In his book, Known and Unknown A Memoir, Donald Rumsfeld, the 13th and 21st US Secretary of Defense, shared important insights he gained during his career. The focal point of these insights centered around three axioms: 

• Known Knowns 
• Known Unknowns
• Unknown Unknowns 

Why This Concept Matters for Home Generators & Microgrid Solutions in North Georgia

Now you may be wondering what this has to do with home generators and Microgrid solutions. Well, actually everything, as I will share below.

Over the 25 years since I formed GenSpring Power, I’ve met with thousands of homeowners. What I’ve learned is that homeowners have various degrees of knowledge depending on their experiences. As a result, there are gaps in understanding of how they use energy, what the requirements of various appliances are, and how it affects the size of a generator system.  Homeowners just know they want to have power for their most important needs when the electrical grid goes down.

With this background, let’s apply Rumsfeld’s axioms to the process of purchasing of a quality home generator.

• Known Knowns – these are things that are known through personal knowledge, experience and understanding. These homeowners have done extensive generator research to identify the best brands and have a good understanding of what they need and want. Odds favor that homeowners in this group will end up with a quality generator system that will meet their needs for years to come.
• Known Unknowns – these are things we know we don’t know - gaps in knowledge. Through research, these homeowners have recognized that they need assistance in determining what size generator they need, or how and where to properly install the generator so that it provides long-term value and protection they are seeking.
• Unknown Unknowns – these are things we don’t know we don’t know. Due to a lack of knowledge, these homeowners are not sure where to start. They are likely responding to a recent power outage or to one of the many television commercials which has raised their anxiety or fear. These individuals may incorrectly believe that all generator brands, dealers or installers are the same, and that the lowest price is the best value. They are the most vulnerable to being taken advantage of by a fast-talking snake oil salesman. The result may be the purchase of a lesser quality, undersized generator, installed by a non-certified installer, likely incorrectly, resulting in poor performance and a shorter life span of the generator.  In addition, they may not have access to service or warranty support when they need it.

Why Most Georgia Homeowners Fit Into More Than One Category

Most homeowners will overlap to some extent within these 3 axions depending on their knowledge of generator systems. Regardless of where you fit, if you follow the important principles below, you are more likely to end up with a positive experience and a generator system that will serve you for many years to come.

• Don’t just accept that what you see on television or the internet as totally accurate. The best-known brand does not necessarily mean the best quality. Excessive advertising may mean that the primary focus is market share and not best quality.
• Do your own research through multiple channels to determine the best quality generator(s). 
• Research the warranty specifics. Not all warranties are created equal. Some degrade over time, meaning that after the first year or two, there are fewer and fewer items covered. The devil is in the details.
• Once you’ve narrowed your brand search, ask the manufacturers what dealer best represents the brand in your area. 
• Question the dealer about the brands they represent and why (more serious dealers represent two brands). Find out how long they have been in business and if generators are their primary business. 
• Confirm that they have licensed electricians and gas plumbers as employees on staff and are fully insured with general liability and workman’s comp insurance. 
• Inquire about the number of factory-certified service techs on staff, their level of training for maintenance, warranty support and repairs. 
• Find out who owns the company. Is it independent or owned by a large Private Equity firm? Private Equity owners have a history of reducing service standards and raising prices to generate as much short-term profit as possible with the goal of flipping or reselling the company in a few years. An experienced independent dealer is your best choice for continuity of quality service and support at a fair price.
• If they meet the above minimum qualifications, schedule an appointment. Any dealer that will not come to your home to understand your personal needs or installation requirements should be rejected. If they don’t care enough to come to your home for a potential sale, how can you rely on a quality installation or for after-sales service? You need to know who you are dealing with. 

Why GenSpring Power Is a Trusted Choice for Home Generators & Microgrids in Atlanta & North Georgia

GenSpring Power is an independent, family-owned, Georgia-based business with a successful track record of 25 years. We check all the boxes listed above. Our slogan “Power you can depend on, people you can trust” is our commitment to each of our thousands of satisfied customers.