Why do you NOT have a generator?

[Anonymous]

In the ten years we've been in our house, I can count on both hands the number of times we've lost power for any length of time, and the longest we've ever lost power is four hours (that was the derecho). It's simply not worth the expense, maintenance effort, etc., for even a portable generator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We got an estimates for a whole house one. Between 12K - 15K. Just could not justify the cost.
As for getting a portable one, I am usually without my husband around and i'm not comfortable setting it up.

Yes, it's always good to have a man around to handle the real work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm wondering this, reading all of your responses in the snowstorm prepping topic. You can get a portable, gasoline generator for about $500 at Costco that, at the very least, can power the refrigerator, some lights, electronics, and a space heater or two.

If you spend around $1500 (for everything) you can have a large portable generator and an electrician install an outlet and switch to plug it directly into your breaker panel. This becomes (almost) a whole-house generator.

For $5,000, you can have a natural gas or diesel one that activates and switches over automatically.

What I don't understand is, why do people live in areas where you can lose power for days?

Makes NO sense in the USA in 2016

You have not considered how expensive it is to have all power lines buried, particularly in low-density areas.

[Anonymous]

No space.

We did just fine without power for 5 days during the derecho. We used a cooler and flashlights. We are out a lot (walkable).

If we had a larger yard and money to burn maybe we'd get a built-in one, but it's just not a huge priority for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the ten years we've been in our house, I can count on both hands the number of times we've lost power for any length of time, and the longest we've ever lost power is four hours (that was the derecho). It's simply not worth the expense, maintenance effort, etc., for even a portable generator.

Us too, except that we've been here for 40 years. Maybe 3 times power has been out more than a day, and all in summer.

[Anonymous]

Your costs are completely off. We are having a switch put in and it is about $1000 and that was far cheaper than other price quotes. We did not get a generator as we have a young child and I was not running run with cords through my house as its not safe and not worth the risk. We are doing a remodel so it made sense to put one in. We'll probably buy a generator in another year. I just want to keep the heat and fridge after losing it for a week. We have not lost power in several years, so not sure if there is a need right now.

For whole house, its not that simple. You need the space for it and there are a lot of rules about where you can put them. We have a small house/no space. The cost doesn't also justify it as we wouldn't get it back if we sold the house. Portable makes sense as we can take it with us.

Also, I would not be ok running it without my husband home. He's fine running it. Not everyone has the skills or should be using them.

[Anonymous]

Haha, I will laugh so hard when all these idiots lose power for DAYS. Hahahahah

[Anonymous]

Because in Reston the power lines are underground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) Portable generators can't be run outside in the rain or in severe weather. Yet they produce so much carbon monoxide that if you even run it in a garage with the exterior doors open you could DIE. I don't think they're worth the risk.

2) Installed ones are expensive and my power doesn't go out enough for me to think it's worth it.

We have family members who passed away using a generator in the garage with windows open. VERY RISKY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your costs are completely off. We are having a switch put in and it is about $1000 and that was far cheaper than other price quotes. We did not get a generator as we have a young child and I was not running run with cords through my house as its not safe and not worth the risk. We are doing a remodel so it made sense to put one in. We'll probably buy a generator in another year. I just want to keep the heat and fridge after losing it for a week. We have not lost power in several years, so not sure if there is a need right now.

For whole house, its not that simple. You need the space for it and there are a lot of rules about where you can put them. We have a small house/no space. The cost doesn't also justify it as we wouldn't get it back if we sold the house. Portable makes sense as we can take it with us.

Also, I would not be ok running it without my husband home. He's fine running it. Not everyone has the skills or should be using them.

This is a good point. Women should not be in charge of engines and machinery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1) Portable generators can't be run outside in the rain or in severe weather. Yet they produce so much carbon monoxide that if you even run it in a garage with the exterior doors open you could DIE. I don't think they're worth the risk.

2) Installed ones are expensive and my power doesn't go out enough for me to think it's worth it.

We have family members who passed away using a generator in the garage with windows open. VERY RISKY.

It says very clearly all over it to not run them in the garage. It's only RISKY if you're STUPID.

[Anonymous]

Because I am not a wimp and my kids can go without electricity for a few days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because our row house is NOT in the suburbs. It is a short walk from an urban metro station. We RARELY lose power.

+1! Also, gasoline is dangerous and emits VOCs, so it's not the best choice in an interior row house, which can get ambient heat from neighbors anyway.

I could be wrong, but I suspect that the timing of you having a power outage is closely correlated with the timing of your neighbors having a power outage.

OMG this made me laugh!

[Anonymous]

My generator is my in-laws house and my house is theirs. How often do you lose power? It's just not something I worry about.

[Anonymous]

We went with the "If you spend around $1500 (for everything) you can have a large portable generator and an electrician install an outlet and switch to plug it directly into your breaker panel. This becomes (almost) a whole-house generator" option. After losing power in '10 Snowmageddon and the Derecho in '12, I felt it was necessary. We'll have heat, the basement outlets, which includes our wireless router, and most of the outlets - will be able to connect the microwave, TVs, and other small appliances. The dishwasher, stove, washer and dryer won't be powered up.

The cost was much more than 1,500K. The generator alone was $900, and the electrician was 1,300K, which included the outlet, breaker box associated with the new outlet and hardware. We can always upgrade our generator and breaker box to include more amps, but my main concern is and was heat.