some of the online companies that provide generator rentals and see their pricing.

One caveat though: if you’re planning to rent a generator for a long-term project, you may want to consider buying a second-hand or used portable generator unit instead. Continuous renting is likely to burn a hole in your pocket; you’d be better off buying your own equipment.

One convenient way to rent a generator is to hire one locally. People who rent generators this way usually just drop by an outlet, like Home Depot, for instance, pick up their rental and head back home. If there isn’t a Home Depot or brick-and-mortar portable generator rental near you, the next convenient method is to rent online. One unfortunate disadvantage to this is that you aren’t likely to see the unit you’ve ordered until it’s delivered, and you could end up with some old clunker that isn’t worth the rent money you’ve paid for it. Sadly, while you could contact the company to return the rented unit, your shipping fee usually isn’t refundable.

To prevent this from happening to you (and your money), be a savvy consumer and scour the Internet for third party reviews of generator rental companies. A site with an actual image of the generator that fits your rental requirements is also a good bet.

So if you find yourself in need of a power source during a blackout, during power interruptions in your neighborhood, for outdoor parties, or other nature-related activities, rent a generator, and save some money for the rainy days.