Home Generators, Do you really need one?

Hey folks. Last week there were all kinds of reports of widespread power outages in the northeast. After a big snow and ice storm brought down trees and power lines all over the place. Millions of folks were without power and some may still be!

I live in sunny Florida and have similar tales of woe but mine involve hurricanes. Same kind of destruction but a different cause. Still terrible to live through.

The next pic is one from my home after Hurricane Charley. It was a real trying time for me. Not only was there the debris to deal with, but the power was out for over a week.

This is just one example of the junk that we has to take to the curb. Most of this tree junk is oak. We didn't have any oak trees in our yard. Anyway, Generators... Long time to get to the point.

I wanted one so badly right then but you couldn't find one for love or money... We had to deal with terrible humidity after that storm. The sky looked great but it was muggy!!!

For us, a whole house generator would have been a must. Since everything was electric in that house. The Air Conditioner being high on the list for wants at the time... the fridge was next on that list. The rest of the home didn't require such a large generator.

For those affected by the current snow storms, the need is a bit different but still great! Most of the heat sources up there are fueled by gas, oil, or some other fossil fuel. Not as much a need for electricity for your health but still necessary for your sanity.

Any way you look at it, living for even a short time without electricity is tough for most of us today. We are so used to all of our creature comforts and electronic distractions that even half an hour without can be painful. These devices can be a real life saver but they are quite costly.

At five to ten thousand dollars to buy and install, the cost can seem prohibitive. They also require regular maintenance to be effective in that emergency. During the hurricane storm seasons of 04 and 05, the power went out but the natural gas still flowed all over South Florida. If you were fortunate enough to have one of these beasts... you were still cool and comfortable!