<p>We are doing research about generators. We live in central NJ, and Irene has put the fear in us. From what I have heard, the portable ones are difficult to maneuver, dangerous, do not last that long, and they are worthless if no one is there to turn them on and gas is not available to keep them running. Large generators, capable of running two sump pumps, two refrigerators, some general household lights and plugs, installed outside using natural gas…this seems like the better way to go. Does anyone have experience with a brand? A company that sells and installs in central NJ? Help!</p>
<p>I also live in Central NJ and I would wait. Purchasing due to panic and a recent event is never good. While we did not lose power this time we once were without power for 4 days so I know what that is like.
I would find a reputable plumber in a few months once this current situation has passed and in the mean time do some research. I agree that you should go with a natural gas powered generator.
Good luck. Here is a link with information</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.smps.us/home-generators.html[/url]”>http://www.smps.us/home-generators.html</a></p>
<p>There are other alternatives besides just the two you have listed. I think you have to consider how long of a power outage you want to be prepared for, what you expect to operate during that time, what other support is available, as well as how much you are prepared to spend. </p>
<p>We own a portable generator, which can be used to run the sumps at our home as well as our rental properties (portability is important in our case). We also have a gas line from our house to our outdoor grill, so we can cook if the power is out. We have a fireplace for heat. Some people here have battery backups on their sumps. They also make a device which can be used to run your sump off your car.</p>
<p>Not saying you shouldn’t get a natural gas system, just research thoroughly beforehand.</p>
<p>Pass on the natural gas generator,way too costly for your needs…bu a 5000 kw genertor which would easily power a sump pmp,water pump,2 refrigerator/freezers,and some mis. Lighte and have some spare capacity</p>
<p>Re: gasoline powered generators. </p>
<p>Keeping a sufficient supply of gasoline to supply a generator with the capacity you describe for a 4 day use period is extremely dangerous. And a folly. A small generator intended only to power a sump pump and its not so minimal attendant fuel needs is a much more practical solution. And remember, gas does go bad.</p>
<p>Also, natural gas powered generators which are location static don’t work when submerged.</p>
<p>I would assume that prices are higher now than they will be later in the fall. Our lot sits high for our subdivision, but the basement has had water pre-sump-pump, according to the neighbors. Where we would locate a larger natural gas generator would not be under water, unless there was an east coast tsunami. </p>
<p>Power has been known to go out for as much as a week, so battery backups and portable generators that require gasoline are not good solutions, especially to our peace of mind. We have quite a bit stored in the basement, and it would be a nightmare if it flooded.</p>
<p>Typically in my area, power outages are primarily due to trees taking down power lines, and even if outages are widespread (half a million people in MA recently) they are also very localized (if that makes sense), and the commercial areas tend not to lose power or get it back quickly because there are no trees in those areas.</p>
<p>After Irene, we were without power for about 1.5 days. I have friends that live less than 2 miles from me that were out for 6 days. I have other friends less than a mile from my house that never lost power at all.</p>
<p>If there is no power anywhere for miles, getting gas for a generator may be difficult, although the gas station may have a generator or other means of pumping.</p>
<p>So for us, a portable generator would work fine for most of the outages we get. YMMV of course.</p>
<p>A colleague of mine had a sump pump installed which works on water pressure. If you are on a water system (not well water), your basement will stay dry even if you lose electricity, just as long as there is water pressure in your pipes. His basement at his house in Marlboro stayed dry, even though many of his neighbors had water.</p>
<p>I agree that the “solution” depends a lot on circumstances. I love the idea of a water-powered sump pump. But we have well water so that idea’s out, as is the idea of using natural gas (we don’t have that either). My brother’s house is on a hillside, and he uses a “gravity drain” which is just a 3" hole bored through his foundation wall. A portable generator works fine for us since there’s usually someone home, and we have multiple cars in the family to siphon gas from. [Note: I do not recommend this method, but it works for us.]</p>
<p>If you’re planning to get a generator capable of running most of the house, factor in the cost of installing a duplicate power panel for the generator to plug into. Your electrician can explain why that’s a good idea.</p>
<p>PS, we were out seven days after Irene.</p>
<p>Where do you run your gas powered generators? </p>
<p>We bought one for our sump but it states not to run it in the rain. However this is exactly when I need to run it. I do not want to electrocute any of us. I also do not want to die from the exhaust.</p>
<p>I stocked up on gas for Irene. I will put this gas in the cars and then stock up before the next storm.</p>
<p>I did see a show where someone said you should make sure you have enough oil for the generator as they go through it fast. I do not know if this is true.</p>
<p>Since we bought it 4 or 5 yrs ago we have not had to use it.</p>
<p>a portable generator is fine unless you have very frequent power outages. You will need an electrician to set this up. Neighbors have one with two separate circuits…one with the pump and the other with the heat. Both have selected outlets and their fridge. re: gas…they have several gas cans which get filled before a storm. In addition, they top off their cars. Also, they don’t run the generator 24/7…unless the sump pump is needed. If you want a permanent installation with auto switch that will run your whole house, it will cost about $15,000 including installation. For home use, DH says this is not necessary. If you have a well, you will need a higher watt generator. Specific circuits are hardwired to a box which will be powered by your generator. My husband thinks natural gas is fine. Plan ONLY to run necessities with a generator.</p>
<p>Sax - I run our gas powered portable generator under a long plastic table with a tarp thrown over it. I also make sure to lock it to something like heavy patio furniture. If I could I would install a whole house generator - no worries then when you are not home. The portable, however, works nice and ours is very easy to use. Our power has never been out more than 2 days.</p>
<p>sax - I have a covered porch, open on all sides. My neighbor uses his child’s plastic play house.</p>
<p>Our neighbors run their generator placing them under covered porches…out front or out back…we all have exterior outlets on our houses.</p>
<p>Just an FYI (shoemakers children don’t have shoes)…we do NOT have a portable generator. I sent DH out to buy one when we built this house…and he came back with two Coleman propane lanterns and a Coleman stove:)</p>
<p>Cummins and Kohler make serious generators that are expensive and will handle large loads. They’ll run for a week or more fueled from a 500 gallon LPG tank. THey are as close to automatic as it gets.
Generac also has a line of generators that is cheaper, but I believe less reliable than the others.
If you go with a portable type, make sure to learn how it works. Especially the requirement to disconnect your house from the power grid using the master breaker switch. If you attach a generator to your circuits and fail to turn off the master breaker, you will be “back feeding” the electric grid near your home, which could electrocute the repairman who comes to work on the lines. (If you have a permanent installation, an automatic “transfer switch” will do this for you.)</p>
<p>No covered porches. I will have to put together something that wont blow away and still allows exhaust out and minimal water in that wont blow away…hmmm. Thanks folks.</p>
<p>We have a Generac one that automatically switches on if we lose power for longer than 30 seconds. I believe it was about 10K installed (about 6 years ago.) We have had no problems with it; it runs an automatic “test” once a week. We bought it after a tornado left us without power for about 48 hours. We were new to the house and first time that we were on a well and septic and didn’t like the idea of being without power. It doesn’t run everything in the house, but it does take care of the sump pump, refrigerator/freezers, A/C, some lights, routers 
, etc.</p>
<p>Of course, we joke that it was an expensive insurance policy, because since having it installed, we’ve never lost power for any appreciable amount of time. But I like the idea of having something automatic vs. a portable one, because if we were away and had flooding, our sump pump will operate even if no one’s there to turn on a generator (and also would save the food in our big freezer, etc.)</p>
<p>My take on this has always been that generators are really expensive and that money can be used in other ways to help manage life without electric power. </p>
<p>I still feel this way, even though my business was out 36 hours, home #1 out 72 hours, and home #2 out for 7 days. Home 1 needs electric to have water and to cook – so we filled the bathtubs. Home #2 has propane stove and city water – we just need lights. </p>
<p>As far as the business goes, we’re located close to an area with all kinds of essential services like restaurants and supermarkets and drug stores, so we get power back quickly. Not to mention that pet food and supplies are an absolutely essential service (LOL).</p>