Installing Piece of Mind

Williamsburg, Virginia, residents enjoy access to theme parks, museums, golf courses, and plantations. Homes are spacious and airy. Beaches and rivers are only a short drive away. But there is a downside to living in this historic region: There's a power outage at least once each month. Sometime, when inclement weather blusters through, electricity is out for days or weeks.

"We had an ice storm five years ago and some people were without power for four or five days. When Hurricane Isabelle came through in 2003, we were without power for 11 days," explains Williamsburg resident Don Weber. "It can get pretty hot and pretty cold here, and there's always a few hours each month when we go without power."

Weber, who works from home for IBM, and many of his neighbors have turned to generators as a way of protecting themselves against the unexpected. The result: When the power goes out, my generator kicks on almost immediately. Maybe it takes seven or 10 seconds before I'm up and running again," says Weber. "It's hooked to the fridge, the lights in every room, the water heater, TV, microwave, dishwasher. I function almost as if the power didn't go out."

Ins and Outs

Generators create electricity from other fuel sources. There are two popular types of generators: portable or permanently installed models. Portable models, which can be purchased at home centers, are fueled by gasoline and have a run time of a few hours (about six to eight hours maximum) before needing to be refueled. Since they run on a combustion engine like a car, they must be kept outside. Typically, access to theme parks, museums, golf courses, and plantations. But there is a downside to living in this historic region: There's a power outage at least once each month."

Getting Wired

Don Weber was in the middle of renovating his 5,000-square-foot Colonial home when he decided to add a generator to his plans. He already had an electrician and plumber at the job site; this was important because a licensed electrician is needed to install a permanent generator. A plumber is also necessary if you're hooking up your generator directly to gas lines like Weber did. The electrician along with Kohler salesperson, helped him select a generator model that was large enough to suit the size of his home and his electricity usage. However, there was one decision they couldn't make for him: What kind of transfer switch to use. Doug Hunt, national sales manager for Kohler Power Systems (a Kohler, Wisconsin-based manufacturer of residential and commercial generators) says there are two types: essential load switches or whole-house transfer switches.

An essential load switch has built-in sub-panel that lets you choose 13 or 24 items, depending on the model you choose, that will always run off the generator when the electricity goes out. A whole-house switch is exactly what it sounds like: a switch wired into the main power line right after the electrical meter. It automatically switches the entire house over in the event of a power failure.

"When you use a whole-house switch, the unit automatically comes on, providing power to every circuit in the house," says Hunt. "It gives customers the freedom to turn on anything in the house that they would normally use." Weber, who wanted his entire home up and running at all times, chose the whole-house switch.

LIGHT UP MY LIFE

The installation process generally takes between one or two days, says Stafford. Larger, whole-house generators require some prep work. You'll need a concrete pad for it to rest on. Smaller home standby units can sit on a gravel surface and usually come with their own polymer pad, says Stafford.

"Typically, installations run between one or two days. The generator is installed and the transfer switches are put in," he says. "Then you'll need the natural gas or propane company to hook up to the unit. Finally, your original installer comes back out, starts it up, and makes any necessary adjustments."

While permanently installed generators cost double to three times as much as a portable generator, users say that they recover their investment quickly. Weber, who has saved his neighbor's frozen food during power outages, says he's saved money on food alone. "I travel a lot and I'm not always home, so a portable generator wouldn't work for me," he says. "With a permanent generator, I don't have to worry about pipes freezing in the winter, or my food spoiling in the summer because the power comes right back on even when I'm not there." When one full freezer thaws, he says, he's lost $300 to $400. "I've got two refrigerators, so that number is doubled for me."

He also likes that his Kohler unit is quiet. Many permanent generators look and sound like a central air-conditioning unit that sits outside the home. Other Williamsburg residents enjoy their permanent generators because they don't have to refuel anything to keep their water and sewer pumps pumping. There's also no risk of injury or fire like there is with a portable generator that runs on gasoline. But the real benefit, says Weber, is peace of mind.

"My 88-year-old father lives with me. I would hate to think of him being alone in a power outage," he says. "And no matter what happens, I can still work from home even if the cable modem goes out. My livelihood and family are always protected."

ARE YOU PREPARED?

A list of items you should never be without.

A lighting source. Flash lights and light sticks (the kind that glow when you bend them) are suggested. Avoid candles, which caused 18,000 fires and 190 civilian deaths in 2001, according to a recent report from the National Fire Protection Association. Oil lamps are equally as dangerous.
A Portable Radio. "You want to be able to listen to what's going on," says Robertory. He suggests and AM/FM radio with all-hazards designation. Try a hand-crank version so you don't have to worry about batteries.
Food and water. The Red Cross suggests keeping one gallon of water per person per day available along with canned food. A three-day supply is adequate, but if you live in a region that suffers frequent hurricanes or snowstorms, more is better. "And don't forget to check and replace supplies every six months," advises Robertory. "And include a can opener."
First Aid Kit. You can buy an all-in-one kit at your local drugstore. Look for one you can stick in the trunk or a handbag should you be asked to evacuate.
A non-cordless phone and a list of emergency contacts. If you lights go out, and you don't have a generator, you'll need a phone that plugs directly into the wall. You emergency contact list should include local and out-of-state contacts and, if you have pets, a contact who is willing to take them in. "The Red Cross doesn't allow pets into shelters," says Robertory, "so you should think, "How do I work my pet into my disaster plan?" You can't count on bringing your animals with you."