Power outages, how do you handle them?

saskwoodburner · Oct 9, 2016

papadave said: ↑

Still trying to figure out the best way to store the gen. for a potential outage.
I could put it on the deck under a tarp, and run a heavy duty extension cord in until I can get a transfer switch put in, but that means the door has to be open slightly in the dead of winter.
Click to expand...

I've already considered the same thing for if/when I get a generator. My conclusion was, some window screen is getting a hole in it, and some jury rig insulation and cardboard set up.

Canadian border VT · Oct 9, 2016

we have had 2 long one since I've been here the ice storm and a little tornado.. so a winter and a summer... our Biggest problem is really water. . to flush.. in winter we got snow melted snow on Woodstove and followed boat rules.. yellow can mellow but brown goes down... during ice storm since I have Woodstove also got 6 nieces and nephews... un plug freezers put outside... on that one old generator would r run til I fixed carb... once I got it fixed it ran coffee pot and we'll pump sparingly fill bath tubs and a bucket..

in Summer, tornado, not worried about heat more about losing food.. I had an old commercial ice maker and generators that thing would fill a good size cooler in an hour genie ran well and ice maker.... I grilled tons of food... gas was not a problem every neighbor would come up bring a couple gas cans full... take a cooler of ice.., kids were having a blast... bbq, pool .... neighbors kids ask when we gonna have another party like that one ... no face book just word of mouth... to this day I still got an extra 15 gas cans...

oh and valentine's day blizzard... wasn't real cold stated snowmobile checked on elderly neighbors went to store by sled a few days... it's really just a reason put what's important on first...

it's no big deal.. except wife really likes her hot shower at 6 am...

Backwoods Savage · Oct 9, 2016

papadave said: ↑

Still trying to figure out the best way to store the gen. for a potential outage.
I could put it on the deck under a tarp, and run a heavy duty extension cord in until I can get a transfer switch put in, but that means the door has to be open slightly in the dead of winter.
Click to expand...

WE do run a cord through a window but rarely do we go without power in winter. However, it would be no problem. In summer, mosquitoes is what we want to keep out and that is easily solved by stuffing something in the hole. In winter, just stuff a towel in the little crack one would need in the window to keep the warm in and cold out.

We have a small generator but thankfully rarely have to use it. When we do, we run 2 freezers and the refrigerator and the water pump. For lights, candle can be handy and for sure make sure you have a small flashlight for everyone in the house. One of these can come in very handy too:

You can even use these for reading. It helps to elevate them a little and if you need more light, say, for looking into a cupboard, just pick it up and "aim" it into the cupboard for better light. You can even use it as a flashlight. btw, the light can last up to 12 hours.

As for cooking and heating water, us folks on the forum have it nice with wood heating stoves. One can not only cook but also heat water if needed.

rottiman · Oct 9, 2016

milleo · Oct 9, 2016

Gas cook stove and wood stove, couple 5 gallon buckets of water for flushing and washing up, some gallon jugs of water for drinking and cooking, kerosene lamp and a propane lantern and flashlight, battery powered radio and a deck of cards...All good...

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Power outages, how do you handle them?

saskwoodburner

Canadian border VT

Backwoods Savage Moderator

rottiman

milleo