Businesses, construction companies, industrial plants, schools or hospitals may at some point find themselves in need of a generator. This may be due to a planned power outage, an expected surge in demand or an unfortunate and unexpected power loss. In these situations, the most practical and cost-effective solution is often to hire a power generator. This is ideal if your need for a generator is likely to be shot term or infrequent. It is important to make sure you get the right portable generator for your needs. You need to find one that will be powerful enough, while also keeping safety and security in mind too.
Here are three questions you should ask before renting a portable generator in the UK:
1.Hiring a portable generator in the UK: what type do I need?
There are so many different types of portable generator available, including petrol and diesel models. To ascertain which is best for you, you first need to decide what your power requirements are. Choosing the right generator is essential: choose one with too little power and you risk being unable to power up all your necessary operations. Pick a generator that is too big for the job and you are likely to pay more than you need to for its hire.
An effective way to determine how powerful your generator should be is to calculate the wattage of the machines that will be powered by it, plus extra wattage for starting them up. Be sure to double-check all your calculations and show them to the rental company, who should be able to offer guidance and support to help you select the right type and size of generator. They may have offered generators for similar enterprises and settings to yours and are well placed to give advice. Other factors to consider when choosing which generator best suits your needs are what space is available for it and what kind of environment it will be placed in.
2.What will be included in the rental agreement?
It is essential to know exactly what is included in your generator rental package in order to avoid any costly and time-consuming surprises. Check whether the rental agreement will include accessories and tools, such as cable ramps or plugs. The rental company should be able to provide you with everything you need to get the generator up and running and if not, you need to be prepared with your own equipment. You also need to check that the rental agreement includes delivery of the generator, installation and disconnection after use too.
You may also want to clarify exactly how the generator will be fuelled. Many run on diesel while others are powered by petrol or natural gas. You need to know whether fuel is provided, how much you will be given and how it should be stored. Finally, does the rental agreement include staff training on how to use it? Knowing exactly what is included in the rental package before you sign is essential to help avoid any problems further down the line when time is usually of the essence.
3.Can you guarantee my generator will work as it should?
Before hiring a portable generator in the UK, be sure you check out the rental company’s credentials. Find out what will happen in the event that something goes wrong or the generator breaks down. Check whether the rental company has insurance which covers you too, or whether you need to arrange your own. Look into the rental company’s maintenance programme to understand how their generators are looked after and how often servicing is carried out on equipment. Will they come and repair any issues during your hire period and will this result in an extra charge?
Some companies offer a remote monitoring system which allows them to keep an eye on how the system is performing, energy use and fuel consumption. It can even notify them when more fuel needs to be delivered. Check if your rental agreement includes these features too.
Hiring a portable generator in the UK: selecting the right one
When renting a portable generator in the UK, there are many things to keep in mind. Whether your need is planned or comes at short notice, armed with these three questions and an understanding of your power needs, you should find your ideal generator.
