htxag09 said:

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How many of them actually service and maintain them how they're supposed to, though? Especially seeing how some just ran for 100-200+ hours a month and a half ago? A generator isn't a set it, forget it, and always be covered type investment.

Also, it should be a reality and taken into consideration when fiscally looking at generators and when planning for emergency situations. The number of these things has grown exponentially. Don't expect parts or techs to be readily available

The above is a big reason why I just go with the interlock kit and portable generators. The unknowns really tip the scale to make the $20k in investment worth it to me.

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This. I change the oil and filter on mine every 100 hours or 12 months. I write the date of the change and current hours on the filter so I'll always have it. Mine ran for about 26 hours after we lost power, and I went out this morning and shut it off and let it rest for about an hour. When it cooled, I checked the oil level and added a touch. It's back on running now and I'm planning on shutting it down around 7 tonight to let it rest for an hour before starting it up for the night. And I'll be out there changing the oil either tomorrow afternoon or Thursday morning as it'll be nearing the 100 hour mark.

At the end of the day, people just think it'll be fine and neglect it. You're still without power, and although you can pretty much live normally, there's going to need to be some sacrifice on your end as well as a little bit of work and common sense (which most lack).

If you have a whole home, you need to maintain it. Just doing simple maintenance is all that is needed (oil, filter, air filter, spark plug, and battery) to keep it running great. You should always have an oil change or two on hand. You can grab the filters off of Amazon and some Mobil 1 from the local auto parts store. When the winter storm hit in 2021, I went out every morning to start it to let it run to make sure the battery was still good, and if it wasn't, was going to get it on a charger incase we lost power.

Hou-Ag said:

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Parent's Generac came on for 6 hours yesterday and then shut-off. After the boatload of money and year and half wait for install, not sure they are worth it.

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Oh wow…we've had ours for 2.5 years after almost a year wait. And we've had absolutely zero issues with it in these 2.5 years (knock on wood). They come out and maintain it annually for me and it runs its 10 minute cycle every week to make sure it's all running good. We only have propane where we are, so maybe that makes a difference.

As pissed as I was about losing my truck in May's storm, I'm so glad I got an F-150 Powerboost to replace it. I'm running my fridge, window unit AC, and a few other things with it in generator mode.

Ryan the Temp said:

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As pissed as I was about losing my truck in May's storm, I'm so glad I got an F-150 Powerboost to replace it. I'm running my fridge, window unit AC, and a few other things with it in generator mode.

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This is what I've been using. Still debating if I want to get a tri fuel generator and add a quick disconnect to my gas line, though.

My dad thinks the gas is shut off for some reason. There may be something to the theory of overburdening the gas supply.

My experience has been highly negative with the predator generators. Bought 2 during derecho. 1 for me and 1 for my mom. Inverter 3500. Mine gave me problems the first night. Kept throwing a low oil light. Oil was at the right level. Watched a YouTube video of bad oil pressure sensors. Pulled a switch and it worked. But I returned it.

My mom's worked perfectly. I borrowed it a month ago and ran it a bit and again ran perfectly. Yesterday morning. Fired up then started dying. Gave me the same low oil as the other one. So I pulled the plug. It ran for about 4 hours. Then died again.

This time a carbon monoxide light came on. But the unit is outdoors and away from any buildings or fences.

Worked on it. For a couple of hours and could never get it to turn over.

100 percent piles of crap. I am getting another generator but I won't depend on a harbor freight generator again.

Meant to post this earlier, if anyone is keeping track - downtown/old town Tomball has power.

htxag09 said:

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Ryan the Temp said:

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As pissed as I was about losing my truck in May's storm, I'm so glad I got an F-150 Powerboost to replace it. I'm running my fridge, window unit AC, and a few other things with it in generator mode.

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This is what I've been using. Still debating if I want to get a tri fuel generator and add a quick disconnect to my gas line, though.

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I'm considering the same. At the least, I'm probably going to have an interlock installed so I can run the house more easily, whether it's the truck or a conventional generator.

BowSowy said:

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Sea Speed said:

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htxag09 said:

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How many of them actually service and maintain them how they're supposed to, though? Especially seeing how some just ran for 100-200+ hours a month and a half ago? A generator isn't a set it, forget it, and always be covered type investment.

Also, it should be a reality and taken into consideration when fiscally looking at generators and when planning for emergency situations. The number of these things has grown exponentially. Don't expect parts or techs to be readily available

The above is a big reason why I just go with the interlock kit and portable generators. The unknowns really tip the scale to make the $20k in investment worth it to me.

---

For sure this. I'm in to my backup power about $1700 and should be able to power our garage apartment plus select circuits in our house or fewer circuits in the house and one home HVAC system. Really hard to justify an extra $10-$15 grand for the auto start generac.

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I think this is where I'm going to end up. Right now, I just have a small 3000W generator to run portable AC, fans, chargers, and a couple of lights - enough to not make it miserable. But I'm not sure I want to drop $15K to make it so that we go from not miserable to comfortable for a couple of days every few years. Spending less than that for a generator that will power something like central AC, fridge, internet, etc. seems like the way to go.

For your backup power, how long does a tank of gas last? And how much gas do you keep on hand? That is the one benefit I see to a Generac with NG - I don't have to wake up in the middle of the night to refuel.

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They sell dual fuel and tri fuel generators, which I would go with if it were me. They cost a bit more, but having options to fuel it would be worth the extra to me. I was talking to a neighbor this morning and he's running select things in his house on a tri fuel Duromax that's hooked to his NG line. Not sitting as pretty as many with a whole home, but still pretty comfortable.

If you go dual fuel, you can get some sizable propane tanks to keep on hand (and probably a lot easier to find to get refilled than gas) and the propane doesn't go bad.

Ryan the Temp said:

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htxag09 said:

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Ryan the Temp said:

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As pissed as I was about losing my truck in May's storm, I'm so glad I got an F-150 Powerboost to replace it. I'm running my fridge, window unit AC, and a few other things with it in generator mode.

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This is what I've been using. Still debating if I want to get a tri fuel generator and add a quick disconnect to my gas line, though.

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I'm considering the same. At the least, I'm probably going to have an interlock installed so I can run the house more easily, whether it's the truck or a conventional generator.

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Yes, this is a must. Bought this house in September and one of the first things I did was the interlock. Had it at my last house as well.

Oh I hear you and yes apartment living is a entirely different ballgame.

And my point wasn't to call out anyone just to drive home the fact that this is why everyone drives home preparedness. At the end of the day we can't depend on anyone.

And for the record I'm not sure WTF I'd do if I were in an apartment. Best option is to just have an evac plan ready.

I gambled and bought the same model a few years ago on clearance and the carbon monoxide alarm is real sensitive. I've found that keeping the exhaust downwind solves the issue for me.

TXTransplant said:

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aTm2004 said:

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Seanzy2012 said:

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randy828 said:

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BillYeoman said:

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Seanzy2012 said:

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Neighbors have power across the street since last night, but we still don't. I get that it's not all the same, but it messes with the mind a bit.

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That happened to me after Ike . Drove me insane.

I wanted to award Cemterpoint a Silver Star for Psychological Warfare.

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+1

Funny to see extension cords running across the street. One of my neighbors across the street let me use his portable generator for the extra week we didn't have electricity after they got it.

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My brother is a lineman, and he and I have had this discussion before, but still drives me nuts.

We don't have a transfer switch on our power box, so no way to hook up generator. We could do the fridge I guess, but I think the food is lost anyway.

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If you weren't opening it a bunch yesterday, it won't be. Our neighbors across the street are out of town and told us this morning we could raid their 2 fridges for any food before it goes bad, so knowing one of their neighbors has a whole home, we asked if we could run an extension cord from it to their house, and he agreed. We plugged in both and when I checked the food, it was all still frozen solid. At that time, it would have been without power for 29 hours.

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Stuff in my freezer stayed frozen for I think 3 days last summer when we had an outage. Stuff in the door had defrosted a little, but pretty much everything still had ice. Just don't open it.

My fridge is definitely warmer today, but I've opened it quite a few times (moved what I wanted to save to a neighbors). By tomorrow, it will be the same temp as the house.

But you've got some time with the freezer. If I don't have power by Thursday, my plan is to remove the meat and start cooking it.

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You have a generator, right? I know how you want it isn't hooked up like you want, but you can run it and just run a plug to the fridge. Or, if you neighbors have a generator, run some extension cords to your fridge.

On my wishlist. My current generator is 6250/8500, but this would be amazing.

This and a soft start for the AC would be great.

I can't get it to do anything now. Won't even kick on to set the CO monitor off.

Freebirds Bunker Hill line wad four rows deep. At least there were some hot mammas to stare at.

Are they on a scheduled maintenance plan with their installer?

They probably listened to Lanza.

Hou-Ag said:

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Parent's Generac came on for 6 hours yesterday and then shut-off. After the boatload of money and year and half wait for install, not sure they are worth it.

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My father in law's generac(less than a year old) blew up after about 2 hours yesterday. Block cracked and oil pouring out. Can't get anybody to take their call from the service/repairs company. He's livid.

I'm pleased with my Westinghouse 12500 that Amazon dropped last week. Set up an interlock and inlet on the back of the garage and have been running it non-stop(not counting an oil change shutdown) since about 4 yesterday. I've got it hooked to the gas meter and it's running the a/c, fridge, and most of the lights/plugs. Noisy as hell but that's less troublesome than not having A/C in this heat.

aTm2004 said:

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BowSowy said:

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Sea Speed said:

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htxag09 said:

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How many of them actually service and maintain them how they're supposed to, though? Especially seeing how some just ran for 100-200+ hours a month and a half ago? A generator isn't a set it, forget it, and always be covered type investment.

Also, it should be a reality and taken into consideration when fiscally looking at generators and when planning for emergency situations. The number of these things has grown exponentially. Don't expect parts or techs to be readily available

The above is a big reason why I just go with the interlock kit and portable generators. The unknowns really tip the scale to make the $20k in investment worth it to me.

---

For sure this. I'm in to my backup power about $1700 and should be able to power our garage apartment plus select circuits in our house or fewer circuits in the house and one home HVAC system. Really hard to justify an extra $10-$15 grand for the auto start generac.

---

I think this is where I'm going to end up. Right now, I just have a small 3000W generator to run portable AC, fans, chargers, and a couple of lights - enough to not make it miserable. But I'm not sure I want to drop $15K to make it so that we go from not miserable to comfortable for a couple of days every few years. Spending less than that for a generator that will power something like central AC, fridge, internet, etc. seems like the way to go.

For your backup power, how long does a tank of gas last? And how much gas do you keep on hand? That is the one benefit I see to a Generac with NG - I don't have to wake up in the middle of the night to refuel.

---

They sell dual fuel and tri fuel generators, which I would go with if it were me. They cost a bit more, but having options to fuel it would be worth the extra to me. I was talking to a neighbor this morning and he's running select things in his house on a tri fuel Duromax that's hooked to his NG line. Not sitting as pretty as many with a whole home, but still pretty comfortable.

If you go dual fuel, you can get some sizable propane tanks to keep on hand (and probably a lot easier to find to get refilled than gas) and the propane doesn't go bad.

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So you could get a 13000W tri-fuel like posted above for $2K. Get an interlock switch installed, and hook it up to your NG line and you're looking at sub-$5K for what is essentially a whole home generator?

My wife is due with our 3rd in September. I'm not gambling on this BS again.

Last I heard it could be a few more days. Not sure what I'm going to do

Yep

I have the 7000i and that thing will run my entire house besides the central air. I have propane furnaces so during the freeze it could easily run the blower fans on those too. Right now I'm chilling (literally) in a bedroom that's cooled off by a portable AC while my fridge and freezer are nicely chilled and not worry about it.

BowSowy said:

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aTm2004 said:

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BowSowy said:

---

Sea Speed said:

---

htxag09 said:

---

How many of them actually service and maintain them how they're supposed to, though? Especially seeing how some just ran for 100-200+ hours a month and a half ago? A generator isn't a set it, forget it, and always be covered type investment.

Also, it should be a reality and taken into consideration when fiscally looking at generators and when planning for emergency situations. The number of these things has grown exponentially. Don't expect parts or techs to be readily available

The above is a big reason why I just go with the interlock kit and portable generators. The unknowns really tip the scale to make the $20k in investment worth it to me.

---

For sure this. I'm in to my backup power about $1700 and should be able to power our garage apartment plus select circuits in our house or fewer circuits in the house and one home HVAC system. Really hard to justify an extra $10-$15 grand for the auto start generac.

---

I think this is where I'm going to end up. Right now, I just have a small 3000W generator to run portable AC, fans, chargers, and a couple of lights - enough to not make it miserable. But I'm not sure I want to drop $15K to make it so that we go from not miserable to comfortable for a couple of days every few years. Spending less than that for a generator that will power something like central AC, fridge, internet, etc. seems like the way to go.

For your backup power, how long does a tank of gas last? And how much gas do you keep on hand? That is the one benefit I see to a Generac with NG - I don't have to wake up in the middle of the night to refuel.

---

They sell dual fuel and tri fuel generators, which I would go with if it were me. They cost a bit more, but having options to fuel it would be worth the extra to me. I was talking to a neighbor this morning and he's running select things in his house on a tri fuel Duromax that's hooked to his NG line. Not sitting as pretty as many with a whole home, but still pretty comfortable.

If you go dual fuel, you can get some sizable propane tanks to keep on hand (and probably a lot easier to find to get refilled than gas) and the propane doesn't go bad.

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So you could get a 13000W tri-fuel like posted above for $2K. Get an interlock switch installed, and hook it up to your NG line and you're looking at sub-$5K for what is essentially a whole home generator?

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Basically, yes. That's the generator I bought. Unboxed it last weekend but haven't done the electrical and plumbing yet. Also going to get a soft start on my A/C.

The nice thing about the Duromax is the gas inlet is 3/4", which is what the line at the meter is. Neighbor got a Westinghouse, and he had to take it from 1/2 to 3/4.

YellAg2004 said:

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Anyone know if the Buccee's in Katy has any ethanol-free gas left?

Sorry if this has been covered. No power/internet and very spotty cell service currently.

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Went at 7 this am and was able to fill my container for the generator but there was a TON of pumps with bags already covering them. The taco stand inside looked like a UNICEF food distribution center trying to disperse supplies to the unwashed masses. Hopefully they get a refill on all their pumps today

But not an inverter. Not sure how much the cleaner power supply really matters. But worth considering.

TXTransplant said:

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Yeah, I posted a few pages back. We literally just unboxed it last weekend.

I told my BF to get his going, and I'd just move my stuff to his fridge. Then I got an offer from my neighbor to put my stuff in her fridge (she left town early this am). So that's where we landed.

My BF went out to run errands, which included buying the supplies to hook up my generator. I think he feels terrible he didn't get it done.

The heat really gets to him, so I didn't want to nag him to do it yesterday. My house is a comfortable 77, so as long as all my fridge food doesn't spoil, I'm good.

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If your neighbor has power, run some extension cords from her sockets to your fridge and a fan. There's a few houses on my street that those of us with whole homes are doing. It's not much, but helps.