How do you prep for future power outages?

[Citydude]

I have 2 Hot water heaters side by side in my basement. After 35 years in construction, I learned they tend to go belly up at the worst times. At one time I was going to split them and do one side of my home (master bedroom and guest suite) with one and kitchen and kids side of the house on the other. I scrapped the plan and simply use one to preheat and the other to finish heating hot water. Works fantastic and never run out of HW.
I have used this system in my last 2 homes and have shown customers I built homes for this method. They all agree its worth the $1000-$1500 extra on a big project and go for it.
I also always install a sub panel upstairs to reduce # of home runs back to basement panel and put one HVAC in attic for second floor and first floor HVAC in basement.
Lastly, I try to get all customers to install whole house backup while we are under construction. Once i show them it is cheaper to do while under construction, its usually a "go".
Overkill, maybe but I really like it. My customers often are going for more sophisticated mechanicals and saving money on less square feet.

The high end, large family homes here have 2 water heaters.

 

[Toyboy]

I have 2 Hot water heaters side by side in my basement. After 35 years in construction, I learned they tend to go belly up at the worst times. At one time I was going to split them and do one side of my home (master bedroom and guest suite) with one and kitchen and kids side of the house on the other. I scrapped the plan and simply use one to preheat and the other to finish heating hot water. Works fantastic and never run out of HW.
I have used this system in my last 2 homes and have shown customers I built homes for this method. They all agree its worth the $1000-$1500 extra on a big project and go for it.
I also always install a sub panel upstairs to reduce # of home runs back to basement panel and put one HVAC in attic for second floor and first floor HVAC in basement.
Lastly, I try to get all customers to install whole house backup while we are under construction. Once i show them it is cheaper to do while under construction, its usually a "go".
Overkill, maybe but I really like it. My customers often are going for more sophisticated mechanicals and saving money on less square feet.

We have a similar set up only ours ar NG

 

[Hay Dude]

We have a similar set up only ours ar NG

Mine are NG, too. In fact, so are our Dacor ranges, the clothes dryers, 2 fireplaces, 2 heaters, whole house standby generator, grill on the deck and fire pit.
Im finishing an apartment in my daylight basement with a gas heat, cooktop and gas dryer in the basement laundry room. Trying to run a gas fireplace down there, too. I have a close relative with cancer and want to build a nice place for him to live with the months he has left.

 

[Williy]

Last noteworthy power outage was a few years ago. Temps were in the teens and we were down for a few days. I'm lazy and didn't find a need for juice, dressed to be outside, read by candle light and listened to NPR on a battery-powered radio. (just another day with a good book wearing longies, a sweater, Winter coat, and stocking cap. It only lasted two days.

Nat gas was not affected so I turned two stove burners on to medium and lit a few candle stubs in a metal pan downstairs. Most of my food reserves are canned vs perishable, could be heated on the stove, andin retirement I don't need to shower for or after work.

I have a Generac ~7hp 3500w or so gen that powers more than I ever need. I loan it more than use it. What it doesn't do for sour hen crap is start a 1/2 hp sump pump. ("Master plumber pal & I did our best, failed")

Don't have or need that here, but I wouldn't try again with <7kw and preferably 'externally' regulated (Honda if few others) vs more economical 'externally' regulated that stalls more easily and IMO doesn't benefit from auto idle control in many instances. (reefer, AC, or well pump kicks on).

I live in Texas and we had no power for 4 or 5 days had solar panels kept frig's running and freezer and lights and had some induction cooking units so no problem kooking. Plan on a diesel yanmar generator eg100i 7.5 kw to run whole house and sh;op and diesel will keep for over a year not like gas. Yanmar diesel engines are very reliable ask John Deere they have Yanmar diesel engines in there tractors

willy

 

[grsthegreat]

Have 2 back to back gas direct vent water heaters myself....love it.

 

[Hay Dude]

For the cost, its really not that bad. I swear by the AO Smith water heaters. We have been getting 15 years and more out of them even with junk well water.

 

[MoKelly]

I have 2 Hot water heaters side by side in my basement. After 35 years in construction, I learned they tend to go belly up at the worst time.

I’m not sure there is anytime when a hot water heater breaking is not the worst time. We all need hot water when we want hot water.

MoKelly

 

[Hay Dude]

I’m not sure there is anytime when a hot water heater breaking is not the worst time. We all need hot water when we want hot water.

MoKelly

All the more reason to have 2

 

[MoKelly]

All the more reason to have 2

Yep. We have 2 but - I like my shower better than the upstairs showers!

I know - I’m spoiled.

MoKelly

 

[Hay Dude]

Yep. We have 2 but - I like my shower better than the upstairs showers!

I know - I’m spoiled.

MoKelly

Are yours split into zones? Or does one feed into the other?
Im tempted to split them into zones to speed up hot water.