Power outage again on STT

A Katrina type disaster did happen in 1995, minus the flood. I had no power for 3 months, no roof for those same 3 months except for a Fema tarp until I had to move for reconstruction, then paid $1000.00/month for another place that also had a Fema tarp roof & was thrilled to have it. Those first 3 months entailed living with rats running around at night since the sliding doors & screens were gone.

According to the University of the Virgin Islands, the USVI has the highest per capita ownership of generators. Something like one third the households own a generator.

The key to maintaining a generator is the fuel system, particularly gasoline generators. When you shut a generator down for storage you need to close the fuel valve and run it till it stops. Gasoline stored more than thirty days begins to deteriorate so you need to add fuel stabilizer.

Cheap generators are no bargin. They are noisy and the quality of the power is bad.. Several of my neighbors lost appliances after they ran them on their inexpensive generators for a couple of weeks after Omar. Everything seems to have microelectronic circuits nowdays.

Jim

Hey Jim, excellent lead in to an associated question: What generators have you (everyone) used? Which ones worked well; which ones worked poorly? What size generator do you use (kW)? Do you hear it from inside the house (windows open/close; proximity to living space)?

We have a Kohler lowboy, 6500 watts, diesel engine. It works very well and runs most of our house. It is loud however and you can smell the diesel if the windows are open. Ours is right up next to the house. I imagine that you could place it where noise wouldn't bother you. Hope this helps.

Tammy

To add to Jim Dandy's post, it is also good not to leave any gas in the tank at all. Gas eventually turns to a lacquer and the reason you run it all out of fuel is to make sure your gaskets don't deteriorate. We do this with any and all of our fuel tools ie. blowers, weed eaters, Sm. outboard boat engines, etc.
Good Call Dandy, didn't know there was anyone else out there that did that! Your tools will last a lot longer!