Follow up on Ice Storm Gen Thread - How much power does a house take
- Thread starter woodlandfarms
- Start date
- Views: 9485
4570Man
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2015
- Messages
- 18,451
- Location
- Crossville, TN
- Tractor
- Kubota M59, Kubota L3800, Grasshopper 428D, Topkick dump truck, 3500 dump truck, 10 ton trailer, more lighter trailers.
It must be a tad smaller because it is 5,000 watts.
Looking4new
Super Member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2012
- Messages
- 9,861
- Location
- Northern Ontario, Canada
- Tractor
- 2012 Kioti CK27HST w/cab
Thanks for the chart MOSS
Looking4new
Super Member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2012
- Messages
- 9,861
- Location
- Northern Ontario, Canada
- Tractor
- 2012 Kioti CK27HST w/cab
Yes, my clothes dry faster in winter in front of the wood stove than in summer.
OP
woodlandfarms
Super Member
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2006
- Messages
- 6,137
- Location
- Los Angeles / SW Washington
- Tractor
- PowerTrac 1850, Kubota RTV x900
So this is the slice of info I was looking for but didn't know to ask. Helps out a lot to know an individual burner needs (Hmmm Top Ramen on a cold night with no power).
schmism
Super Member
Ill post up as its a follow up to my thread 
we have natural (grid) gas here at the house.
My forced hot air gas furnace drew about 1200w on startup (i think its a 1/2hp blower motor) but its a high efficiency furnace meaning it has a small secondary exhaust blower also. and about 500w running.
If the electronics go out (like mine did) the burner will not fire. But you can turn the blower on "manually" through the thermostat or if the real SHTF the blower is several heavy thick wires that connect to the electronic board (if you have a new furnace) you pick "2" and run it. Mine has several leads because its a multi speed blower (again has to do with the high efficiency furnace)
My hot water heater is gas. Takes no electricity to make hot water. We had hot showers both days. (after we came in from running the chain saw for hrs outside)
We are on grid water, so no well pump to power.
When the furnace and fridge were unpluged i did try to run my 1800w toaster (i think the computers and some lights were on at the time for about 250w load) and my little genny tried but after it grunted for 5 or so sec and didnt "catch up" i decided id toast my toast on the stove.
my desktop computer, 2 monitors, the cable modem, wifi switch, and 2 CLF lights was ~250w load.
My fridge was 1250w startup 600w running.
I have a gas dryer, we didnt run it. We did no laundry when the power was out. I did not run the dishwasher (with its huge arse heating element) while the power was out. I could check both the washer and dryer this weekend with my Kill-a-watt and report back. (and then *I* would know also)
we have natural (grid) gas here at the house.
My forced hot air gas furnace drew about 1200w on startup (i think its a 1/2hp blower motor) but its a high efficiency furnace meaning it has a small secondary exhaust blower also. and about 500w running.
If the electronics go out (like mine did) the burner will not fire. But you can turn the blower on "manually" through the thermostat or if the real SHTF the blower is several heavy thick wires that connect to the electronic board (if you have a new furnace) you pick "2" and run it. Mine has several leads because its a multi speed blower (again has to do with the high efficiency furnace)
My hot water heater is gas. Takes no electricity to make hot water. We had hot showers both days. (after we came in from running the chain saw for hrs outside)
We are on grid water, so no well pump to power.
When the furnace and fridge were unpluged i did try to run my 1800w toaster (i think the computers and some lights were on at the time for about 250w load) and my little genny tried but after it grunted for 5 or so sec and didnt "catch up" i decided id toast my toast on the stove.
my desktop computer, 2 monitors, the cable modem, wifi switch, and 2 CLF lights was ~250w load.
My fridge was 1250w startup 600w running.
I have a gas dryer, we didnt run it. We did no laundry when the power was out. I did not run the dishwasher (with its huge arse heating element) while the power was out. I could check both the washer and dryer this weekend with my Kill-a-watt and report back. (and then *I* would know also)
buckeyefarmer
Epic Contributor
over the last 12 months, my house is averaging 72 KWH/day. That's the highest it's ever been, mostly due to a very cold winter last winter.
Over the life of my house (18 yrs), it averages 44 KWH/day. Before I installed geothermal, it averaged 40 KWH/day over 14 yrs, and I was heating with oil. Since installing geo, it averages 60 KWH/day for the last 4 yrs. I think the biggest increase is because of teenagers and doing laundry, not to mention long showers. I also added sq ft's to the house when I added the geo, as I now condition space above my garage that was previously non conditioned space.
I already have one of the most economical water heaters, but have not hooked up my desuperheater on the geo yet. I have also replaced my most frequently used lights with LED.
It's hard to make apples to apples comparisions, even in my own house due to the changes I've made. I really hate getting these letters from the power company about how I use so much more power than my "efficient" neighbors. It does not look at size of house, type of heating, or anything meaningful to compare, just usage. I hate even more the fact that I get billed every month on my elecric bill for that state mandated program. It was almost $10 last month alone. that's the program that gave me some "free" broken cfl light bulbs a few yrs ago.
As I type the dryer is started for the 3rd time this morning.......
Over the life of my house (18 yrs), it averages 44 KWH/day. Before I installed geothermal, it averaged 40 KWH/day over 14 yrs, and I was heating with oil. Since installing geo, it averages 60 KWH/day for the last 4 yrs. I think the biggest increase is because of teenagers and doing laundry, not to mention long showers. I also added sq ft's to the house when I added the geo, as I now condition space above my garage that was previously non conditioned space.
I already have one of the most economical water heaters, but have not hooked up my desuperheater on the geo yet. I have also replaced my most frequently used lights with LED.
It's hard to make apples to apples comparisions, even in my own house due to the changes I've made. I really hate getting these letters from the power company about how I use so much more power than my "efficient" neighbors. It does not look at size of house, type of heating, or anything meaningful to compare, just usage. I hate even more the fact that I get billed every month on my elecric bill for that state mandated program. It was almost $10 last month alone. that's the program that gave me some "free" broken cfl light bulbs a few yrs ago.
As I type the dryer is started for the 3rd time this morning.......
schmism
Super Member
you know these are like $40 brand new. even less at garage sales or CL
they take up no space on a closet shelf and the propane never goes bad.
cat fever
Elite Member
Not to hijack this thread; but,
Would it be better for emergency purposes to have a PTO generator or a portable gas/diesel generator? I have been kicking this question around for some time.
Would it be better for emergency purposes to have a PTO generator or a portable gas/diesel generator? I have been kicking this question around for some time.
GPintheMitten
Elite Member
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2009
- Messages
- 3,291
- Location
- Flushing, Michigan
- Tractor
- Kubota B2620 with BH65 backhoe, Ford 2N
My thinking was that I might need the tractor for other things at the same time. Plus it's easier to transport the portable generator if I need to.
But the diesel engine on my tractor should outlast a gas engine on the generator.
There are pros and cons.