Last summer, my local area got hit by a huge storm.
We experienced torrential downpours for five straight days.
The high winds knocked down large tree limbs and even whole trees. We also lost power for nearly a week. Because the sump pump was no longer operational, my basement flooded. The influx of dirty water destroyed the rug, couch, television, treadmill and my washer and dryer. It caused expensive damage to the furnuace and we had major issues with mold growth and unpleasant smells. During the storm, we were without lights, running water, refrigeration, internet and our air conditioner. The rain prevented us from opening the windows, and the living space became extremely hot, sticky and uncomfortable. It was nearly impossible to sleep. We sweated profusely but were unable to take a shower. We couldn’t wash dishes, use the oven, flush toilets, watch television or make a cup of coffee. It was absolutely awful. I realized that if we lost power for five days in the winter, we’d need to vacate the house. With temperatures in the negative digits, the water pipes would most likely freeze. We couldn’t manage without the furnace. I decided to be proactive. I contacted a local HVAC contractor and got an estimate to install a backup generator. It was a significant investment but worthwhile. We now have an alternate source of power when there is an outage. The generator automatically starts up and allows us to continue to use our furnace, air conditioner, sump pump and household appliances without interruption. Because the generator runs on natural gas, it supplies power for as long as necessary.