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Old 08-07-2009, 12:02 PM
 
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Was wondering if many in the Houston area have whole house generators for when there is a power failure?
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Old 08-07-2009, 12:06 PM
 
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Are you asking about Propane Generators if so small ones are like $3k to $4K power 1 to 2 rooms big one $8k to $12K power 3/4 of your house
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Old 08-07-2009, 12:20 PM
 
Location: A little suburb of Houston
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I bet you a lot more folks have them this year than last
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Old 08-07-2009, 01:01 PM
 
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A friend of mine is having a house built and he had a whole house one installed. It cost him $10k. It might be more expensive to have one added after the house is built.

I wish I had one. My power seems to go out everytime we have a heavy rain, though it doesn't stay off for very long.
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Old 08-07-2009, 01:10 PM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DJboutit View Post
Are you asking about Propane Generators if so small ones are like $3k to $4K power 1 to 2 rooms big one $8k to $12K power 3/4 of your house

I'm talking about the ones that will power all or most/all of your house. Not sure what they run on - Propane?

Some people I know in the Chicago area have them and they seem like they'd be a very good idea. In the southern states, where it can be soo hot in the summer and where there are the threats of hurricanes that can leave you without power for hours or days, I would think alot of homes might have these generators, but haven't heard of many. Do many homes have these?
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Old 08-07-2009, 01:26 PM
 
Location: Clear Lake, Houston TX
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I don't really see any of these large generators to power whole houses here. You'd need a pretty freakin' large generator in Texas to power your whole house, and several barrels of diesel fuel to keep it going. (Fuel was hard to find for awhile after Ike.) Your AC system(s) takes up a lot of electricity and you'd need a physically large one to keep it going. I also think the HOA's would keep that from happening unless you can get some sort of short/slimline generator. Most people I know have a semi-portable one to at least keep a few lights, a TV and a stove going. In an emergency situation, you have to make do with what you have... climate control is a luxury.
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Old 08-07-2009, 02:36 PM
 
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They can use a propane tank but generally you hook them up to your natural gas line.

They are about the size of an air conditioning unit and are permanently installed outside.

When your power goes out, it automatically switches on and your whole house goes on running as normal.
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Old 08-07-2009, 03:55 PM
 
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Originally Posted by AlexTx View Post
generally you hook them up to your natural gas line.

They are about the size of an air conditioning unit and are permanently installed outside.

When your power goes out, it automatically switches on and your whole house goes on running as normal.

Yes, this is what I was thinking of. Any idea of how pricy they are to install in an existing home (3500 to 4500 s.f.)?
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Old 08-07-2009, 04:08 PM
 
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For a house 3500 to 4500 sqft you are gonna need 2 of the big ones I know the big work for a house up to about 2500 sqft
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Old 08-07-2009, 04:22 PM
 
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Thanks All - for your replies!
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