Tab Hauser: Generating Normalcy Post-Sandy

Since Hurricane Sandy, many residents have become interested in having a home generator.

There are two ways to have generator power to your home. The expensive way is to get a built-in natural gas powered generator, which requires a permit, at an average cost of $20,000 to $25,000.

The alternative is to add a portable generator to your home, as I did several years ago, at a complete cost of less than $2,500. Contact me at tab@tabhauser if you are interested in learning how I installed my portable generator.

There are a few things you should know about generators before deciding which is right for you. There are also some things you should be aware of once you have a generator:

1. Generators do not need to run all the time. At our home, we turn on the generator in the morning for about an hour to get the boiler, hot water and refrigerator running. We also charge phones, computers, etc. We run the generator after the sun sets, turning it off by 11 p.m. as to not disturb our neighbors sleep.

2. It is smart to turn off your portable generator at night. Your hot water heater will keep the water in your tank hot for your morning shower. Your refrigerator will also stay cold. We turned our generator off at night and did not even see our ice cubes melt. Homes will also retain their heat overnight.

3. If you are not using any power during the day and have enough natural light to move about safely, keep the generator off.

4. Power and usage should be computed before buying a generator. Decide whether you need to have your A/C on during the length of a power outage. Keep in mind that hurricanes usually occur later in the summer when evenings are cooler and sleeping with the windows open can be comfortable. To determine the size generator I needed for my home, I planned on connecting a few outlets for charging, the refrigerator, lights for the den and kitchen, our boiler and microwave.

5. Portable generators should not be running in your garage even with the door opened. Carbon Monoxide is clear and odorless, emissions can be a concern when operating it even in an open area like a shed or garage. Portable generators should be outside your home and clear of anything that can catch fire. I muffle some of the sound by placing garbage cans around the generator.

Reprinted from the Village of Flower Hill newsletter with permission of Deputy Mayor Tab Hauser.