--- title: Three Questions to Ask When Buying a Back Up Power Generator description: Taking the time to ask the right questions when selecting a backup power generator, increases your chances of avoiding disruption during an outage. --- [![Depico Power System](https://info.depco.com/hs-fs/hub/142125/file-1581455924.png)](http://www.depco.com/index.aspx) [Dealer Login](https://info.depco.com/login) 800-723-3726 9am - 6pm CST +1.713.675.6100 Int'l # [Three Questions to Ask When Buying a Back Up Power Generator](https://info.depco.com/blog/bid/194374/Three-Questions-to-Ask-When-Buying-a-Back-Up-Power-Generator) Posted by [Jack Barry](https://info.depco.com/blog/author/jack-barry) on Mon, Feb 17, 2014 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) In a perfect world, you’ll never need to rely on a back up power generator. But because an industrial generator serves such a critical need in supporting your business during a power outage, you need to conduct your due diligence the same way you would approach purchasing a piece of equipment that you depend on every day. Whether you’re in the oil and gas, manufacturing or marine industries, here are three questions to ask when buying a back up power generator to ensure you find the best equipment for your dollar and your overall operations. 1. **How Often Does Your Operation Lose Power?** If outages are a fairly regular occurrence and not a random event, you should consider an investment that’s reflective of the fact that the unit may be functioning as more of a primary power instead of a back-up source. This could mean going bigger, choosing a superior brand, or selecting a new unit rather than a used or rebuilt generator. 2. **What Will You Be Powering With Your Commercial Back Up Generator?** Think carefully about which of your operations are critical to maintain during a power outage. Do you need to ensure the continuity of each and every machine and area, or can you scale down production in a pinch? Do you have other facilities that can pick up the slack in the event of power outages? This will impact the size of the back up power generator you need to purchase. 3. **Do You Have an Expert?** Most credible manufacturers will be able to provide a knowledgeable in-house expert or recommend a consultant who can serve as a much needed liaison between your operations and the generator manufacturer. This person’s role can include everything from helping your choose the most appropriate piece of equipment to assisting with installation. Another critical function this person serves is educating a company about proper safety and maintenance. A back up power generator does more than keep the lights on and the assembly line running during an unplanned outage. It keeps your business running and your customers happy. And by taking the time to research all the available options and making a well-informed decision, you’ll gain the peace of mind that your operations will never fail – even during a power failure.   [![New Call-to-Action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/142125/f764f70a-988e-44ab-a4b5-b9dce95e951e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/142125/f764f70a-988e-44ab-a4b5-b9dce95e951e) Tags: [backup power](https://info.depco.com/blog/topic/backup-power) ### Subscribe via Email [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/142125/498b4442-52c1-4a1d-94f2-0c4f0f55ab5c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/142125/498b4442-52c1-4a1d-94f2-0c4f0f55ab5c) [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/142125/12c805ca-e10c-42c3-8674-1453c61a2bc3.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/142125/12c805ca-e10c-42c3-8674-1453c61a2bc3) ### Latest Posts ### Follow Depco © Depco Power Systems, Inc. 2013. All Rights Reserved. - [Home](https://info.depco.com/home/) - [Buy](https://info.depco.com/buy/) - [Sell](https://info.depco.com/sell/) - [Rent](https://info.depco.com/rent/) - [Industries & Applications](https://info.depco.com/industries-applications/) - [Dealers & Partners](https://info.depco.com/dealers-partners/) - [About Us](https://info.depco.com/about-us/) - [Buyer’s Resources](https://info.depco.com/buyers-resources/) - [Blog](https://info.depco.com/blog/?__hstc=118998038.a9b55e41bb15336c402cb90f6de3cd18.1371133201131.1373557551132.1373892328081.23&__hssc=118998038.1.1373892328081) Depco Power Systems | 8123 Hillsboro Street | Houston , Texas 77029 | 800.723.3726 tf | +1.713.675.6100 intl Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit Diesel, and all other brand names and logos are trademarks of their respective companies.