Back-up generators a good idea for many reasons

Dear Jim: With the violent stormy weather over the past several years and some long power outages, I need a back-up generator for my entire home. What options are available and what size system do I need? – Kathy W.

Dear Kathy: The interest in emergency back-up generators has been growing in the past several years. Everyone remembers Florida’s hurricanes, but it is not only storms that cause power outages. Not long ago, faulty old power grids knocked out electric power to much of the Northeast.

Power outages can be serious, particularly during the winter. Even if you have a gas or oil furnace, the blower will not operate without electricity. If a sump pump stops during a rainstorm, serious flood damage can occur. Also, with so many people running businesses or working from their homes today, their source of income may stop and valuable customers may be lost.

Your options are a small gasoline-powered portable generator or a large whole-house gas/propane-powered one. The small gasoline ones are adequate to keep the very basic necessities operating. You will have to be at home though to start the generator and plug the few appliances into it. Gasoline station pumps also stop in a storm, so you may not be able to refuel it.

Since you mentioned your “entire house”, consider a gas or propane standby generator. These automatically start within seconds after a power outage and switch off again when the electric power comes back on. Some diesel models are also available.

Most standby generators, from 8 to 30 kw (kilowatts) output, are the size of a large central air conditioner outdoor unit. They cycle on and off for a short time periodically to test themselves. Other than this, they run only when the electricity goes off.

An ATS (automatic transfer switch) is used with most home installations. This starts the generator and switches the house wiring to it. It also protects the utility’s workers from being shocked by your generator.

The cost to install a standby generator system ranges from about $7,000 to more than $15,000 depending on the output and features. For this reason, you may decide not to try to power your entire house with a large one.

Each family and home is unique, but a 8-kilowatt model should power lights, refrigerator, furnace blower, sump pump, computer, and television. Some 12- to 15-kw models will also power your central air conditioner and a few more appliances. A 25- to 30-kw model should power almost everything in your house.

To power just essential items, a separate new circuit breaker box will be installed and the specific items will be attached to it instead of the main panel. The ATS will shut off the main panel during an outage and supply power through the new panel.

The following companies offer standby generators: Coleman Powermate, (800) 445-1805, www.colemanpowermate.com; Generac Power Systems, (888) 436-3722, www.generac.com; Kohler Power Systems, (800) 544-2444, www.kohlergenerators.

com; Onan Corporation, (800) 888-6626, www.onan.com; and Winco Inc., (800) 733-2112 east, (800) 324-8174 west, www.

wincogen.com.

Send inquiries to James Dulley, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.