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re: Home Standby Generators
Posted on 7/15/19 at 7:50 am to sec13rowBBseat28
Posted on 7/15/19 at 7:50 am to sec13rowBBseat28
Oh yes indeed. I had to basically fight with the wife to get the mother in law home yesterday. She wanted to hang around because she was glued to the news sitting there stressing out, and meanwhile I'm all out on the roads running errands. I came home and told her it's nothing more than just rain outside. Go home. 
1
Posted on 7/15/19 at 7:50 am to DavidTheGnome
I have one only because I put it in when I built my house but I wouldn’t have added it to an existing house. I have only used it 3 times in 3 years but it’s a great to have when a storm is approaching.
Posted on 7/15/19 at 7:51 am to RealityTiger
quote:
There aren't a whole lot of things I like to brag about, but I can't stress enough how much of a peace of mind you will get once you get over the sticker shock and brief buyer's remorse for something that just sits in your backyard next to your house and that's it. Take for instance, this past weekend. In years past, I would have been stressed the frick out dealing with the PTSD (ok not really, but kinda) of having had to sit through power outages of multiple weeks (Gustav, Andrew, other hurricanes and floods in the 80's, etc.) The thought of hurricane immediately used to bring to my mind that thought of being trapped in a house that's hot, sticky, eating shitty food, bored, etc. I don't care how people dress that up, it fricking sucks.
Since I've gotten the generator, it's just business as usual. Life does not get disrupted. You're not sitting there stressing thinking, "ok when is the power going out". You're also not running around town trying to find a generator or having to run and install one for the inlaws, etc. Not having to go stand in long arse lines at the gas station when power does go out. There's a large part of stress that will be erased from your life. Some people might call this a little bit ridiculous. But take it from me, you're making a wise decision bud
I'll echo this. Ours had already been installed when we bought our house. It's crazy to think my 2-year old's biggest concern when the power goes out is waiting for the transfer switch to operate and the lights to come back on in about one minute. When I was young, when the lights went out during a hurricane, all of those things you listed above were our reality: sticky house, boredom, spoiled food, unknown length of time without power, cold water showers (electric water heater growing up), etc.
Posted on 7/15/19 at 7:58 am to redandright
quote:
Exactly how do the costs break down?
Has anyone discussed the cost of running the generator over say 1 week of no power. What are yall seeing as far as gasoline/natural gas prices?
Posted on 7/15/19 at 7:59 am to RealityTiger
quote:
I had to basically fight with the wife to get the mother in law home yesterday.
During Gustav, we had my parents and my wife's parents and aunt at our house for a week. To say that we were ready for an empty quiet house was understatement. When they left, my wife tells me from now on she wouldn't invite her family if I agreed to never invite mine if we ever experienced an power outage like that. I QUICKLY agreed because my dad was telling me the whole week that the first thing he was going to do when he got home was have one installed on his house. Which he did. Every time it comes up now, I scream out "no in-laws".
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:02 am to Scooba
They say the cost is about $70-$100 per day to run; however, I've never seen an increase in my utility bill after running it for an extended period of time. Sure that will change when they install all of these smart meters.
This post was edited on 7/15/19 at 8:03 am
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:04 am to sec13rowBBseat28
Were having one installed on or new house. $6000 for everything, included in our electrical package. 22kw Generac NG.
Several reasons were biting the bullet:
•this is our forever house
•Rolling it up into the financing
•We live near my I laws and they will have a place to come if power is out (at least my MIL, my FIL is stubborn). Note: I love and get along with my in-laws so NBD unlike some of you.
Several reasons were biting the bullet:
•this is our forever house
•Rolling it up into the financing
•We live near my I laws and they will have a place to come if power is out (at least my MIL, my FIL is stubborn). Note: I love and get along with my in-laws so NBD unlike some of you.
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:04 am to redandright
I think they are great if you can afford them. I can’t afford one. I do have a Wheelhorse 5500 watt/ 7500 starting watts portable generator. Runs two window units,two fans, my lights,two refrigerators and chest type freezer. I can use an electric coffee pot and microwave if I turn off something else temporarily. Cheap,efficient and reliable, just not as convenient as a standby generator. I was out of juice for 3 minutes this last storm before I was running my generator.
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:05 am to sec13rowBBseat28
Can anyone tell me, if there is no natural gas to my house, can I still get one of these set ups? If so, what would fuel it? TIA
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:07 am to sec13rowBBseat28
quote:
They say the cost is about $70-$100 per day to run;
I guess it beats the price of a week long hotel stay. 
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:08 am to Festus
quote:I would think you could have a NG tank installed as well.
if there is no natural gas to my house, can I still get one of these set ups?
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:11 am to sec13rowBBseat28
quote:
I would think you could have a NG tank installed as well.
My only issue is I have a very small backyard, garden home type backyard. I'm wondering if the generator, and NG tank, would fit without looking ridiculous. I do have an open area next to my garage, concrete, just sitting there, that might fit both, and kinda hidden from my view. I could build a little fence around it.
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:14 am to sec13rowBBseat28
quote:I don’t remover the numbers but you would need a huge tank. Was looking at how big was needed for 55 kw. I ran a diesel 65 kw during Gustav and used about 60- 75 gallons a day.
I would think.....
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:18 am to redandright
It was worth it to my sister and BIL. They live in the Garden District and when they would lose power it was always for longer than she cared for.. They are freshly retired. When you need it.. it's worth it's weight in gold..and everyone wants to be your friend.
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:24 am to redandright
I have a 22kw Generac that I had installed for $8k and some change all said and done. Runs everything but my heater as that pulls too many watts. I do the maintenance plan for $300 a year (I am severely mechanically uninclined) and the thing runs very well. This weekend was the longest it had to run at one time for 16 hours. I will have to change the oil if another storm is coming. If you can afford it is worth it's wait in gold
If my other option is to go without power I will worry about that bill later. Mine is natural gas so it is pretty cheap.
quote:
Has anyone discussed the cost of running the generator over say 1 week of no power. What are yall seeing as far as gasoline/natural gas prices?
If my other option is to go without power I will worry about that bill later. Mine is natural gas so it is pretty cheap.
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:25 am to jmarto1
quote:
I do the maintenance plan for $300 a year (I am severely mechanically uninclined) and the thing runs very well. This weekend was the longest it had to run at one time for 16 hours. I will have to change the oil if another storm is coming. If you can afford it is worth it's wait in gold
I feel like the oil change should be included in the maintenance... either way, that sounds like quite the worthwhile luxury to have.
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:30 am to redandright
quote:
Are they worth the investment
Depends, how many times has power gone out over a 5 year period and for how long?
In the past year the power has gone out at least 4 times and one of those was for a week in the hottest days of the summer. Without it I would have lost a freezer of meat worth quite a bit and the fact the AC kept running was a plus.
The bigger problem is communication as when you lose power you generally lose service and internet access. Especially if you have bundled service for internet and phone as it all dies when the lines go down.
You need gas service to run the unit so make sure you are not in an all electric neighborhood with no access to gas or it is a moot point to begin with.
The units are not cheap and make sure you get at least 1:1 ratio for power if it is lost. Since friends will be camping with you the week or so their power is out it does not hurt to actually go 120% to 150% of your usual load just to be safe.
Electricians to put it in are not cheap and they get paid very well for what is about a 1 to 2 day job on the install. Plan for a week tho as in some places the red tape and city inspections make it take longer as they have to come out multiple times to inspect (they don't want your juice running down a "dead" line and killing the utility wokrker fixing it.
Do your homework.
Also, in addition too the service contract I suggest a unit that starts itself up on the same day you are generally there so you know week to week if there are issues. Weekly run time is about 5 to 15 mins and is loud enough you can hear it inside (a good reason to put this thing far away from where you sleep).
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:35 am to BROpaneTANK
Yes, it is included. If a storm comes before they come out then I will have to do it just to be safe. I'd rather approach a storm with fresh oil
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:39 am to Festus
quote:Propane.
Can anyone tell me, if there is no natural gas to my house, can I still get one of these set ups? If so, what would fuel it? TIA
Posted on 7/15/19 at 8:40 am to redandright
just recently built a 2200sf home and had installed a few months ago a Generac 22kw with a 500 gallon liquid propane tank, the tank is buried. it cost about 10k for everything. I have a 2 year old an a new born so that was my reason for installing.
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