30-second summary:

👀 Where to buy or rent a portable generator?: You can online at swiftequipment.com

💲 Generator rental cost: $80-$350 per day

⛽ Which portable generator is the most fuel-efficient & quiet?: Generac XD5000E

💰 Should I buy or rent a portable generator?: Read the article to find the answer

If you are a business owner or take care of operations for one, it is no surprise that you have to factor in every situation before deciding something. And when it is about looking at the pros and cons of renting a diesel generator every year, well, we understand the dilemma.

When acquiring commercial or industrial backup power portable generators, many factors ranging from the sizing and style of the generator to its efficiency and price come into the picture.

Let’s understand these factors better and get an overview to help you consider if choosing a generator rental or purchasing a generator will be the best choice.

Advantages of Renting a Portable Generator

Global Generator Rental Market size is worth over 4.72 billion dollars as of 2022 and that does say how popular a choice it is among indutrsies to rent a generator temporarily than buying one. This is mostly a popular choice amount the hospitality and the events industry where the power needs are high but are usually for shorter periods. Thus helping them save costs on maintaining  a generator when it is not in use.

One of the most obvious benefits of rent to own generators is that it takes only a fraction of the start-up cost when you compare it with purchasing one. This is important if you have limited budgets that are the key driver in the equation for your generator rental.

Available for a short period

Next, commercial generators for rent are available on short notices. This means that in case of emergency power needs, rental units can be a readily available option.

Less Maintenance

Along with these, they do not require maintenance and pose a limited downtime risk since if the generator experiences a problem during the rental period, the service technicians from your rental provider will come to repair and/or replace the unit, service which is often included in the price of rentals. And if your business is about continuous operations like mines and oil wells and needs immediate backup power, this is a critical factor that can help reduce exposure to downtime.

Can Procure the Best Size

Renting also allows you to return a portable generator that is sized for a particular job and select another one for the next project as and when the requirement for backup power arises.

Most rental commercial generators that run on diesel are set up to provide various configuration options like advanced control panels, voltage selector switches, numerous connection options, and are generally easier to modify most of the time.

No Installation Cost

Furthermore, these generators have no installation costs attached to them since they are portable generator sets that are optimized for an easy connection. Along with this, in the case of generator rental, you would not require any site planning or preparation, or the various electrical code requirements that often come with many permanent installations.

Pro Tip: Before opting for generator rental, make sure to check that the generator doesn’t make any sound, smoke, vibration. Also, look at the fuel consumption. Some of these signs could indicate an underlying problem that needs repair.

Unlike a permanent generator that you will have to maintain at all times, a rented portable generator can be used as needed for events like concerts, making them ideal for short-term, location oriented construction projects.

Advantages of Purchasing (or owning) a Portable Generator

Now that we have looked into the benefits of opting for portable diesel generators for commercial use, let’s look into the advantages of going for permanently installed generators.

To begin with, long-term use of a generator is one of the most important and primary reasons that can lead you to purchase a generator set instead of renting. Once you have selected the size and looked into the generator’s rating, making the decision becomes easier. Moreover, establishing the rating of a portable generator is important since an improperly sized or rated generator may not perform to expectations, leading to a greater failure rate.

Asset ownership forms the second most important factor as a few businesses cannot be locked into rental generator agreements, or have set time periods. You can also resell the portable generator if desired.

If you have to rent commercial generators for many months at a stretch, the pricing can escalate quickly. In such a situation, it is necessary to look at all possible scenarios and calculate how much rental costs with monthly breakdowns. Along with this, you must also consider the cost of a purchased generator and compare the two.

Most contracts designed for rented portable generators do not include emergency, prime, or continuous power – making permanent installation ideal. Also, this is crucial since this way you own the generator and are not dependent during peak rental times (like hurricanes and major power outages).

Owning vs Renting a Diesel Generator
Owning	Renting
Long Term Use	Short Term Use
Asset	Saves Money
High Maintanance Costs	Renter’s Advantage
High Initial Investment	Reduced Liability
Available At All Times	Limited Availablity

Portable Generator Rental Providers in Houston

Several rental providers ask for additional service fees to maintain the generator at set hour intervals (such as load bank tests and service), which adds to the cost of renting. And if you have a facility with a staff that is skilled to perform their own maintenance and repairs on the portable generator, it can save you time and cost during crucial periods. 

Since every generator installation is different, permanent installations unlike rental units come with fabricated custom ad-on, customized wiring, modified enclosures, and customized exhaust systems and fuel tanks that are apt for your unit. 

Selecting a Generator Supplier

While each has its pros and cons, when it comes to choosing one, it is ideal to look into your requirement and cost and then opt for one. Along with this, make sure to choose an ideal dealer for new and used generators like Swift Equipment, so that you can rest assured of the availability of stock, competitive pricing, round-the-clock troubleshooting and repair services, etc.

What’s more? With us by your side, you also get to reap the many benefits of our years of experience as the leading generator supplier in Houston.  

FAQs on whether to own or rent a portable generator

Under which circumstances should I rent a generator?

In case your commercial site has additional power requirements for a stipulated time period, it is ideal to opt for rental generators for the same. If, however, the added power need will last longer than a period of six months, you can consider purchasing used generators for enhanced cost-effectiveness. 

What is one of the primary benefits of buying a generator?

When you buy a new or used generator, you are entitled to get regular as well as emergency repair and maintenance service for the generator from your dealer. This may not be the case when you rent a generator.