Having backup power can be critical for many businesses to maintain operations when electricity fails. Commercial generators provide this emergency power, but purchasing a unit represents a major investment. Generator rental offers flexibility for some organizations’ needs at a lower upfront cost. Evaluating buying versus renting a commercial generator involves several factors from reliability to noise.
How Frequently Will It Be Needed?
If your locale experiences regular power outages or your business is highly reliant on electricity, buying a permanent generator ensures it’s always available when needed. Frequent or unpredicted usage favors ownership. However, renting can work for a business with only occasional or seasonal use when outages are infrequent. Short-term rentals for a planned event that needs temporary power also save buying costs.
What Capacity Is Required?
Consider your business’s electrical demands and essential equipment needs to determine generator size. Oversizing carries unnecessary expense while undersizing fails to maintain full operations. By buying grants, you have unlimited runtime at the capacity level you require. However, rentals usually offer modular sizing options at tiered pricing levels to scale up only as much capacity as needed for the duration required. Right-sizing for the situation controls costs.
How Quickly Is It Needed?
Buying means the unit is permanently on site and ready for immediate use as outages hit. Renting can take days or weeks to coordinate delivery and installation if you wait until an emergency arises. However, having a rental agreement already in place with a provider like Generac can make quick mobilization possible. But preplanning is key for reliable rapid deployment compared to owning.
What Are The Upfront Costs?
Purchasing requires major upfront investment into the generator unit itself, associated switchgear, fuel tanks and delivery, permitting, concrete pad installation, and professional commercial generator installation. Units easily cost tens of thousands for adequate power output. Renting charges only for the rental term needed, spreading costs over time rather than one lump purchase. This preserves capital for other business expenses.
What Are The Ongoing Costs?
A purchased unit incurs maintenance and testing costs to keep it operable, along with periodic parts replacements. Fuel storage and resupply must also be handled indefinitely. However, rented systems cover maintenance as part of rental fees. When not using the generator, rented units have zero associated costs, while owned units constantly require upkeep even when idle.
What Are The Noise Levels?
Larger generators produce noise pollution that may disturb neighbors surrounding business properties. Purchasing grants full control over unit specifications, like hospital-grade sound attenuation. But you must live with the permanent noise tradeoffs. Rented units can be swapped out if they prove too loud or bothersome. Renting provides more flexibility to change equipment and reduce noise intrusion if necessary.
What Are The Carbon Emissions?
Diesel generators release emissions as they operate, creating environmental impact. An owned permanent generator emits indefinitely whenever used, for decades over its lifespan. However, renting enables limiting usage only to truly essential scenarios. Rental providers can supply more eco-friendly biodiesel or solar panel-equipped units too. The right rented generator minimizes a business’s carbon footprint.
Do You Need Portability?
If your needs are truly mobile, renting portable generators provides the versatility to deploy temporary power virtually anywhere they’re required. Various hitches and trailers make rented generators road-ready. Bigger skid mount units have forklift-accessible frames for bringing power on the go. Portability needs often favor renting over buying since ownership is stationary.
Are There Local Permitting Requirements?
Permanently installed commercial generators must meet municipal permitting, building codes, and inspection requirements before use. Renting simplifies compliance since providers handle zoning approvals and installation systematically according to regulations. Avoid permitting headaches while still accessing emergency power through compliant rentals.
