Do you have a generator

[Pooh2]

Ours is 5000 and runs off gas. We have a woodstove for heat.

Our primary concerns were sump pump, fridge, lights and shower.

After a winter storm left us without power a few years ago, the fire dept came out and hooked up an old generator to get the sump pump going as our basement was rapidly filling. What a mess to clean dry things out! That inspired us to get a generator! Have not needed it since!

 

[EMAW_KSU]

Sorry to bump this but we went generator shopping today. I think we are going with the 1600 KW. When you live in the middle of nowhere and have no water or electric, it is a long haul.
Never thought about losing water. Cannot flush a toilet, take a shower, wash dishes? The well pump does it all. We have propane to run heat but we never turn it on. The house is well insulated.
Any way I am preparing for winter because it is supposed to be nasty. But I still love to live in the Midwest.

A 1600 KW generator is huge. Are you sure on the size? If you mean 1600 watts that will most likely not be big enough to run a well pump.

 

[North of Mouse]

and how big is it? After 2 weeks ago with no electric, air and water for 2 days I want to get one. I just threw out a ton of food from 2 fridges and a freezer because it sat for too long without refegeration. A small fortune in groceries (won't miss all the deer meat).
An employee got one for $800 but it is small portable one that runs on gas. If the power is off in the whole area the gas pumps won't work. I've looked at several and the prices are all over the place. They all run on propane.
8,000 watts $2000
13,000 watts $3000
20,000 watts $4000
You never think about this in the summer. You think winter power outages.
If anyone is knows a little about this I can tell you how big the house is and what I need to run. I want to buy one and have it installed before DH returns in August.
TIA.

Having been through many hurricanes, we have had generators for years. They are well worth the money.

We have a Generac 5500 w with a storm power surge of about 8000 w. Our house is wired to flip a switch, then plug the generator in. We have pre wired the freezer, refrigerator, well, fireplace fan, a few lights and outlets. We can do without AC and just use fans for the 1-2 weeks that we are without power. We used it the last time for a ice storm and kept the house warm enough (about 55*-60*) just using the propane fireplace.

My DH runs it about every six months to keep it in good condition, then runs the gas dry. We keep containers of gas filled, and rotate them to keep the gas fresh (riding lawn mower,etc.). It starts great every time.

It's the best insurance we have Our neighbors do not have one, so we offer to plug their coffee pots in, etc. so long as it's nothing too large. They talk about it when needing one, then settle back in their routines without buying one after the need is over

 

[mrodgers]

Generator would have been nice today. Power went out about 3 hours after putting a roast in the crock pot for dinner. Just a crappy roast from Walmart, so it wasn't a big loss there. Problem is, the kids and I just had gone out and dug up the rest of our potatoes, which wasn't much, and we cut up about half of them and tossed them in with the roast. There isn't much better than fresh potatoes dug out of the ground and eating them within hours.

Had to toss it all away and run to Arby's for dinner.