Should I buy a home standby generator?
August 12, 2009 by Power Generator and Backup Power Tips
Filed under More Generators Answers
Can you answer Julie C’s question about Generators?:
I live 30 miles east of Seattle in an area that is frequently without power. Up until this year the outages were less than 48 hours but this year we have had repeated outages, one of which lasted 6 days after a stronger than usual windstorm. I had to scramble to find somewhere else to be. I lost several days of work, all the food in my refridgerator and freezer. At what point does it make sense to just install a standby generator?
Portable Generator Reviews
I live 30 miles east of Seattle in an area that is frequently without power. Up until this year the outages were less than 48 hours but this year we have had repeated outages, one of which lasted 6 days after a stronger than usual windstorm. I had to scramble to find somewhere else to be. I lost several days of work, all the food in my refridgerator and freezer. At what point does it make sense to just install a standby generator?
Portable Generator Reviews
Generators Feedback: If you can afford it and maintain it, yes.
Generators Feedback: You definitely should install a generator. I think power outages have gotten worse and they happen more often. Also the piece of mind you get by having the generator is worth quite a bit. I would make sure to get enough power so that you could run a heat source and if you have well water, enough to power that too. $500 will buy a 5000 watt generator.
Generators Feedback: I decided to have a portable generator with manual transfer panel while my new house was being built. It uses a deep well for water, and without electricity we can’t even flush a toilet! Within three months of moving in there was a 16 hour outage following a snow storm. Then a hurricane knocked power out for a few days. Otherwise power has been relatively reliable. Even so, I’d never want to be without the generator again. It is very good peace of mind and money well spent. I don’t have to worry about my family being cold or not being able to eat. If you have to ask the question, it is time to do something about backup power.
Read about my generator installation, safety tips, and so on on my web page.
Generators Feedback: You should have bought one a long time go.
Generators Feedback: They are really worth it. If you have the money put in an automatic type. If you have natural gas or propane use that for fuel it will save having to fuss with gasoline or diesel fuel.
I live in the city but still have a 5000 watt gasoline one I can hook up to the furnace, a couple of lights and the freezer. We had power out for about 14 hours during a ice storm and it worked great. but I had to keep refuelling it every 5 hours or so.