Last winter, we set records for the amount of snow accumulation.
Several feet would often fall overnight, creating huge drifts.
We regularly experienced temperatures below zero. The season was especially long and difficult. The heating system ran at maximum capacity for nearly eight straight months. As quickly as the cold weather arrived, the temperature suddenly warmed up. Our local area immediately got hit with thunderstorms. We dealt with torrential downpours and high winds that knocked down tree limbs. There were extensive power outages. My house was without electricity for almost a week. Without power, we had no access to running water, refrigeration or internet. The sump pump no longer operated and the basement flooded. Because of the moisture, there were issues with mold and mildew growth and concerns with indoor air quality. The rain made it impossible to open the windows, and we couldn’t run the air conditioner. The house was terribly overheated and uncomfortable. It was impossible to relax, be productive or get a good night’s sleep. Being without electricity was very inconvenient. There was a lot of damage, expense and clean up. It got me thinking that we could not go without power during the winter. A working furnace is essential. Without heat, it would be very likely that our water lines would freeze and burst. I might need to relocate my family to a hotel.I would prefer not to drive over icy roads during a blizzard. Because of these concerns, I invested into a permanently installed standby generator. It automatically starts up in the event of an outage and within seconds, provides sufficient power for the whole house. I now have the peace of mind of knowing I’ll be able to run the furnace, air conditioner, dehumidifier, sump pump, refrigerator, water pump and all our essential systems.