The demand for home generators hasn't been too demanding this hurricane season. But we'll be eating turkey during Thanksgiving before we're officially finished with Hurricane Season on November 30th.

If you've been pondering adding a generator to your hurricane supply kit, or already have one, here are some things to keep in mind:

First, you'll need to know how much power you'll need. Basic machines, items like sump pumps and the air conditioner take up a lot of juice.

Second, they don't run forever. On average, a generator eats up a half gallon of gasoline an hour. And remember, always power down a generator when re-fueling.

Portable generators need to be run outside your house and away from open windows because of carbon monoxide emissions.

Now, if you want more power, the Siemens company wants you to consider what they're marketing as the "stand-by generator." Steve Korb of Siemens Power and Energy says,"The stand-by power generator is the next generation of generator."

Korb says 15 seconds following a power outage, this giant lock-box will kick in, providing whole house power. Siemens touts these units can keep food fresh and the kids at ease when the lights go out.

The market for these machines has grown 566% in the past five years, according to "Generac Power Systems," another generator manufacturer.

The unit becomes a permient fixture in the backyard and must be anchored to the ground. Then the company says you can forget about it once it it connected to a natural gas line or a propane tank.

A portable generator can cost less than $1,000.

While the Propane Education & Research Council reports that standby generators start at $1,500 and installation will cost about $1,000.

That's a Look at Your Home,

Scott Fais, Central Florida News 13.

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