Storm preparations

[Tweaked]

The wether geeks are announcing a busy hurricane season with at least a dozen named storms. I am a survivalist, and preparations make thinks much easier. Yes we are always out from August, and yes we live in New England, but we can be hit a third time. Nothing wrong with taking a look at your setup and asking yourself if you could do a week or more with no power. Irene we were out 9 days, and Sandy was a week for us. It's a good time to think about it, and start saving for that generator, ecotech back up battery, battery powered bubblers, etc.

 

[muppet]

I've gotta start up my generator this weekend and make sure it still turns over. I keep thinking I forgot to put stabilizer in the tank, then I think I did, then I think I didn't...

 

[Breadman03]

I make sure to dump my gas cans into my car about every other month. Also, I drain all the fuel from my generator and run the carb dry.

Have you changed the oil?

 

[Tweaked]

I picked up 4 of these for my displays, check em out. Come on only with loss of power- neat.

Silent Air B11

 

[GaryLCrouch]

I picked up 4 of these for my displays, check em out. Come on only with loss of power- neat.

Silent Air B11

I might pick up one for my tank

 

[muppet]

I make sure to dump my gas cans into my car about every other month. Also, I drain all the fuel from my generator and run the carb dry.

Have you changed the oil?

I changed the oil but I keep the generator topped off with stabilizer in the tank, as the manual says to do it. Maybe I shouldn't what with the ethanol in the gas... I wouldn't be sure how to drain the carb. I'm not handy at all.

 

[sdheath]

I wouldn't be sure how to drain the carb. I'm not handy at all.

Just start the generator then turn off the fuel supply valve and let it run itself out of fuel.

 

[Tweaked]

Just start the generator then turn off the fuel supply valve and let it run itself out of fuel.

Exactly:thumbsup:

 

[BubbaBoBobBrain]

I run my generator at least once a month for a few minutes with a load on it to keep it in working order. So far I have only used it once and the power was only out fpr an hour so by the time I got everything hooked up the damn power came back on, lol. Luckily where I live the power almost never goes out but its nice to have the generator in the off chance that it does.

 

[muppet]

Last time I used it was for around 12 hours (not including several hours of shutdown overnight) and boy was it a lifesaver just to have a few lights and the DVD player for the evening. And of course the ability to run my pumps/lights.

 

[GaryLCrouch]

I picked up 4 of these for my displays, check em out. Come on only with loss of power- neat.

Silent Air B11

\
I just ordered one for my new tank lol

 

[gar732]

I have a dry cell car battery for a back up for my vortech which can run it for about a week. I also bought a gerator for the last storm we had but never lost power. Seeing this now reminds me that I should take it out of the box and run it finally, lol.

 

[muppet]

I figure now that I spent a ton of money having the generator delivered and the house wired with a transfer switch DURING the last blackout, there will never be another one.

And I'm fine with that.

 

[BubbaBoBobBrain]

I figure now that I spent a ton of money having the generator delivered and the house wired with a transfer switch DURING the last blackout, there will never be another one.

And I'm fine with that.

Best investent ever, lol. I feel the same way, lol

 

[Pdm2476]

After our first 2 week blackout in Sterling I went out and bought a big ole generator.. Last year my dad and I wired in a transfer switch ( nice to have an electrician in the family lol) It makes things so easy flip 2 switches and push the button on the generator and lights on....Oh and yes one of the circuits on the transfer switch is my office with my tank lol

 

[Rwinfrey]

Awwwwww automatic 10 k bliss but I do need to order propane

 

[ca1ore]

Got to have a generator in CT now! Four almost week long outages since 2010 make it s must-have if you actually want to keep your tank alive long-term. I also have a bunch of 5 gal gasoline containers that I will fill if a storm is forecasted. If nothing happens, then I just put the gas into my car.

 

[Breadman03]

Honestly, I should get a propane conversion for my generator.

Gas only needs to be stable for 90 days after refining. By the time we take possession of it, a couple weeks could already be wasted. More if purchased from a slow gas station.

Propane stays good for a very long time and doesn't gum up, so one could readily buy a 100lb. propane tank and keep it ready for an outage.

 

[jcbert]

What are ppl in condos doing for a backup? I was told our new place in Southington fared well through everything, but you never know.

I'm in an end unit next to a tree line, and keep my gen at my parents house about 10 min away. I was thinking of converting a rubbermaid storage box courtesy of a great youtube video. Just set it up on the tree side when things look bad then break it down.