Preparing for a Hurricane
Whether the storm is big or small, it's always important to be stocked and prepared. This is a complete reference guide for deciding on the purchases that are right for you, setting it all up and making sure you have all the bases covered. If there is a reference guide you would like but do not see here, please contact us.
Choosing a generator
Plenty of South Floridians go about their regular household routine when a storm knocks out the electricity. Generators power up and these folks are heating soup, playing video games and enjoying hot showers.
Various types of generators are available, with a wide range of price and power. Some generators energize a few appliances, while others keep the whole house running.
Your budget is a key factor in selecting a generator. Prices, including labor when necessary, range from about $400 to $60,000 and up. You should also consider how much wattage you need and which generator styles are suitable based on your property restrictions.
TWO TYPES
Generators fit into two broad categories -- portables and stand-by or whole-house generators. Portables run on gasoline and are often connected by heavy-duty extension cords to appliances. Permits generally are not required, unless there is a switch that's professionally wired into the home. Stand-by or whole-house generators require propane or natural gas and are hard-wired into the home. Inspections and permits are required by local building departments.
Portable generators have a more affordable price and simpler set-up. The homeowner buys one, rolls it to a safe place outdoors and plugs in the appliances. Drawbacks include the need to refuel with gasoline and the limited number of appliances portables can power.
The key benefits of stand-by generators are strong power potential and relatively hassle-free start-up when the electricity goes out. The drawbacks include the expense and requirements involved with installation. Ordering, obtaining permits and installation of stand-by generators may take two to six months.
Fuel is another issue with stand-bys. If natural gas isn't available, the property needs to be appropriate for installing an outdoor propane tank.
FPL Readi-Power, a business affiliated with FPL, sells an especially powerful portable generator along with an installation package that includes professional wiring of a transfer switch, said Gayle Faath, marketing manager for Readi-Power. The PortablePowerPLUS offers substantial wattage -- enough to run a five-ton central air- conditioner, Faath said. The $5,998 price includes a 17½-kilowatt generator, gasoline containers, permits, delivery and set-up. The process usually requires about five weeks, she said.
While portables often involve running extension cords to various appliances, the PortablePowerPLUS package includes the installation of a manual transfer switch connected to the home’s electrical panel. The homeowner plugs the portable generator into the transfer switch, and then selects which appliances to power using the circuit breaker switches.
STAND-BY GENERATORS
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 |
 |
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| BRAND | Briggs & Stratton |
Centurion | Rheem |
|---|---|---|---|
| WATTS | 10,000 Watts | 16,000 Watts | 20,000 Watts |
PORTABLE GENERATORS
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 |
 |
|
| BRAND | Powermate | Troy-Bilt | Coleman |
|---|---|---|---|
| WATTS | 2,250 Watts | 5,000 Watts | 5,000 Watts |
Portable choices (return to top)
Lowe's sells portable generators from John Deering and Troy-Bilt ranging from five to eight kilowatts. The Troy-Bilt 5000-watt Electric Start, at $698, is among the most popular, said James Inman, store manager for Lowe's in Homestead. Annette Sanchez, the store's install sales manager, said that model would be sufficient to simultaneously power a refrigerator, a window air-conditioning unit, a television and a light.
Home Depot's array of portable generators range from 1.8 kilowatts to 12.5 kilowatts, priced from $399 to $1,999. Generators are also sold at a number of other stores.
The stand-by products at Lowe's range from seven to 45 kilowatts, and are priced from $1,995 to $10,995 for the units. Add to that installation fees of about $1,600 to $1,850, plus putting in a propane tank, if necessary, which probably would cost about $4,500 to $7,500, Sanchez said.
For a generator powerful enough to run a central air-conditioning unit, Sanchez recommends at least a 10-kilowatt unit. A popular version, the Lowe's staff said, is the Centurion 5250, with 16 kilowatts. Price, including installation, is $5,245. That doesn't include the natural gas or propane fuel source. That unit would power a five-ton A/C unit, and most other household appliances, Sanchez said.
FPL Readi-Power sells stand-by generators ranging from 25 kilowatts to 130 kilowatts. ‘‘It's totally automatic," Faath said. "Every week, it exercises itself so it stays in optimal running condition."
The price for the stand-bys, including installation and related fees, ranges from about $25,000 to $60,000 for most South Florida homes. Installation, with permits and other preliminary aspects, usually takes four to six months, she said.
A stand-by generator that runs the whole house relatively efficiently is a Rheem 20 kilowatt version, said Hiram J. Frank of Personalized Power Systems, based in Boca Raton. He says it can automatically adjust the power load based on the appliances being used. With the automatic load-shifting device, a whole house is powered with a smaller, less expensive generator that uses less fuel, he said. The package, including installation and propane tank, if necessary, usually costs about $20,000 to $25,000 and takes about one or two months for permits and installation, Frank said.
At Kohler Power Systems, Melanie Tydrich says the 17-kilowatt version is among the more popular generators. That amount of power is sufficient for a home of about 3,000 square feet, she said.
Accessories also are available for generators. Among them is Kohler's remote monitoring system that allows the owner to use a laptop to turn the generator on or off, even while away from home. If service is required, the generator sends e-mails or text messages.
Wattage requirements for appliances (return to top)
| ITEM | WATT USAGE |
| Lights (8 x 75 watts) | 600 |
| Refrigerator | 700 |
| Box fan | 200 |
| Microwave oven (midsize) | 1,000 |
| Coffee maker | 1,000 |
| Toaster | 850 |
| TV (27 inches) | 500 |
| Radio | 100 |
| Hair dryer | 1,200 |
| Security system | 1,200 |
| Window AC (10,000 BTU) | 1,200 |
| Central AC (10,000 BTU) | 1,500 |
| Central AC (24,000 BTU) | 3,800 |
| Well pump | 1,000 |
| Electric water heater | 4,000 |
| Electric stove | 2,100 |
| Washing machine | 2,100 |
| Computer and monitor | 800 |
| Inkjet printer | 80 |
| Copier | 1,600 |
Source: Home Depot
Working with contractors: avoiding scams (return to top)
Be sure the business hired to install a generator is reputable and responsible.
Verify that a contractor holds a valid license for work in the specific trade. For work in Broward County or Miami-Dade County, a contractor should hold a license from the specific county or from the state of Florida.
- Broward County Contractor Licensing and Enforcement, 954-765-4400, www.broward.org/building.
- Miami-Dade County office of Building Code Compliance, 311, www.miamidade.gov/buildingcode or 311.
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 954-917-1330.
Other tips for hiring a contractor:
- Avoid contractors who require large payments before doing the work. The payments should reflect approximately the work that's been done.
- Avoid paying in cash. A check, written to the business contracted to do the work, offers a record.
- Be wary if the contractor requests that the resident obtain a permit. A licensed contractor in good standing should obtain the permits.
- Request that a proposal, contract or agreement be submitted in writing.
- Do not sign a completion certificate, until all the work is completed according to the contract, your satisfaction and all required inspections and approvals from the appropriate building department.
Sources: Broward County Building Code Services Division Contractor and Licensing Enforcement
Generator safety tips (return to top)
- Read labels and follow instructions in the owner's manual.
- Use portable generators outside only, away from the house. Also keep the generator away from vents, windows and doors -- including those of neighbors.
- Install CO (carbon monoxide) alarms with battery backup in the home, near sleeping areas.
- Turn off all connected appliances before starting your generator.
- Turn connected appliances on one at a time, never exceeding the generator's rated wattage.
- Start the largest electric appliance first, then plug in other items, one at a time.
- Ground the generator to avoid accidental electrical shock.
- Use appropriate extension cords. Use a larger gauge three-wire, three-prong cord when using an appliance or tool a distance away.
- Don't refuel a generator that is running or hot.
- Don't touch a generator if you are wet or are standing in water or on damp ground.
Sources: Florida Power and Light, Lowes.com and Consumer Product Safety Commission