Extension Cord Gauge for a Generator and a Fridge
A thin cord on a big load overheats and starves the motor. How to pick the right extension cord gauge and length for a fridge, freezer or sump pump on a generator.
Power Outages & Backup Power
30 articles
Starting Watts and Running Watts, on One Sheet
Why a generator that can run your fridge can't always start it. What starting and running watts mean, typical numbers for outage essentials, and how to add them up.
Old Gas in the Generator? Start It in October, Not During the Ice Storm
A generator that sat all summer with fuel in it may not start when you need it. A 30-minute October check: fuel, oil, spark plug, a test run under load, and the…
Your Neighbor's Generator and Your Bedroom Window
On a tight suburban lot, the generator next door can be closer to your bedroom than to theirs. How to bring it up, where generators should go on small lots, and the…
The CO Alarm Went Off. Leave First, Then Call
When a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, a lot of people open a window and go back to bed. What to do instead, the symptoms to know, and why an old alarm needs…
Where the Generator Goes When It's Raining (Hint: Not the Garage or the Porch)
Most generator carbon monoxide cases happen because somebody wanted to keep it dry. Why a covered porch or open garage still counts as inside, the 20-foot rule, and how to keep a…
Batteries: What to Buy, How to Store, When to Rotate
Dead batteries in a dark house are a classic outage mistake. Alkaline vs. lithium vs. rechargeable, how long each lasts on the shelf, how to store them safely, and how many to…
Candles vs. Lanterns vs. Headlamps: What to Stock
Candles feel cozy in an outage and start a lot of house fires. What to keep instead: headlamps, battery lanterns, flashlights and solar lights, how many you need, and where to keep…
Keeping One Room Warm in a Winter Outage
When the furnace is out, don't heat the house. Heat one room. How to pick it, seal it up, and keep a family warm for days with the heat you've got.
Frozen Pipes During an Outage: Prevention and What to Do
A long winter outage can freeze and burst pipes, and the damage shows up when the power comes back. How to keep pipes from freezing, how to drain the house if you…
Heating Your Home Without Power, Safely
When a winter outage knocks out the furnace, the wrong heat source can kill you faster than the cold. The safe options, the deadly ones, and the carbon monoxide rules every household…
Keeping the Sump Pump Running in an Outage
Storms that knock out power often bring the heaviest rain, and a sump pump without power can let a basement flood in hours. Battery backups, water-powered backups and generators, compared.