Hurricane Generators Blog

Winter Weather Tips for Standby Generator Owners

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 17:13:49 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Winter in New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania brings frigid temperatures, snowstorms, and the increased likelihood of power outages. For homeowners with a standby generator, a little preparation can ensure your system is ready to provide reliable power when needed most. Whether you’re a seasoned owner or new to experiencing the peace of mind a generator can bring, these tips will help you navigate the cold season with confidence.

1. Keep the Generator Area Clear

Snow and ice can accumulate around your generator, potentially blocking airflow or exhaust vents. Clear at least two feet of space around the unit to maintain proper ventilation and prevent overheating or carbon monoxide buildup. Regularly remove snow or debris after storms and ensure the generator is easy to access for inspection. Pay particular attention to the intake-facing side of the generator - snow ingestion can cause a generator to go down at the most inconvenient of times!

Avoid covering the generator, even during heavy snowfall, as this can trap heat or block exhaust outlets and poses a fire hazard. Instead, focus on keeping the area around it free of obstructions for safe and efficient operation.

2. Listen to Exercise Checks

Most standby generators are designed to run an automatic exercise cycle to keep the engine lubricated and ensure readiness. If your generator is set for bi-weekly exercise, monitor it periodically to confirm it’s running smoothly. Listen for steady operation, and check the control panel or your monitoring app for any warning lights or error messages.

If you’re unsure how to interpret alerts on the control panel, refer to your generator’s manual or contact your service provider. Regular exercise cycles reduce the chance of surprises during an actual outage.

3. Visually Inspect the Battery and Connections

A generator’s battery is essential for reliable starts, especially during cold weather. Some generators use 12-volt systems, which can struggle in freezing temperatures. However, models equipped with 24-volt starting systems are better suited for cold conditions, offering more dependable performance when temperatures drop.

If you do not feel comfortable touching the battery, you can still perform a quick visual inspection. Look for:

Corrosion: Check battery terminals for white or green buildup, which can indicate corrosion.

Cleanliness: Ensure the battery area is free of dirt, snow, or moisture.

Secure Connections: Verify that cables appear snugly connected without visible gaps.

If you notice anything unusual, contact a qualified technician to assess the situation.

4. Monitor Your Propane Supply and Regulator

If your generator is powered by propane, maintaining an adequate fuel supply is crucial during winter. Schedule deliveries with your propane provider, especially before severe weather is forecasted, to avoid running low during an extended outage.

Extreme cold can also affect the propane regulator, potentially causing it to freeze and disrupt fuel flow. To prevent issues:

Clear Snow and Ice: Regularly inspect the regulator and remove any buildup around it.

Check for Dripping Water: Ensure that melting snow or ice isn’t dripping onto the regulator, as it can refreeze.

Provide Ventilation: Verify that the regulator is well-ventilated and free from blockages.

A proactive approach to propane management ensures your generator operates smoothly throughout the winter.

5. Stick to the Maintenance Schedule

Winter is a great time to double-check that your generator’s maintenance is up to date. Look back at your records to ensure oil changes, filter replacements, and battery replacements have been completed as recommended in your user manual.

If you’re unsure about your maintenance history, consider scheduling a professional service appointment to catch up on any missed tasks. Proper upkeep not only keeps your generator running efficiently, but also extends its lifespan.

6. Protect from Insects and Rodents

Insects and rodents are often drawn to the warmth and shelter your standby generator provides, especially during colder months. While this might seem harmless, pests can cause significant damage to your generator by nesting inside, chewing on wires, shorting control boards and transfer switches, or blocking ventilation systems. Here’s how to prevent unwanted visitors from taking up residence in your generator:

Inspect the Enclosure Regularly: Look for signs of intrusion, such as droppings, chewed wiring, or nests. Pay special attention to air intake and exhaust areas where pests may enter.
Seal Openings: Ensure that all access panels are securely closed and that any small gaps or openings are sealed. Foam or mesh inserts can be used to block gaps while still allowing for proper ventilation.
Keep the Area Clean: Avoid storing firewood, debris, or food waste near the generator, as these can attract pests. Maintain a clean and tidy space around the unit to discourage insects and rodents from nesting nearby.
Use Pest Deterrents: Consider using natural repellents, such as peppermint oil, or pest control products designed specifically for outdoor equipment. Avoid using toxic chemicals that could harm pets or the environment, and avoid flammable substances for safety.

During routine maintenance checks, ask your service technician to inspect for any signs of pest damage or intrusion and address issues promptly.

Conclusion

A standby generator is an invaluable asset during winter power outages, but a little preparation ensures it’s ready to perform when needed. By keeping the area clear, monitoring propane levels, and conducting basic visual checks, you can stay ahead of potential issues. Generators equipped with advanced starting systems, like 24-volt models, offer an added layer of reliability in extreme cold.

With these simple steps, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your generator is ready to keep your home's power system in top shape, keeping your family safe, warm, and powered up all season long. Stay prepared, and let your generator handle the heavy lifting when it counts most!

Install a Standby Generator Before Winter: A Guide to Staying Safe and Secure During Winter Power Outages

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 18:06:08 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Did you know that many of our region’s electrical substations and overhead lines are only designed to withstand the weight of 2-3 feet of wet snow? And a half an inch of ice can cause a line to drop about four feet.

The truth is, much of the electrical grid was designed and built out over half a century ago - a time when global temperatures were cooler, and less precipitation and wind were the norm. In the Northeast, winters bring not only snow and ice but the increased risk of power outages due to extreme weather conditions.

From heavy snowfall to high winds, the elements can wreak havoc on the power grid, leaving families without electricity during some of the coldest days of the year. To avoid this disruption, installing a standby generator before winter is one of the best investments you can make for your home’s safety, comfort, and value.

Why Install a Standby Generator Before Winter?

Winter in states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio is unpredictable. Severe snowstorms, ice buildup on power lines, and subfreezing temperatures all increase the chances of a power outage, sometimes lasting hours or even days. Here’s why a standby generator is essential:

1. Protect Your Home During Severe Weather

When winter storms hit, your home’s heating system, refrigerator, and other essential appliances depend on electricity to function. A standby generator automatically kicks in during a power outage, providing reliable power to keep your home safe and operational. From heating to lighting, a standby generator ensures that your household remains powered up, even in the most severe winter weather.

Key takeaway: Stay prepared for Northeast winter weather by securing your home with a standby generator.

2. Prevent Costly Winter Damages

Without power, essential systems like sump pumps and HVAC units shut down, leaving your home vulnerable to damage. For instance, a sump pump failure can lead to basement flooding, while a lack of heat in freezing temperatures puts your plumbing at risk of bursting. A standby generator keeps these systems running, preventing costly repairs and water damage that are all too common during Northeast winters.

Key takeaway: Protect your home from winter-related damages with a standby generator that ensures key systems stay functional.

3. Ensure Family Safety and Comfort During Power Outages

A power outage in the dead of winter isn’t just uncomfortable—it can be dangerous. Without heating, temperatures inside your home can drop quickly, especially when outdoor temperatures plummet. A standby generator keeps your heating system, lights, and even security systems powered, giving you peace of mind that your family is safe and comfortable until the power returns.

Key takeaway: Maintain comfort and safety for your family by preparing your home with a standby generator before winter.

4. Stay Connected in Emergencies

During winter storms, staying connected with loved ones and emergency services is crucial. A standby generator keeps your devices charged, powers your internet connection, and even enables you to use essential equipment in an emergency. When the grid goes down, a standby generator provides the power you need to stay informed, stay working, or stay in touch.

Key takeaway: A standby generator ensures reliable communication in emergencies, keeping you connected and informed.

5. Boost Your Property’s Value

Homes with standby generators are increasingly sought after, especially in regions prone to power outages. By installing a standby generator, you’re investing in your home’s value and appeal. Buyers recognize the added security and convenience a generator offers, making it an attractive feature in the Northeast’s unpredictable winter climate.

Key takeaway: Increase your home’s resale value with a standby generator that provides peace of mind to potential buyers.

Choose the Right Standby Generator for Your Home

There are many standby generator options, from brands like Generac, Champion, and Cummins. To determine the best fit, consider factors like your home’s size, power requirements, and budget. It’s recommended to consult with a generator specialist who can assess your needs and guide you through choosing a generator that will meet your household’s demands.

Don’t Wait Until Winter Hits—Prepare Now!

Avoid last-minute rushes and supply chain delays by scheduling your generator installation well before winter. Standby generators require professional installation and testing to ensure they are fully operational when you need them most.

Ready to Protect Your Home This Winter?

At Hurricane Home Solutions, we specialize in standby generator installation across New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, helping homeowners prepare for any power outage. Contact us today to schedule an in-home consultation and find the best generator to keep your home powered, safe, and comfortable this winter.

Every New York Homeowner Needs a Backup Home Generator: Be Ready for Power Outages

hurricanehomesolutions@gmail.com (Nadia Cakir) — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 12:49:07 GMT

In New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, power outages are more than just an inconvenience—they can be dangerous, especially during extreme weather events. From snowstorms and hurricanes to grid overloads, your home’s power supply is always at risk. That’s why investing in a generator is crucial for every homeowner in the state.

Stay Powered During Storms

New York is no stranger to severe weather. Whether it's a snowstorm in winter or a summer hurricane, power outages can leave homes without electricity for days. A reliable backup generator ensures that your essential appliances, such as refrigerators, HVAC systems, and medical devices, stay operational during these emergencies.

Prevent Costly Damages

Without power, sump pumps can fail, leading to basement flooding, and heating systems may shut down, putting your home at risk for frozen pipes. A generator automatically kicks in when the power goes out, safeguarding your home from these costly damages.

Ensure Family Safety and Comfort

A backup generator provides peace of mind. With continuous electricity, your family can stay warm during winter storms, cool in the summer heat, and connected in times of crisis. Whether it’s charging phones, running home security systems, or keeping the lights on, you’ll maintain normalcy even in a blackout.

Boost Property Value

Installing a home generator increases the resale value of your property. Buyers are attracted to homes equipped with backup power, as it adds an extra layer of security and convenience.

Don’t wait for winter—be prepared.

Contact Hurricane Home Solutions today for your free consultation to discuss the right generator for your home .

Air Cooled V.S. Liquid Cooled Generators

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 13:00:01 GMT

What are the key differences between air cooled and liquid cooled home generators, what are the pros and cons?

With a wide variety of choices on the market, there are dozens of different factors homeowners debate over when researching Standby Generators. In addition to fuel sources ( propane or natural gas ) people also often ask if they should be looking for Air Cooled or Liquid Cooled. A majority of the time, you’re going to be wanting something that is air cooled for one simple reason, efficiency.

There are some units or certain situations where having a liquid cooled generator is preferable or even required, but these are often larger units rated for much higher power outputs. Larger units like this consume more fuel and produce more heat, making liquid coolant a necessity. On the other hand, smaller home units are designed for smaller output and air cooled conditions.

Air Cooled Example: Cummins Quiet Connect

As an example we’ll take a look at two different 20kW generators from Cummins. The first is an Air Cooled model (RS20A) that runs on Natural Gas, the other is a Liquid Cooled model that runs on Diesel fuel (C20D6). Although these units have similar output power, almost everything about them is different.

In this case, the Air Cooled unit is significantly lighter, smaller and more fuel efficient. The Cummins unit here is a square form factor, coming in at 3x3x3 feet. This unit overall has a very low profile, and blends pretty well with your average yard scape, being similar in size and shape to your average HVAC unit. For these units, temperatures are easily managed by ambient air being pulled through the engine.

Liquid Cooled Example: Cummins Diesel

The most obvious difference here is the large diesel tank inside the generator, which makes the overall footprint of the unit significantly larger. In this case the overall heat generation and design of the unit necessitates a liquid cooled system. These units must be attached to a large metal base, which then needs to be placed on a concrete slab.

Although liquid coolant is highly effective and even necessary (in many cases) it also comes with the drawback of consuming more energy, since whatever liquid is being used has to be pumped through the unit. It is probably the case that units with liquid coolant would be more reliable in high temperature environments where the air temperature is already extremely high.

The Key Difference: Necessity

Liquid coolant has tons of benefits and is highly effective technology, but is only used on these standby generator units when it’s absolutely necessary. Just the difference in cost alone can be a substantial differentiator. In a climate like ours (North East U.S.) temperatures rarely exceed 100 degrees, so the need for liquid cooling on a home standby unit is very unlikely.

The residential units we frequently recommend from Cummins and Champion are all air-cooled, and during your research you will probably discover that most standby units around or under 20kW from various manufacturers are also air-cooled. Larger units, like the commercial 30kW units that Cummins makes, are liquid cooled because of their larger size.

Hurricane Home Solutions is a regional service provider of Standby Generators all across New York and Pennsylvania. We offer free, all inclusive, quotes for installations in our service areas. As generator experts, we can provide you with the solutions you need to keep the lights on when the power goes out.

Generator Fuel: Liquid Propane v.s. Natural Gas

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 18:25:11 GMT

Once you’ve decided which backup generator you want, you will also have to decide on your fuel source...

When it comes to home backup generators, there are basically three common fuel sources: Liquid Propane, Natural Gas and Diesel. All of these options have their own Pro’s and Con’s that make some better for certain situations than others. At the end of the day, the fuel source you should go with is the one that is most accessible to you. If you are in a position to choose your fuel source, then these Pro’s and Con’s may be helpful during your research process.

We Generally Don't Recommend Diesel...

Although Diesel fuel is an option, and we have done several installations of 20+kW Diesel generators, it is rarely something we recommend in residential settings. Although using Diesel allows the unit to operate independently from another fuel source, its functionality is limited in many other ways that make it far less desirable .

One of the uniform benefits of the more popular LP and Natural Gas options is the Air Cooled Construction, which allows the units to be smaller and more compact, as well as less expensive, without any loss in performance. This is not the case with larger diesel units, which generally need to be liquid cooled and are much larger because of the fuel tank.

None of this is to say that large diesel units are bad, just that they aren’t generally ideal for residential uses. If you’re deep in the research phase and have already set your sights on a diesel unit, then it may be exactly what you’re looking for.

Pro’s and Con’s of Natural Gas

Natural Gas is easily the most common and convenient method of fueling standby generators, particularly in suburban areas where most homes already have natural gas, and were likely built with it. One of the realities homeowners should embrace is that the best fuel source to use is the one you have the best access to.

In areas where natural gas is plentiful, it is also relatively cheap (at least in comparison to other fuel sources).The existing infrastructure and wide distribution make it a bit of a no-brainer for use on your standby generator. If your home doesn’t already run on natural gas, then this fuel source doesn’t really make a whole ton of sense, and would be very expensive to have installed.

There are also concerns about the tightening regulations and limitations on Natural Gas usage, which have become more prominent in recent years, particularly in states like New York and California. The long term effects of this course have yet to be seen, but it’s hard to imagine these states being able to support current energy needs without it.

Pro’s and Con’s of Liquid Propane

The point we made earlier about the best fuel source being the one that's most available to you is still the most important factor, but there are a few considerable differences between the two. In most places, Liquid Propane is a bit more expensive than natural gas, but also a bit more efficient . Most manufacturers will supply a comparison chart showing consumption levels at different output levels over periods of time.

If you're no stranger to the changing and expanding regulations of New York State, then you may already be aware of the declared and intended move away from Natural Gas within the state. For that reason, homeowners have been looking more closely at LP as a permanent alternative to Natural gas in their homes. One of the fantastic features of the Cummins Generators that we generally recommend is the ability to support both Propane and Natural Gas as fuel sources.

The Choice Is Yours

There are undeniable differences between the major fuel sources available, but the reality is that those differences are pretty minor in a grand scope. If you could choose either one, we would probably recommend Propane as the first potion, because of its higher efficiency, but the best fuel source will continue to be the one that is most available to you.

Hurricane Home Solutions is a regional service provider in New York and Pennsylvania, and is also a Authorized Dealer of Cummins Power Generation and Champion Power Equipment . If you’re currently researching or considering a generator purchase, you can contact us today to learn more about the process and our recommendations.

Best Off-Grid Generator Setup

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 13:27:46 GMT

Depending on what you’re looking for, having a power supply for an off grid home or cabin can be a lifesaver

If you’ve had an off-grid home or cabin for any period of time you’ve probably at least looked at portable generators or solar panels as a means for powering a small suite of electronics. The goal here is to keep things simple and manageable. Options exist for large propane tank set-ups with home standby generators, but this may prove to be a bit impractical or excessive. These systems are great for residential backups , but they are also quite expensive.

Similar problems also exist with solar panels and battery backups, since the up-front cost is generally higher than what many are expecting. Solar systems are also highly dependent on weather conditions , and for those of us in the Northeast, those conditions are often unfavorable. There’s also something to be said here for the complexity of managing a solar system, if you don’t have a lot of electrical knowledge or experience this solution may prove to be particularly frustrating.

Our Recommendation: A Dual Fuel Portable Generator

As an example, and because it’s a product we frequently promote, we’ll be talking specifically about the Onan P9500i from Cummins . With nearly 10 kW of power and a huge number of hookup options, this portable generator offers huge value for an off-grid set-up with a price tag lower than $1500. Being a dual fuel generator, this unit can run on either gasoline or propane, which gives you more options and longer run times.

This unit is also equipped with a battery changer and remote start feature, but this doesn’t have as much value in an off-grid setup where that battery isn’t being charged. Of course, the beauty of a portable unit is that it can be easily moved and serve many different purposes, so a feature like this may be more valuable in other circumstances.

If a home electrical setup of some kind already exists, it is possible to wire this generator in with a manual transfer switch, but that kind of setup will turn that $1500 project into something quite a bit more expensive.

Positioning, Layouts and General Use

The more common use case for this generator will be using the five AC outlets (1x 120/240V 30A and 2x Duplex 120V 20A) with extension cords for whatever you’ve got “rigged up.” This can be as clean or as rugged as you want it to be, since all you really need to do is run extensions. Unsurprisingly, it is NOT recommended to run this unit (or any generator) indoors or near windows or doors. Pretty much all generators, including portable generators, require air intake and also exhaust harmful fumes. Avoid inhaling these fumes.

Because the P9500i is a dual fuel generator, the odds are very good that you’ll end up using this in conjunction with a propane tank at some point. Because of the limited volume of the existing fuel tank that uses gasoline, a propane tank will allow for longer uninterrupted use switching fuel sources is as simple as a single turn of a knob on the unit. It is probably worth considering the fact that generators generally perform better on flat surfaces as well.

In Conclusion

There are several pretty great options here for backup power that scale with total output and overall costs. At the end of the day, you’ll need to identify a solution that fits into your circumstances and budget. The P9500i is moderately priced, easy to set up and very manageable. With its dual fuel capability, you’ll have options for maintaining power for extended periods of time.

To learn more about these generato rs take a look at info and specs here on our website , or give us a call today to learn more . Hurricane Home Solutions services a majority of New York and Pennsylvania, helping homeowners with their backup power needs.

Are Rolling Blackouts On The Way in New York?

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 20:44:43 GMT

As the push for all-electric services continues to increase, what sort of restrictions on demand can we expect on the limited supply?

With the electrical evolution fully underway, and a high investment being placed on new all-electric solutions over traditional fuel sources, people across the country have been asking a serious question; can the grid support this level of electrical demand? The current answer is a resounding no, not even close. The goal for many states and municipalities is to repair, upgrade and expand the existing infrastructure.

Whether or not these upgrades happen, or how long it will take, is anyone's guess. What seems to be certain, however, is that local and state governments are moving forward with restrictions on traditional energy sources regardless of how robust the alternatives may be. California has already proposed mandates to require electrical vehicles in the near future, and New York is expected to prevent Natural Gas from being included in new home builds.

All of these factors contribute to a growing concern that New York, just like many other states with high populations and energy use, may begin to see rolling blackouts designed to limit residential power usage . Until recently this sort of activity was more common in the South West, but higher strains on the grid are expected to cause more broad issues across the country.

New York’s Natural Gas Ban

Expected to take effect by 2026, no new builds in the state will allow the use of gas stoves, furnaces or other gas appliances. Residential homes that currently have gas appliances will be “grandfathered in,” but it’s only a matter of time before these restrictions eventually take effect in older homes as well. Thankfully, propane is currently unaffected by this new regulation. We’ve already seen some towns by Lake Ontario wholly adopt propane since their access to Natural Gas has already been reduced.

The implications here are fairly simple: every home that draws more power from the grid for its home appliances is causing additional strain and demand. Homeowners will also be less likely to invest in a home that runs natural gas if they fear the cost of a required retrofit at some point down the line. Propane is a practical alternative in many rural areas but may be more difficult to implement in urban areas where Natural Gas is already very plentiful and tied into the infrastructure.

An Aging Power Grid

This has become a pretty big talking point over the last few years since, across the country, power outages have become more common and untreated infrastructure issues have begun to compound. Even proponents who are in favor of the Natural Gas ban (for safety and ecological reasons) do not seem to have a clear answer about much needed updates to the power grid. What happens when a transformer that’s over 40 years old blows? Well, you’ll simply be without power for “x” number of days until it’s fixed. This is less of a problem in urban areas where response times are fast, but that won’t be the case in the countryside.

None of this is to even mention the lack-luster effect of renewable energy resources. Like all new technology, these sorts of things will likely get better and more effective over time, but right now they are nowhere close to effectively replacing fossil fuels. This means that we will effectively be increasing the demand of energy and reducing the supply simultaneously.

What Should We Expect?

Although things here in the North East have not been as bad in the South West, we suspect it is only a matter of time until rolling blackouts are introduced more broadly as an energy saving measure. These actions will probably be dependent on demand, meaning sometimes they will be brief, but in the hot summer months they may last longer.

Having a backup power option is also something worth considering, and has become more and more appealing to homeowners in our region. There are a variety of ways in which this can be done, either by backup generators or solar battery backup. Those two are the most robust and expensive options, but alternatives like portable generators and rechargeable battery cells are also good options.

Companies like ours install home standby generators all across New York State, which can be configured to run on either Propane or Natural Gas. Homeowners see a lot of use out of these units during our somewhat infamous snowstorms. Areas like the North Country and Southern Tier also see frequent power outages from high winds. We expect there to also be an increase in demand in the event of rolling blackouts.

If you’re looking into backup power for your home, we highly recommend a Cummins Quiet Connect generator, particularly for our region, since these units have exceptional cold weather performance. If you’re interested in learning more about these units you can check out more info here on our website, or contact us directly to learn more.

Can Propane Freeze in Cold Temperatures?

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 20:02:28 GMT

In most conditions propane operates very efficiently, but some home owners will experience issues from below zero temperatures...

It is rarely the case that temperatures ever become so cold that they will have an effect on your propane, but here in the North East U.S. our cold weather conditions are somewhat infamous and undeniably troublesome. So what exactly happens to propane under freezing temperatures and what can we do about it? The short answer is that extremely low temperatures can have a negative impact on your propane tank.

Above ground liquid propane tanks are generally exposed to the elements without much worry or issue, but incredibly cold temperatures are known to cause pressure issues . Here in New York most of our winter is spent in freezing temperatures, although -44 (the freezing point for propane) would be an incredibly uncommon occurrence, it's not impossible to encounter issues without getting all the way down to -44

What Happens to Propane in Freezing temperatures?

Propane, like all liquids, contracts in cold weather. This contraction causes it to take up less space, which then slowly lowers the pressure inside your gas tank. Having high pressure within your tank and gas lines is needed for quick and effective distribution of gas to all the appliances in your home, including things like furnaces and backup generators.

We’ve observed that some home o wners begin to experience pressure issues around -20, which escalates the colder it gets. In New York specifically, this has happened during major winter storms in the Western New York and North Country areas, which generally see the coldest conditions and worst storms in the state. Higher elevations, mountainous terrain and lake effect weather conditions are all contributors.

Dealing With, and Avoiding, Low Pressure

As far as the elements go, it’s an unfortunate reality that there isn’t much you can do during a winter storm. Once the heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures roll in, the smartest things you can do is wait it out. This means all your efforts should be focused on preventative measures.

There are products on the market, such as heated insulation blankets , that are designed to keep your propane tanks warm in extreme cold weather. Whether or not this is the right solution for you may depend on how practical it is. Some products like this are said to be ineffective when wet, which would not be useful in precipitous conditions.

The best thing you can do, and also probably the easiest thing you can do, is make sure your tanks are kept at high volume during the coldest winter periods. If your tank is 90% full, a slight loss of air pressure will be less detrimental to continued use than it would be with your tank at 30% of the total volume. Higher volume of gas means a higher amount of air pressure in the tank. Having a larger tank will also be helpful, since your pressure loss will be less significant over time.

Inclusion of Methanol In Your Propane Tank

Another common fix for this low temperature issue is the inclusion of methanol in your propane. Conceptually, a trace amount of methanol in your propane tank will counteract any potential issues with expanding moisture or freezing of any water in valves or regulators. This practice is highly recommended here in the North East where several months every year are spent around or under freezing temperatures.

Although it is a recommended pr actice, it is also the case that excessive amounts of methanol can have potentially corrosive effects and even cause damage to some appliances. The guidelines on this practice are a bit fuzzy due in large part to a lack of accurate measurements. It is recommended that homeowners talk to their propane company about this solution if they are interested in improving their propane delivery in those cold winter months.

Home Standby Generator Cold Weather Performance

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 12:30:00 GMT

Homeowners with standby generators have been seeing a lot of use recently in New York during our high winds and snow storms.

Parts of New York, particularly those near Lake Ontario, are home to some incredibly notorious cold weather conditions and snow storms. Just recently, residents of Western New York suffered with one of the worst storms in recent memory, warranting a State of Emergency from the Governor and completely shutting down I-90 traffic into the region. Untold numbers of homeowners across the state lost power from heavy snowfall, strong winds and downed power lines.

Many homeowners who have standby generators were able to retain power during the entire storm with very few issues, if any. Others, however, were not so fortunate and had issues with the generator performing when it was needed most. We’ve gathered some critical information here on this webpage that should help you with research and due diligence when it comes to your home generator.

Make Sure Your Generator Is Self-Testing

The number one, most important thing you can do, is make sure that your home generator is self testing at the proper intervals. This is, essentially, the whole point of having these units self-test in the first place. Most units will have something like a weekly or monthly test, depending on the manufacturer or the age of the unit. For example, the Cummins Quiet Connect units that we recommend test twice a month by default, which is recommended.

Some generator owners will choose to have this feature turned off, either because they don’t want to expend the fuel for the test periods or they find the exercises too annoying when they occur in the middle of the day. The Cummins units we recommend are the quietest on the market, yet even still, they are not completely silent by any means. These exercise periods are generally between 5 - 20 mins at most and are absolutely critical to the continued function of your home generator.

Every time your home generator does a self-test it goes through a diagnostic process designed to determine if there are any issues with the unit or the transfer process. If an issue is discovered or if the generator goes down on a fault during a self-test, any issues can be remediated before a serious power outage occurs.

Base Temperature and Cold Weather Kits

Nearly all models of home generators from nearly all manufacturers have a “minimum operating temperature” that they can operate at without issues. The exact number for this varies from unit to unit, generally that temperature is somewhere between 32 - 0 degrees Fahrenheit. One of the reasons we’re so adamant about the Cummins units is because they have the lowest minimum operating temperature of all units on the market.

This may not be a primary concern for many, but here in the North East we often have several months every year where temperatures are well below freezing. Most manufacturers also offer cold weather kits that can be installed which allow for operation at even lower temperatures. Again, this is an area where the Cummins Unit excels, since it can operate below 0 degrees Fahrenheit with a cold weather kit.

Ventilation and Snow Build Up

The third matter is less predictable and more difficult to deal with than the others, mainly because it involves the direct impact of the elements on your generator. Natural occurrences sometimes referred to as “acts of god” can be hard to combat. For example, let’s say you live in Buffalo NY and during a snowstorm you get over 7 FT of snow. Your yard is completely buried, you can’t even see out your window, but even if you could, you would notice that your generator is completely buried under multiple feet of snow.

In this circumstance you may discover that your generator does not run, or that perhaps it runs for a brief period of time before shutting down. What's happening here is the same thing that could also occur to a buried car engine, without the ability to intake air the generator cannot start or run indefinitely. With almost all standby generator models, there will be intake vents on one or more sides of the unit.

So what can you do about this? If the inclement weather is headed your way, do whatever you can to clear out the side of your generator, including shoveling or blowing while you can. Neither the snow itself nor the cold temperature will deter the generator from operating successfully, just the blockage or prevention of air intake.

These cold weather circumstances are nothing new to us here in the North East, many of our services and recommendations are built around the snow conditions that we are all very familiar with. As mentioned above, these reasons and many more are why we often recommend Cummins Home Generators to the residents in our area. Their Quiet Connect Units have some of the best cold weather and noise level performances on the market.

Hurricane Home Solutions is a Cummins Authorized Dealer and your local expert for backup power solutions. If you are a homeowner in New York State or Northern Pennsylvania, and are interested in learning more about home backup generators, consider giving us a call at 1-833-999-0039 , sending us an email or submitting a form here on our website.

Top 5 Things to Know About Home Generators

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 12:01:01 GMT

Looking to learn more about Home Standby Generators? Here are the top 5 basics to help you get started with your research.

As a home contractor that specializes in home generator installations, we’ve crossed pretty much every conceivable scenario and learned all the in’s and out’s of the products and the process involved in installations. We’ve also talked with tons of homeowners and cleared up a lot of confusion about terminology and capabilities, and much more. We’ve chosen 5 specific sticking points to help homeowners during their research process.

1 - Sizing Can Be Misleading:

One of the first things you’ll discover while conducting online research is that many contractors and wholesalers have forms and questionnaires designed to help homeowners identify which size generator they should be purchasing. These forms will generally ask questions like “what's the square footage of your home” and additional questions related to the property that have little to no bearing on your actual energy usage. This can be a useful thing to explore and look over but it rarely paints an accurate picture about which size generator will be best for you.

Here are a handful of more relevant factors to consider: How many people live in the home regularly? How many major appliances do you run in the home? What are the Amps of your current electrical service? We recommend to anyone who is seriously interested in one of these projects to get multiple in-home estimates. Contractors will do power assessments for free and will be able to evaluate installation sites as well, giving you a far more accurate idea of what the project will entail and what a realistic price will be.

Our general experience has been that most homes will be somewhere in the recommended range of 13kW to 20kW generators, with some homes rarely exceeding that range. We believe fairly strongly that, in most cases, installing a fixed generator below 13kW is neither enough power to get the job done, nor is it worth the cost to the homeowner since the prices for a full installation can still be rather high even with a smaller unit.

2- Multiple Fuel Sources Available:

Some people assume that home generators are basically just extra large portable generators, but there are actually several more critical differences. A notable one being the fuel source, since almost no standby generators will run on regular gasoline. Nearly all of the most popular brands and models run on either natural gas or liquid propane, both of which are very efficient.

There are some models available on the market that will run on diesel but these are generally much larger units with additional features or tradeoffs. The size of the units themselves are considerably larger because the diesel tank is stored inside the generator housing. For example, there is a 20kW Standby Generator from Cummins that is nearly twice the size of the 20kW version that runs on natural gas.

If your home already runs on natural gas, then installing a standby generator is a relatively smooth process. Same goes for propane, so long as you have a tank big enough to feed the generator. These types of units can hypothetically run until they have extinguished their fuel source. With a diesel unit, you will need to be refueling regularly during an extended power outage.

3 - Automatic and Manual Transfer Switches:

The transfer switch is the “brain” of the home generator setup , it determines when your home will switch from drawing power from the grid to drawing power from your generator. Most people who are looking into getting a home generator will be looking for an automatic transfer switch, which will detect a power outage when it occurs, and automatically switch from the grid to the generator.

Most manufacturers and contractors will have an automatic transfer switch included in a package with the generator, one that is generally designed by the same manufacturer specifically for that generator. When you are in the purchasing stage, you will want to make sure that a transfer switch is included in your package. This should be made clear on your contract or purchase receipt.

Manual transfer switches do exist but are fairly uncommon for home standby generators, and many manufacturers do not make manual switches for their own generators like they do with the automatic transfer switches. Manual transfer switches are sometimes used in conjunction with smaller portable generators, which still requires some electrical work to be done.

4 - Partial or Whole Home Installation:

Another uncommon, but not unheard of, install some homeowners choose is what’s referred to as a Partial Install. This commonly occurs when a homeowner has a large number of circuits to power but wants to purchase a smaller generator. In this situation, the generator being installed does not have enough output to power the whole home, so the homeowner has to choose which circuits to power.

Again this is uncommon, but does occasionally happen, and it’s up to the homeowner to decide which circuits they want to power. Not every home is set up in such a way that a homeowner can easily power all the areas they specifically want, and ignore the rest. So, if you’re considering a partial install, be mindful of your home's electrical setup, and what options will be available to you.

The more standard approach is a “whole installation” in which all the circuits in your panel are switched over to your generator in the event of power outage, which is what most people have in mind when considering a generator installation. We generally don’t recommend the partial install, and the only time where it really makes sense is in a situation where you have a generator that is not large enough to meet the power demands of your home.

5 - Placements, Permits and Zoning:

When it comes to placement and compliance, you will often be at the mercy of your town, county or state in terms of permits, regulations and inspections . We’ll use New York State as an example since that’s an area where we do a lot of installations. A lot of the same basic placement rules apply across the state (with some minor variations), which include minimum distances away from property lines and minimum distances from windows and outer walls of your home. These rules generally exist for privacy and safety reasons. For example, nearly all generators will emit exhaust, so you don’t want that exhaust output anywhere near an open window.

Permits are generally required from most towns as well, although there are some that do not require a permit, and only require an inspection from an independent inspection agency after the installation is complete. This is something that generally needs to be approached on a case by case basis, and confirmed with the town's code enforcer. These permits are generally required before a job begins and inspections should be scheduled after the job is completed.

Getting these permits and inspections coordin ated and completed can be a bit of a pain, but isn’t generally a significant hurdle. There is also generally a small price associated with both of these things. In most parts of New York, a permit will run you somewhere around $100 with minor differences depending on the town. Inspections are also around $100 in most parts of Upstate New York, although the more remote and rural areas tend to be upwards of $200. Some installation companies (like ours, for example) will do all the leg work for these, so all that you’ll need to do is add some signatures, if anything at all.

Bonus! Basic Maintenance:

It’s important to remember that most home generators are essentially large engines specifically designed for stationary power generation. Much like any other engine there are some basic maintenance tasks that need to be completed and some rudimentary troubleshooting you may want to be aware of. Nearly every manufacturer of standby generators has a maintenance section in their user manual.

The main consideration in terms of necessary maintenance is Oil Changes, you’ll want to make sure that your generator receives regular oil changes at the intervals recommended by the manufacturer. This process is not too different from changing the oil on a car for example. A handy homeowner can probably complete this task themselves but most contractors will be able to do this for you as well.

If you’re located in Upstate New York or Northern Pennsylvania, and are interested in learning more about home generator installations, consider giving us a call today or submitting your information on a website forum here on our site . Hurricane Home Solutions is an authorized dealer and installer of Cummins Power Generation. We highly recommend their Quiet Connect Series Home Generators, which have the best cold weather performance and run quieter than leading competitors.

Solar Powered Backup V.S. Home Standby Generator

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 12:30:00 GMT

The consumer market offers several options for backup power in residential settings, the two most popular are home generators and solar battery backups.

With an aging power grid and worsening seasonal conditions, more and more homeowners are looking into backup power solutions for their homes to avoid extended power outages. Two of the most prominent, popular and frequently used solutions are home standby generators and solar battery backups. These two systems accomplish similar goals but they do so in very different ways, utilize different resources and have different pros or cons.

Resources and Fuels:

Let's start with some of the more obvious factors: one of these gets power from the sun and the other burns fuel. Solar panels slowly power up a battery backup system, which stores that power until it’s needed. Some systems will also “return” access power generation to the grid, which can net you a small discount on your utility bill . Keep in mind that these setups involve lots of equipment and labor, which can be quite expensive.

Standby generators are essentially just engines, albeit specially designed for their purpose, and operate much in the way you would expect an engine to operate. Most of these types of generators run on either natural gas or liquid propane (sometimes diesel gas) so the operational cost is at the mercy of current fuel prices. If your home is already on natural gas then setting everything up is fairly simple. Large propane tanks may need to be purchased and installed if that’s the route you're hoping to take.

Effectiveness:

Standby Generators are a time tested technology and have been fairly popular for the better part of a few decades now . The systems are rock solid, and with every new iteration they grow closer to perfection. These units require similar basic maintenance to most other engines (oil changes, battery checks, etc..). Pending a shortage of fuel, these units should have no problem running continuously without any major issues. Generally speaking, maintenance here is done on an “hours of use” basis, so hypothetically, continuous use would be interrupted with some oil changes.

The battery backup setups that are powered by solar panels are unsurprisingly dependent on the sun. Here in the north east we generally don’t recommend them for that reason alone. They’ll work just fine most of the time, but we tend to have pretty thick and overcast winters here, which decreases their reliability. Also, depending on the size of your setup, you may discover that you’ll only be able to continue powering your home for a limited amount of time. If you experience an outage lasting more than a day you may find yourself out of power again before the grid returns.

Pricing:

Both of the projects are expensive, no doubt about it, but a good solar and battery backup will probably run you almost twice as much as a standby generator installation. It’s worth noting here that depending on where you live these prices can vary pretty drastically, and the condition of your install will be a price factor as well. Depending on what state you live in and who you get your utilities through, you may also be eligible for some rebates for clean energy products like solar panels.

We’ve seen national estimates for home standby generators installations to be as high as $15,000, but here in the North East the average is probably somewhere between $10,000 - $13,000 (nearly half and half for the generator itself and then the labor and materials for install), keeping in mind that there are price variations for everything from additional labor for trenching, model make and size of your unit, and other additional factors. We personally recommend the Cummins Quiet Connect Units which are incredibly well built, but not necessarily the cheapest options out there. Also, If you want to power the Generator with Propane and don't already have a tank, that will be an additional cost.

Solar panels and the accompanying battery backups can be considerably more expensive, with cheaper options like Generac PowerCell still being upwards of $20,000 dollars for a full set-up and install. Sometimes the solar panels and the actual batteries are priced separately or done at different points in time. You may find the getting just a battery can be as cheap as $10,000 , but then you’re left with nothing to power them.

The more “premium” products like Tesla’s PowerWall are upwards of $30 ,000 for a full install, and will scale with additional “cells” needed to store power. These prices can be prohibitive for most homeowners, considering the frequency of how often these systems are used. There are even more expensive set-ups you can look into if money is no object.

Overall Generator Pro’s and Con’s:

PROS:

Less expensive and more reliable.
Functions like a car engine, easy maintenance.
Comes in various sizes to power your entire home.
Blends well into your current home-scape.
Average life span of 20-25 years.

CONS:

Must pay for fuel and get regular maintenance.

Overall Solar Setup Pro’s and Con’s:

PROS:

Eco-friendly technology, no fuel expense.
Possible rebates (state dependent).
Cells stored indoors, low visibility.

CONS:

Higher upfront cost, more expensive to manufacture and install.
Newer technology, not as time-tested, more complicated.
Performance dependent on good weather.
Some people dislike the look of the roof covered in panels (some do not mind)

Conclusion:

As is generally the case, the better product here will depend a lot on your situation. As previously mentioned, here in the North East, we don’t generally recommend these solar set-ups. Winter is a tough time for us Northerners, it’s the time of year where we have the worst weather and the most power outages. The last thing you want is uncharged batteries during a snowstorm. On the other hand, the Cummins generators we recommend operate incredibly well at below freezing temperatures . They even have cold weather kits and heated slip rings that will allow your generator to operate below zero without issue.

Another important consideration is that these home battery setups are a relatively newer technology, still going through the phases and iterations of new designs and use cases. Only very recently have major brands like Generac started to produce them at a considerable volume. Most people that have these sorts of setups are early adopters, people who know the possibility for error and imperfection is higher, but who are also interested in engaging with newer technology.

These solar setups also use a lot of rare metals that are very expensive to source, a contributing factor in their high cost. Our hope is that in the coming years the price of these sorts of setups will decrease and become more competitive as the technology gets better, more efficient and cheaper to produce. There are plenty of places, particularly in the southern U.S. where we have an overabundance of solar energy just waiting to be tapped into, making a battery backup with solar panels very attractive.

Hurricane Home Solutions is a licensed contractor that provides backup power solutions to homeowners all across New York and Northern Pennsylvania. We’re certified Cummins Dealer as well and big advocates of their Quiet Connect Series units, which boast quieter noise volumes and better cold weather performance than leading competitors. If you’re interested in learning more about these systems feel free to call us directly or fill out a form here on our site .

We can also be reached by email at info@hurricanehomesolutions.com

Best Backup Power Solutions

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 15:45:00 GMT

Depending on your needs and circumstances, there are several excellent choices for backup power options for individuals, homeowners and small businesses...

In a world literally powered by electricity and technology that makes our lives better and more convenient, not having that electricity, particularly for extended periods of time, can be a major inconvenience. This article highlights the most commonly used methods of maintaining some degree of power when the grid goes out or when there are now outlets in sight.

Small Power Stations and Battery Banks

The smallest and often easiest, but also the most limited, solution is a single battery backup. Small battery banks and cells come in all shapes and sizes, as small as a smart phone to as large as a briefcase. These units are generally just batteries, sometimes with an AC port or two and several USB or USB-C ports to charge electronic devices like cell phones and laptops.

On the smaller end these sorts of devices are able to easily recharge your cell-phone once or twice but not much more. Devices like this are a dime a dozen, are made by tons of different manufacturers and can be purchased for as little as $20 or as much as $100 depending on the size and quality. These sorts of batteries are designed to recharge mobile devices and then to be recharged themselves in a traditional outlet.

On the larger end, bigger battery stations can recharge several devices several times over (often more than one device at the same time) before needing to be recharged themselves. These devices are not generally used for the purposes of powering devices with a constant draw (like a T.V. for example), but some things could be powered for a short period of time. This of course depends on the watt hours of the battery and the draw of the devices. These devices are of course more expensive; they will be in the neighborhood of $300 up to $1000.

Both of these types of devices are ideal for travel circumstances but would likely come in handy in the event of an emergency as well. They’re use times are fairly limited, and cannot be recharged during a power outage, but could be helpful in some unexpected instances. It is worth noting however that these devices can sometimes take quite a bit of time to be recharged, meaning if you intend to use it for emergency purposes, you may find yourself out of luck when said emergency arrives at your doorstep.

Portable Generators

Portable Generators are a very “traditional” method of backup power, often relying on good old fashioned gasoline or propane to run. Much like the batteries, portable generators can be found in many shapes, sizes and configurations. There are also dozens of manufacturers of these sorts of units, from names you’ve never heard of to the more common brands like Generac and Cummins.

Use cases for these g enerators commonly seen are household backup, camper usage, tailgating, off-grid power and more. Obviously, how applicable they are to each of those situations entirely depends on the unit and the power output. Many units on the market are in fact purpose-built for some of the above mentioned applications. We will illustrate here some of the use cases with a few Cummins models we personally recommend. We’ve worked with Cummins for years and have always preferred their build quality over competitors.

The Onan P4500i is purpose built for campers, RVs and tailgate setups, a fact most evident from the inclusion of a 30A TT-30R port on the face of the unit. This unit has handles and wheels for easy transportation, and can also be run in parallel with an additional unit for extra power as needed. This unit also has a remote start function. These units produce 3.7 running kW which is considerable, but not enough to power home appliances or serve as a substantial home backup.

A larger option is the Onan P9500i, this is also a Cummins model that we’ve worked with frequently and many manufacturers on the market make similar units in size and watts. These sized units are ideal for off-grid use or as a home backup, although there are some hurdles in effective use that should be considered. These units generally won’t be putting more than 10kW, they require consistent refueling and they do not generally have manual or automatic transfer switches; extension cords will need to be laid to wherever you’d like to have power.

The Onan P9500i also has several features that are not common on all similar sized units, including wheels and handles for transportation and a remote start function. This unit also has a dual-fuel feature that allows it to run on a gasoline reservoir or an external propane tank. These features are particularly useful in situations where the unit is expected to be used more frequently and for longer periods of time. Both of these Generators, and similar models from other brands, run in the neighborhood of $1,500 - $5,000.

Home Standby Generators

Standby Generators are the quintessential home backup solution, they have the capability and features you want to power your entire house, but this is also where price begins to escalate. Most home generators are in the neighborhood of 10 - 20kW, they run on either natural gas or propane (rarely diesel gas) and a full purchase and installation will run you somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000 - $15,000 depending on a multitude of factors. These figures include components and labor.

Standby Generators are generally installed with an automatic transfer switch that instantly switches your panel box from the grid to the generator. The whole installation generally requires a permit and licensed electricians and plumbers, but can be completed in less than a single day. The size unit that is recommended also generally depends on the power consumption in your home, and how many circuits there are that need to be powered. Companies like ours offer homeowners a free in-home assessment and quote to anyone interested.

These units can be bought from several major brands including Generac, Cummins, Kholer, Briggs & Stratton, and more. As previously mentioned we generally recommend Cummins for their rugged reliability and cold weather performance, which is especially important here in the North East. Other Considerations? These generators are permanent fixtures, not portable and considered to be Capital Improvement projects.

If you want to learn more about these kinds of generators and how they work, our website is a great place to start. You can learn the basics about the Cummins Generators we recommend, the general function of these kinds of units and also about the transfer switches and utility options.

Solar Panels, PowerWalls and Large Battery Backups

By far the most advanced and most expensive option for home backup power, but a very attractive one for several reasons. Most large battery backups are charged by external solar panels or some other external method. These technologies are generally green and have low carbon emissions, but are also an additional expense. Depending on the manufacturer these battery setups can be quite bulky, although some designs are clearly more compact than others.

For the sake of comparison we’ll use the Tesla Power Wall since it is incredibly popular and the demand for these backup power solutions is very high. The Tesla Power Wall is generally sold and installed in two pieces; the solar panels and the wall battery. Additional batteries can be added into the backup circuit at an additional cost, significantly expanding the amount of power you can hold.

Although this technology is considered to be eco-friendly it comes with several shortcomings, some of whic h may be addressed as this sort of application becomes more common and efficient. For starters, if you live in an area that isn’t fairly sunny, this method of backup power is going to be less effective. Also, these batteries do not hold as much power as one might hope for, and if you’re experiencing an outage that lasts more than a day, you may find yourself hanging out to dry. Most installers recommend two or even three cells, which does increase the price.

The most prohibitive factor here really is the price. With all of these technologies the price predictably scales with the power output. For example, home generators are essentially large engines, which of course will cost more than battery cells or small portable generators. With these large battery style backups, the price scales exponentially. Part of this is due to the rare metals used in the construction, which have become harder to source in recent years.

We don’t currently o ffer installation of these types of systems but our research has shown that full prices are somewhere in the neighborhood of $20,000 - $30,000 for a battery, solar panels and a full install. Also, since this system is modular additional batteries can be added, which will scale the price upward. We’ve seen installers recommending 2-3, which would bring the price point up by nearly $10,000 for each additional cell. Bear in mind that some states and energy companies offer rebates for the installation of green tech like this, something worth looking into if this is a project you're interested in, since every penny counts!

Bottom Line

In the world of technology, none of us want to be stranded without power for too long. The best solution for you will depend heavily on your needs and your budget. If you just want to make sure you have a laptop and internet during hour-long outages, perhaps a battery cell would be effective. If you’re hoping to be able to run your home’s normal functions and appliances, you’ll want a Standby Generator or a PowerWall, or a similar whole-home solution.

Hurricane Home Solutions is a certified Cummins Dealer, and we’re fully equipped to help homeowners pick out the best backup power solutions for their needs. We’re able to recommend the right unit and we’re also able to do in-home power assessments for homeowners in our region (which includes New York and Pennsylvania). If you’d like to learn more about our services feel free to call us directly or submit a form here on our website.

PFAS, The "Forever Chemicals" In Your Drinking Water

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 11:00:01 GMT

The recent wave of awareness surrounding PFAS has homeowners wondering what chemicals are in their water…

Recently the subject of PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl), commonly referred to as “Forever Chemicals” has come up more broadly in the public eye as a major concern in public and private water supplies. These chemicals have grown in use over the years and are in almost everything from cookware to cosmetics. Until recent history it was not widely known or understood how prevalent these chemicals had become in ground water across the country.

So what are the real concerns here? How bad is the problem? Is it really that harmful or is it just a minor inconvenience? Well the reality is that we do not yet have a robust amount of information or studies to draw on, but what does exist paints a bleak picture.

Where do these PFASs come from:

These chemicals are used in the production of countless different products and home goods, and have been for a very long time. Their use was particularly prominent in the early to mid 2000’s, but have seen a steady decline in use over the years. Unfortunately, it didn’t take very long for these chemicals to find their way into almost everything.

Today, PFAS can be found in meat, packaging products, soil and the crops grown in that soil, municipal drinking water supplies and natural bodies of water as well. Naturally, this is fairly concerning since it seems as though their consumption is incredibly difficult to avoid.

Consumption, Health Concerns and Dangers:

These chemicals were never intended to be ingested by humans, as is often the case with pollutants, but all it takes is time for these things to be mishandled and eventually leaked into the surrounding environment. The potential health concerns are numerous, particularly in the realm of fertility, pregnancy and early infancy.

According to the CDC pregnant women can develop high blood pressure and also experience decreases in infant birth weights, among other issues. More details can be found on their website here. Bear in mind that findings regarding the potential hazards of these PFAS are becoming more accurate over time, and may include more information in the future.

What can be done to avoid these chemicals:

The first and most pressing issue is removing these chemicals from your drinking water supply. It has been determined that Reverse Osmosis and Activated Carbon Filters are incredibly effective at removing PFAS from your drinking water. PFAS become dangerous when they have entered your bloodstream, so avoiding their consumption is the best way to avoid the health risks.

You will also want to stay tuned into local conditions and any information regarding possible contaminations in your area. In 2019, the FDA significantly expanded their testing methods and parameters for PFAS in food supplies , and have been able to more accurately track and regulate contamination sites.

Hurricane Home Solutions is a home contractor that specializes in high quality water purification systems for residential use. We frequently install the Reverse Osmosis systems that are recommended for filtering out PFAS from your drinking water. We also have Carbon Filter systems that effectively treat PFAS available for residential installations.

If you’re interested in learning more about water filtration systems that can combat the presence of PFAS in your water, consider giving us a call or submitting a form on our website with your questions. We are able to service a majority of New York and Northern Pennsylvania, and would be happy to help you with your water.

Are Power Outages Becoming More Common?

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 14:58:00 GMT

With an aging power grid and climate change causing erratic weather conditions, should you be concerned about a growing frequency of power outages?

These are certainly -uncertain- times for many Americans, and the notion that power-outages are becoming more common only adds to that feeling. Amid energy crisis and conflict, changes in environment and climate conditions, and an out of date power grid, homeowners have every reason to be skeptical about the growing frequency of power outages. According to The Verge, 2020 was the worst year for power outages. Let's look at a few of these issues individually to get a better understanding.

Aging Power Grid Conditions

With high temperatures across the country and an aging power grid many states are struggling to maintain power for homeowners. Part of the issue here is that the grids are in desperate need of upgrades , but the other part is that demand for power has been increasing in the average household across the country. More technology and electrical devices and appliances means more power is required. The relatively new introduction of electric cars on a mass scale is also a considerable strain on the grid.

The concerns surrounding climate change, both in the form of temperature changes and less predictable weather, are also likely to be a continuing factor. Major grid disasters across the country are still in recent memory for many and seem to be particularly hard hitting in more southern states. A snow storm in Texas brought the grid to a near full halt, while large demand and rising temperatures nearly caused rolling blackouts in California.

Worsening Storms and Weather

People who live in certain parts of New York, like the North Country or the Southern Tier, are pretty familiar with seasonal storms and power outages, particularly in the late fall and winter. High winds, rain, snow accumulation and more can cause both brief and prolonged power outages. The condition of our grid and power lines across the entirety of Upstate New York requires pretty constant upkeep and attention, a demand that’s difficult to keep up with even when things aren’t going sideways.

Anything that has the potential to damage the grid or bring down a line has the potential to cause homeowners power outages. Depending on your location, a downed power line getting fixed could be as short as a few hours or as long as several days. Recent storms in the North Country and Capital Region have left some of our customers without power for 3-5 consecutive days.

Labor Shortages

It’s no secret among those in the power industry that keeping employment numbers strong has been difficult . Large providers like National Grid and others have been struggling to retain their labor force and keep up with demand. Manufacturers of goods used in home improvement projects have had to constantly push delivery windows. Even many propane companies are struggling to meet the demand for tanks and installments. All of these factors add to a delay in response time and maintenance costs.

As home contractors who specialize in home generator projects, we’re very familiar with managing power outages, electric and gas work, as well as working with utilities. We’ve got all the relevant experience with sorts of projects and we’re able to put that experience to use all across New York State. Most of our expert technicians have been in the field for over 10 years and all of them have observed a consistent increase in demand across the region.

If you’re a resident of Upstate New York and are looking for more information about home generators feel free to contact us directly here on our website. We can also be easily reached at our email info@hurricanehomesolutions.com or you can call us directly at our office in Rochester: (585) 244-0099

How to Prepare for Hurricane Season

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 19:23:04 GMT

Every year, Hurricane Season causes significant damage to homes and lives all across the coast. Here are some things to consider while approaching Hurricane Season.

Particularly along the East Coast, Hurricanes are one of the most destructive natural forces that homeowners have to be aware of and prepare for. Hurricane Season is commonly considered to start as early as July and last as long as November by some estimates. The “peak” of Hurricane season is generally considered to be between mid-August to mid-October, which means many of the year's worst storms will occur during that period.

Even in zones where homeowners are less likely to be directly in the path of a hurricane, they are very likely to feel its long reaching effects including storm conditions, strong winds, and even flooding in some cases. For those reasons, power outages, blocked roads and limited supplies can be a common occurrence. When thinking about how to be prepared, those three factors are probably the most important.

You may not be able to easily travel:

Depending on how bad of a storm you are enduring, your ability to leave your home easily may be significantly impaired. Roads may be experiencing some flooding or may be blocked by fallen trees or other debris. If you are certain that your proximity to an incoming storm will prevent you from staying in your home comfortably, you may want to consider leaving before it arrives. If you cannot leave, be prepared to hunker down, without much opportunity in the way of getting out.

You may not be able to get more supplies:

It is less common the further you get away from the more dangerous Hurricane landing zones, but many grocery stores are cleaned out before an oncoming storm. It is highly recommended to have something akin to a “72 Hour Kit” in your home for these exact sorts of situations. A kit like this would include some basic medical supplies, non-perishable food for several days, a source of additional light and some other essentials. Take a look around online for some other suggestions as well.

Your home may be damaged in some fashion:

In the way of prevention, any action you take before the storm will be to mitigate the potential damage and the effects of the damage. Is your insurance up to date and will it cover damage from the storm. Are the doors and window seals around the house all in good shape? The question here is basically whether or not the home is in a good enough condition to withstand the storm.

You may also want to take some time to clear debris around your home if there is anything near the home that isn’t firmly planted, including large branches and other natural objects. Trees that may be having a hard time staying up could be easily pushed down by strong winds. All of this is to say that it may be worth walking around your property and taking a look to see if there are any potential hazards sitting around.

You may not have power for a prolonged period of time:

Even if you are not in the direct path of a Hurricane, being close enough to it can cause severe weather conditions and power outages. Make sure that you can live in your home without power for several consecutive days, or secure some form of backup power for your home. Companies like ours professionally install Home Backup Generators with Automatic Transfer Switches , which can power your entire home using propane or natural gas.

Smaller backup power solutions also exist in the form of battery packs and smaller portable generators. These smaller backup batteries can be charged through traditional outlets, but have limited output and should not be relied upon too heavily. These units are good for powering smaller electronics and can allow you to use your phones and laptop computers for an extended period during a power outage.

Portable Generators are also a good solution for a short period of time and are capable of powering much more than a portable battery. Because most portable generators are manual and run on Gasoline, it requires a bit more attention and effort to utilize than a battery or an automatic home generator.

Hurricane Home Solutions is a home contractor that specializes in backup power solutions for homeowners all across New York and Pennsylvania. If you’d like to learn more about Home Standby Generators and other backup power solutions feel free to contact us directly at 1-833-999-0039 or submit a form here on our website with any questions or inquiries you may have.

Winter Storm Preparation in Upstate New York

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 19:30:00 GMT

Our winter storms in New York are known for causing power outages and keeping people stuck in doors for days. What do you need to do to be prepared?

If you’ve lived in New York for more than 12 months you know that the winter months can be pretty brutal here, it’s certainly no secret. If you’ve been here for even longer you may have also experienced one of our infamous winter storms , complete with power-outages, snow-ins and un-drivable roads. It may not be the first thing anyone wants to think about, but the reality is that these events can be quite burdensome if you’re not prepared to wait out the storm.

This article will quickly summarize some preparations that you can do easily to make sure you’re ready for when the storm comes. We’ll also highlight the benefits of having a generator ready for use during an extended outage.

Stay Warm

Unless you have some sort of generator or battery backup, you won’t have many options for heat. You may have a fireplace which would certainly be helpful, or you may even have a small propane heater that could be helpful for a short period of time. If you don’t have these things readily accessible in the house, consider moving them to a location where they would be. During a storm, you’ll want to avoid going outside if at all possible.

It may quickly become necessary to wear layers if you lose heat and power for more than an hour or two, which should be easy since those things are likely lying around already. If you have a fireplace, having dry wood and a functional chimney will be a life saver. Be conservative about your body heat and try to avoid letting too much out or removing layers.

Emergency Supplies

Having a bag or container of emergency supplies will be helpful for an extended storm where simply going to the store isn’t an option. This includes mostly food, but also may include other useful items like flashlights, basic medical supplies, and possibly some sort of backup battery that can be used to power phones or other communication devices.

Food and water are arguably the most important considerations, since we don’t last long without them. You may not be able to travel anywhere to get food and your pipes may also freeze, restricting your ability to draw water from the tap. It is often recommended to have a “72 Hour Kit” somewhere in the home specifically for these sorts of incidents. This kit should include some water bottles and plenty of non-perishable food. Consider that your ability to cook may be impacted by the outage.

Here’s a short list of supplies you might want to include in a kit:

Water, a Gallon per day per person (as close as you can get).
Non-perishable food supplies, ideally for 3 days.
Flashlights with extra batteries.
Basic first aid kit and any other required medications.
Basic sanitation materials, baby wipes, including feminine hygiene products.

There are many other wise inclusions to consider when preparing a 72 Hour Kit, consider searching online for additional resources and also consider the unique circumstances of your living area. Someones 72 Hour Kit in New York will probably look very different from someones’ in California.

Generator Options

Many homeowners in our area purchase generators almost specifically for this purpose. The two most common options are a Portable Generator and a Standby Generator. Both of these options have their pros and cons, and can be incredibly helpful during a winter storm.

Portable generators run on normal gas and usually have somewhere in the range of 3 - 10 kW, they are easy to move, have several direct outlets for cords, and can get you several hours of power for a handful of essentials, such as maybe a small heater or other necessities. It is important to note that these generators MUST be run outside the house and do emit hazardous fumes that you do not want to inhale.

Portable generators do have pretty significant limitations ; including overall power output, the need for refueling, manual startup and more. During most times of the year this may not be a significant deterrent, but winter storms can make refueling and starting up the generator difficult or nearly impossible. If temperatures are below freezing you may want to think twice about going outside to get it running.

Another option is a Home Standby Generator, a larger generator that is wired directly into your home with an Automatic Transfer Switch . These units are larger and more expensive than the portable generators previously mentioned, but are also considerably more powerful and almost entirely automated. These Standby Generator systems can be monitored remotely and require no startup work.

The Cummins Standby Generators we recommended come in 13kW, 17kW and 20kW configurations, but across the market the average is somewhere between 10kW and 20kW. These units are powered either by propane or natural gas and will run smoothly until they run out of their fuel source. They also link directly to a mobile app that gives you real-time status updates .

Will Your Home Incur Damage Without Power?

During a prolonged power outage, particularly in cold weather conditions, you’ll be primarily focused on your own comfort and probably not too focused on many other things. Some homeowners are very concerned , however, about the impact of the weather and the power outage on their house. Here in Upstate New York ice build up can cause branches and even dead trees to topple onto homes and cars. Property damage is an unfortunate and sometimes unavoidable occurrence during our more intense ice storms.

Sometimes homes that require a sump-pump or other devices to regulate operations can be damaged indirectly during a storm by prolonged power-outages. The potential for property damage and other financial losses is on a case by case basis . The best thing you can do is evaluate your home and its operations to determine potential outage damages. If the potential damages are significant, investing in a generator may be the right move for you.

As a Cummins Certified Dealer we know all the ins and outs of Home Standby Generator installations and functions. We’ve installed hundreds of units across New York State and prefer the Cummins units as the best performers in Cold Weather Conditions . If you’re a resident of New York State and are interested in learning more about these powerful units, feel free to contact us directly by email , form submission here on our site , or by phone at (585) 244-0099 .

The Most Common Water Filters and Treatment Systems

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 14:28:45 GMT

There are dozens of Filtration Systems and Manufacturers on the market for Water Treatment, these are some of the most common:

Many homes across the country have less than ideal water conditions that homeowners are looking to get solutions for. Certain regions tend to have similar issues across the water supplies they draw from. A quick example being that iron and arsenic deposits are common in the North East, additional problems include acidity, salt, lead and chlorine. Other regions suffer from other conditions more frequently, like tannins and nitrates.

So with that in mind, be sure to understand that just because a water treatment system is popular or common, it does not necessarily mean it is the best treatment method for your water conditions. If you’re a homeowner experiencing poor water conditions, odd tastes and smells, consider getting a water test to determine what system will be best (most treatment companies like ours will offer homeowners free water tests).

Water Softeners

Water Softeners are by far the most common water treatment system because of the various beneficial effects they have. On a hardness scale in water, homes with less than 17.1 ppm are considered soft, and anything above 120 is considered hard. In New York State, the average home is generally in the moderate zone of 80-100 ppm. Many homeowners in this range, who do not have very hard water still purchase softeners because they like the way softener water feels.

Hard water has greater amounts of calcium and magnesium than average, which can lead to composite build ups inside pipes, faucets, appliances, and basically anything else that cycles water. This phenomenon significantly shortens the lifespan of all those fixtures and appliances.

Hard water also has a certain taste and feel that ma ny people find to be uncomfortable, even though it is not necessarily harmful to consume.

Reverse Osmosis Filters

Reverse Osmosis (R.O.) filter systems have steadily grown in popularity in recent history due to their convenient size, relatively low overall cost and the number of issues it can solve. Reverse Osmosis will handle Fluoride, salts, chlorine, VOC’s, arsenic and many other contaminants.

Most R.O. systems are not rated to remove certain kinds of bacteria and viruses, which leads many homeowners to pair their R.O. with something else like a U.V. light. R.O. filters also purge a fair amount of contaminated water into your drain, commonly referred to as brine, which tends to result in a small uptick in overall water usage. This water is used to flush all the contaminants removed by the R.O. system.

Carbon Filters

Activated Carbon Filters are another very popular type of water system that use carbon material (often as pellets, but sometimes in other forms) to absorb chemicals in your water supply as it passes through the housing where all the carbon pellets are. This form of filtration is very effective with certain contaminants but not with others, since its efficacy depends on whether or not the chemicals will be attracted to the carbon.

Contamina nts like sulfur and chlorine are very effectively treated by a Carbon Filter, but other things like iron and various nitrates are not. As is the case with many water treatment systems, Carbon Filters are often used in tandem with something else (like an R.O.) for a more effective purification.

Chlorination

Chlorination is a tried and tested water treatment method that has been around for a long time. Chlorine has been proven to effectively kill many types of bacteria and viruses, and is widely used in municipal water supplies as a form of purification. Chlorinators like the Sanitizer Plus that we service, from Water Right, is a very popular system for municipal water conditions.

Chlorine can also be the cause of damage in some circumstances and is undesirable in large quantities. Chlorine can be potentially hazardous in some conditions, specifically where organic minerals and metals can cause chemical reactions with the chlorine (called trihalomethanes). These mixed chemicals are hazardous, which causes many homeowners who have well water to pair a chlorinator with something like a carbon filter to remove excess chlorine.

When looking into water treatment systems It’s important to remember that no two homes have the exact same water conditions, particularly ones that are far apart and get water from different sources. We strongly recommend that homeowners get a thorough water test as a part of their search; state labs can give tests for a small fee and many service providers will offer water tests as part of a consultation.

If you’re in the Upstate New York area and are looking for information about water treatment systems, consider contacting us directly either by web submission here on our site, by phone at (585) 244-0099 or by email . Service providers like Hurricane Home Solutions always offer free consultations and water tests.

Annual Standby Generator Maintenance

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 12:00:13 GMT

Basic home generator maintenance is an absolute must for homeowners with a standby generator.

The engine that is housed inside your standby generator shares many similarities with your typical car engine, and just like a car engine, if left neglected it will eventually result in catastrophic failure. Regular maintenance is not particularly difficult, especially for someone who's handy or already has a mechanical background, so many of these tasks can be done by homeowners. That being said, most contractors (including us) can handle all of these tasks for you if you're not able or interested in doing them.

Oil and Oil Filters

The first, and by far the most important, thing to do is change the oil and oil filters in your generator. Although every make and model is a little different, the fundamentals are always the same. For the sake of demonstrations we’ll use graphics and data from the Cummins Standby Generators we install as an example. Cummins Standby uses 0W30 oil, but that may vary for other units.

Obviously you’ll want to check the oil levels from time to time on your generator, but much like a car, you’ll want to be replacing the filter and oil on a use-based interval. Since standby generators don’t move, you’ll be tracking “hours of use” rather than miles. Cummins for example recommends that you change the oil and filter after the first 25 hours of use, after the first 100 hours of use, and then every subsequent interval of 200 hours.

You’ll also want to make sure you’re checking the oil regularly in between those recommended changing periods. These specific recommendations are directly from the manufacturer for the Cummins Standby Units, but it is highly recommended you take a look at the owner's manual of your specific generator and take a look at the maintenance suggestions. It will likely be very similar to what is recommended for the Cummins models.

Battery Upkeep and Replacement

The battery that comes with your unit should have a robust lifespan, but just like car batteries, these things do seem to have a turnover over every couple of years, but it is not something you should be replacing often, if at all. If replacing the battery becomes necessary, make sure you always follow safety precautions and instructions in your manual for shutdown, being as safe as possible. Per the Cummins manual:

“Make sure which terminal is positive (+) and which is negative (–) before

making battery connections, always removing the negative (–) cable first and

reconnecting it last to reduce arcing.”

What is more important here is occasionally checking the battery terminal to make sure everything is functioning properly; looking out for loose connections in the terminal housing, making sure there are no leaks or any other malfunction typical of a battery. It is sometimes suggested to clear residue build on the battery if it becomes noticeable.

Air Filters, Spark Plugs and More..

There are also a handful of other things that may be beneficial to check on or possibly replace over the course of your standby generator's life. Things like spark plugs and air filters work here the same way you would expect them to in a car.

Spark plugs loose their efficacy over time after being exposed to overheating or getting a significant amount of carbon buildup. It is also the case that spark plugs that are improperly spaced can cause issues and will likely have a shorter life span. If you’re familiar with this process you can pretty easily check the plugs yourself, or if you have a service provider that maintains your unit, you could have them check the plugs as well.

Air filters naturally accumulate dirt and particles over time and it is recommended that they be replaced when they become visibly dirty. The rate for needing to replace this also likely depends on the air quality in the area of your generator, if lots of dirt and debris gets kicked up around your generator you may want to replace it more often than others. This is another thing you shouldn’t need to replace more than every couple years.

Conclusion:

Always keep your Owners manual around since it has specific information about maintenance regarding your model of home generator. What is recommended by one manufacturer may not necessarily be recommended by another. Many standby generators are similar in form and function but not exactly the same. Always consult your manual. Here is one for the Cummins unit we recommend.

The other takeaway is oil; checking oil levels and replacing filters and oil is by far the most common and important maintenance you can do for your generator. If all the other pieces are too difficult or complicated, consider this to be the most important and the one worth understanding.

Hurricane Home Solutions is a Cummins certified sales and service provider, we service a majority of New York State and are experts on a wide range of standby generators. We love encouraging home owners to maintain their units to the best of their ability, but we also understand that not everyone is interested or able to do that. If you’re looking for a service provider feel free to give us a call at our main office in Rochester (585) 244-0099 or submit a form here on our website.

Backup Power For Cold Storage

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 11:00:00 GMT

Many homeowners and small businesses have cold storage units, or large freezers, that require constant cold temperatures, losing power could be an incredibly costly incident.

We here at Hurricane Home Solutions have been in the power business for quite some time, and we often get to have interesting conversations with customers and homeowners about their needs and intended uses. Often the explanation is pretty simple: we don’t want to deal with power outages anymore. And to that we say: fair enough, that is after all the main appeal of backup power, not dealing with inconvenience.

However, some homeowners (and small business owners) have something more specific in mind for needing backup power. An example we’ve encountered on a few different occasions is cold storage. Big freezer/locker for meat and other perishables? Yup. We’ve also installed a generator for someone who has a small business making novelty baked goods including things like very expensive wedding cakes. An extended power outage could potentially cost thousands in damaged products and untold hours of labor.

When installing a home generator and picking out the right unit, the two biggest considerations are how many appliances and “things” you have to power, and what of those things you actually want to power during an outage. Partial installations, in which only certain circuits are set to run on the backup generator, are often requested for these sorts of projects.

Most (but not all) homes trying to run a backup generator will require something within the range of 13kW to 20kW, but that typical power draw changes quite dramatically when you factor something like a cold storage unit into the mix. If your only concern is the storage, then you can get a partial install with a smaller generator, making sure you only choose the handful of circuits that are most critical to your home or small business operation.

You always have the option as well of purchasing a larger generator, but it is important to keep in mind that the price of your project will scale with the size of the generator, and generators moving into the high 20kW and 30kW models tend to be considerably larger and louder across all different brands and models; this may not be much of an issue for some but could be a serious deterrent for others.

Hurricane Home Solutions is certified Cummins Sales and Service provider in Upstate New York, servicing all the way from Albany to Buffalo, and parts beyond. If you’re interested in learning more about backup power solutions and the specific use conditions, feel free to give us a call at our main office - (585) 244-0099 - or consider submitting a form submission here on our website.

How to Size a Home Generator

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 16:23:08 GMT

Are you in the market for a home standby generator, but don’t know what size you actually need? This process is best determined by examining a few major considerations...

The struggle of determining the correct generator size is something that many homeowners figure out pretty early on in their research process. Maybe they’ve already decided that they want to purchase a standby unit, they might have also already picked a brand and service provider they’d like to work with, but they aren’t exactly sure what size unit they need or what the process is for discovering that information.

Some websites offer questionnaires designed to help homeowners identify which size unit is best suited for their homes, but we’ve found that these forms are often unhelpful and don’t ask the right questions. You might assume you could make some conclusions about what size you would need based on square footage, but it’s actually more helpful to identify all appliances utilizing electric power. Here are series of questions that might actually be helpful in understanding your power consumption:

How many residents live in the home?
Do any of the residents work from home?
Are any of the residents retired?
How many of your major appliances are electric?
Are your HVAC systems electric or gas powered?

Power consumption is not always perfectly linear, but being able to answer these major usage related questions will put you in a better position to understand what you want to power and what your power requirements will be. Just for reference, a larger home with few major appliances occupied by an older couple may actually use less power than a mid-sized family living in a smaller home.

If you have electrical experience, you may be able to do a pretty good job of rounding out your actual usage in watts/kilowatts. Once you’ve made that determination it’s a simple matter of picking a generator that gives you a pretty solid margin of error (for example if you determined that your usage is around 15kW, it would be recommended to go up to 17kW, and not down to 13kW). Of course, doing all of that is easier said than done.

We offer all homeowners free power assessments to help them better understand their power consumption and what size and type of generator would work best for them. Our experts can help you evaluate what is most necessary for you to power, what you absolutely have to power and what sizes are needed to accomplish those goals. It is often the case that some homeowners only want to power certain things, while others want to power their entire home.

If you’re working with a contractor that does not immediately offer you a power assessment, consider asking for one or at-least requesting that they take a look at the installation site before starting the project. This will give your contractors an opportunity to make recommendations that they might not be able to over the phone or by email.

Hurricane Home Solutions operates in the majority of New York State and has offices in Albany, Rochester and Buffalo. Give us a call today or complete an online form here to inquire about a hassle-free power assessment.

Understanding the Effects of Hard Water

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 14:15:50 GMT

Understanding the effects and damage caused by hard water can help homeowners tackle the problems it presents...

Many homeowners experience hard water on a daily basis, but don't always fully understand the impact or effect it's having on their home and family. Hard water is essentially the product of an overabundance of dissolved minerals, the most common of which by far is calcium. The effects of Hard Water are not always immediately obvious to every homeowner, and the damage that can be caused to your home and appliances by hard water is generally not immediate.

Hardness in water is generally measured in mg/L, or milligrams of minerals per liter of water. 0 to 60 mg/L is generally considered soft, 61 to 120 mg/L as moderate and 121 to 180 mg/L as hard. Anything above 180 mg/L is “very hard” and should not be ignored.

It’s hard to give a blanket description of the water quality of New York State because things vary significantly from region to region and town to town. Lots of areas in Western New York and also some parts of Central New York are known for having hardness levels well into the range of 100-150 mg/L.

Top 5 Signs You've Got Hard Water

The Negative Effects of Hard Water

Is Your Water High in Iron and Manganese?

Minerals like iron and manganese are known to cause scale buildup and corrosion in your homes pipes, appliances and fixtures. Over time this damage can accumulate and cause major damage to your home. Appliances that constantly cycle hard water are expected to have shorter life spans and to become less effective over time.

Are You Noticing More Soap Scum in the Sink and Shower?

When dissolved minerals combine with soap they create soap scum, which is tough to wash away from your body. In fact, that so-called squeaky clean feeling on your skin after showering is actually caused by sticky soap scum, which dries out skin and hair while clogging pores and causing pimples.

What is the Real Cost of Hard Water?

Hard Water costs homeowners in the way it affects home and personal cleaning products like soaps and detergents. Hard water causes dishwashers and laundry machines to be less effective and lower their lifespans, requiring more frequent replacement or repair.

If you want to learn more about water softeners, hard water and other water treatment solutions reach out to us directly here on our website. Hurricane Home Solutions service a majority of New York State from Albany to Buffalo and the North Country. Feel free to call us directly at our office in Rochester at (585) 244-0099 .

Cummins (Onan) Standby Generator Review: QuietConnect Series

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Wed, 25 May 2022 14:45:17 GMT

The Home Generator Market has a competitive field of Manufacturers...

... all of whom are vying for the opportunity to put one of their units next to your home, but perhaps none are more qualified than the Cummins Quiet Connect Series Standby Generators. With some of the most competitive prices, longest lifespans, quietest running performance, and best cold weather operation on the market, the Cummins Brand Standby units are a no-brainer for home owners in the North East.

Cummins Onan Background

Cummins is a name you’ve almost certainly heard before, they produce the widely beloved and popular 5.9L and 6.7L Dodge Ram truck engines . The brand has an unrivaled reputation for engine development and manufacturing, and their products span the entire length of power generation, not just truck engines.

Cummins purchased Onan in the 1980’s which allowed them to expand their technology into the generator market, which had previously been mostly just trucks, buses and other motor vehicles. At that point in time, both brands Cummins and Onan, had developed an exceptional reputation in their respective markets.

Onan was originally its own company founded in 1925 by David W. Onan. During which time they developed a strong reputation for their military and civilian stand-alone generators. Once the purchase was completed the brands were merged into “Cummins Power Systems” which is the label you will see today on standby and portable generators.

-Manufactured In the USA-

This has become more and more of a sticking point for homeowners in recent memory, but the desire to support American manufacturing and American businesses is one that resonates with us deeply as a service provider, so we’ve chosen our partners very carefully based on that fact. A bulk of the US work for Cummins Power Generation products is done from their HQ in Minnesota, but they even have plants all across the country, including here in New York, Jamestown specifically.

Configurations and Sizing

When first researching standby generators people generally see lots of ads for Generac and posts about how to size a generator for their home, so we will cover that up-front. Most manufacturers have several different residential models ranging from 10kW to 25kW, and that is generally where most people will fall in terms of their power consumption. Most manufacturers also produce units larger than that but they are less common for residential use.

Cummins produces a 13kW, 17kW and 20kW version of their Quiet Connect Generator. We strongly feel that these three intervals are perfect for the conditions of most homes, particularly in the North East where we are an installation and service provider. The casing and form factor of these three units are identical, but the alternator and programming vary depending on the unit.

We have found in our research and experience that 13kW is really the bottom rung in terms of fully functional usage. Although some brands do make smaller standby units, these units are not much more powerful than your average portable generator, and are probably not going to be able to supply enough power to your home. Also bear in mind that a larger generator includes a higher price tag.

Get an In-home Estimate

It is also important to note that the sizing process has more to do with the number and frequency of people and appliances drawing power in your home than it does with actual house size or square footage of the home. It may not be obvious at first, but when you think about it, one person in a large home will probably end up using less power than a smaller home with five residents, multiple refrigerators and dozens of other appliances. Having a pro walk you through the power usage is always a good idea.

Fuel?

The process of fueling your generator is also a major consideration for home generators. 90% of the time, homeowners will be using natural gas or propane. If you already have a provider for that service, you're already good to go. As long as you have the ability to continue providing natural gas to the unit, it can run interrupted (theoretically) for days on end.

It is uncommon, but Cummins also offers a diesel gas generator model as well. It is worth noting that these units are larger and do need to be refueled just like any other diesel engine would require. This unit comes in 20kW and up, so it isn’t the best option if you were considering anything less in terms of wattage.

-What about solar energy?-

It’s an entirely different subject. As we know, technology advances fast, but in its current state it’s not something we recommend to home owners as a whole-home back-up solution. Most homeowners who live in New York State are familiar with the unpredictability of our seasonal weather, so counting on the sun will probably leave you high and dry more often than you’d want. That isn’t to say that solar technology is “bad,” only that in its current form we don’t recommend it to homeowners; this could easily change in the future as technology improves.

Pricing?

Pricing among standby generators in general is fairly competitive, with full purchase and installation averaging around $15,000 at the national level. Most contractors worth their salt will be giving an all-inclusive quote which SHOULD include everything you need, but it would be worth your time to double check when gathering quotes.

Obviously pricing varies not only based on the generator model but also on what materials and labor are required. A perfect example; you can safely bet a quote for a generator 25 feet away from the home with trenching for piping and electrical wiring is going to be considerably more expensive than one for a generator right next to the home with everything above ground.

There was a time where the direct purchase price of a Cummins unit was a bit more expensive than competitors (as is often the case with products made in America), but global events have all but eliminated that price gap. Depending on when you start looking at prices online, you may even discover that Cummins units are sometimes cheaper than Generacs or Kholer units at the same size.

Installations, Maintenance and Warranty

Part of the appeal of a standby generator is the hands-off functionality. If everything is done correctly, a power outage will trigger your generator and you won't have to do anything. This is because Cummins generators are installed with Automatic Transfer Switches. Every generator manufacturer makes their own switches and you’ll always want to make sure this is included in your installation.

Depending on the size of your generator and the installation, there will be a certain number of circuits that the generator will power, and there may be some that are not powered, this is why sizing is so important, and often why very small generators won’t end up powering much.

Cummins (and most other manufacturers as well) do have service recommendations that we also recommend following, most of which are dependent on hours of use rather than actual age. For example, oil changes and other basic maintenance are recommended on intervals such as 24 and the 100 hours of use. These are all clearly outlined in the owner's manual provided with every unit.

Depending on your circumstances you could easily see the first 24 hours of use within the first year of ownership, but it may take longer than that. If you're a particularly handy individual you may be able to do some of these maintenance tasks yourself; if you’d prefer it to be done by a professional you can always use the Cummins website to find an Authorized Service Provider in your area.

- Is an Automatic Transfer Switch Always Included? -

The short answer is no, so this is something you’ll want to make sure you’re paying attention to. Our company always sells our Cummins units with the appropriate switch included, but that isn’t the case with all companies and is not always the case with wholesalers either. When you’re getting quotes and contracts make sure you discuss having the proper Transfer Switch included as part of your install. If you’re buying wholesale make sure it’s included in the package you order. If it doesn't specify it likely means it won’t be included.

Noise Levels?

This portion in particular is one where the Cummins unit excels. As the name implies, the Cummins Quiet Connect Series generators are easily the most muted on the market, without a question. Take a look at this video displaying different sound levels from a variety of units and manufacturers.

Even though it is the quietest on the market, these kinds of home generators are not exactly “quiet.” They are, after all, very large engines and the goal is to engineer them well, get good insulation in the casing, and limit that noise level as much as possible. Some of these generators can get quite loud but for the Cummins units it’s very reasonable, no louder than conversation level, with more distance being better.

That being said, consider noise levels in your placement whenever possible, avoid proximity to windows and thin walls around your house when deciding on an installation site. This is not always as simple a process as you might think, since often the “ideal” placement will violate a municipal guideline or HOA regulation. This is another good reason to get an in-home estimate from a local company, one who is familiar with relevant regulations in your State/County or town.

Cold Weather Performance?

This is the other area in which Cummins Generators excel and why we chose them specifically as our manufacturer, their cold weather performance right out of the box is top notch. There are obviously places in the U.S. where this might not be so relevant, but here in the North East, it’s an absolute necessity. Cummins units are rated down to Zero with the standard kit.

Most manufacturers (including Cummins) also offer additional cold-weather kits that expand that range of uninhibited function at even lower temperatures. We understand that after purchasing your generator you might not want to spend a few extra hundred dollars on one of these kits, but if the purchase is within your budget, we always recommend it, particularly if you live in the mountainous areas of New York or by the Great Lakes where temperatures can fall far below zero.

- Watch out for Snow Buildup -

An unfortunate situation that can affect nearly any homeowner with a Standby Generator is the build up of snow around the unit. A normal snowfall of 8-12 inches will probably have very little effect on your unit, but if the unit becomes covered in snow and no longer has the ability to get air through the engine, you could see some issues. During extremely heavy storms, it would be worth your while to keep an eye on the generator and perhaps clear some space if you have the ability to do so.

Smartphone Monitoring

Since we live in the Smartphone Age, your generator comes with a Smartphone App to accompany it. This app is used specifically for remote monitoring and can be very useful depending on your situation and how you choose to use it. If your generator is installed at a secondary or vacation home, having a remote monitoring option is almost certainly a necessity.

This app, Cummins Cloud Connect, supplies you with information on your generator's current status and all related functions, as well as diagnostic information from your previous self-test. This is another great feature you get with the Cummins units: Self Diagnostics. Twice a month your generator will start up and conduct a brief self-test to ensure all functionality continues as normal.

So, what if I don’t want my generator to self-test?

New Paragraph

You may be thinking that turning off the self test feature to save some fuel is a good idea, and that is something you can do with relative ease, but you may not be surprised to hear that we do not think that is a good idea. We want homeowners to be able to confidently rely on their generators for an impending power outage, and being informed about your generator's status is part of that equation.

When Hurricane Home Solutions was started we had pros from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of experience bringing their knowledge and expertise to the table for a discussion about how we were going to operate and what products we would be using. When assessing generator brands the team quickly came to the conclusion that Cummins would be a no brainer for our business.

- In conclusion.... -

The reliability of Cummins units allows for peace of mind for homeowners and service providers like ourselves. Homeowners can be comfortable and confident with their units and we don’t have to worry about constant service issues and malfunctions. It goes without saying at this point that we highly recommend homeowners who are considering a home standby generator to consider a Cummins.

Is A Home Standby Generator A Good Investment?

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 13:00:09 GMT

A Standby Generator is a serious purchase and considered a capital improvement project in New York, but how much value is added from your investment?

This is a difficult question to answer directly because the circumstances vary pretty significantly. There are so many benefits to having a standby generator installed in your home, and depending on your needs the value can be perceived differently. Either way, purchasing and installing a standby generator is a large and expensive project, and understanding the pros and cons can help you make the right decision.

Will a standby generator increase the value of my home?

The short answer to this question is yes, but by how much is an entirely different and more complicated question. Based on data we’ve seen it’s almost universally true that home value increases, but from publications and anecdotes we’ve determined that the added value can be anywhere from 50% - 150% of the generator cost.
With that in mind, if your sole purpose of wanting to get a standby generator installed is for increasing home value you may find that a 10K dollar generator project may not add 10K in value to your home. The condition of your generator, age, and regional demand will play a major role in how the value added is determined.

What sort of damage will you sustain during a prolonged power outage?

It is often the case that homeowners want a standby generator to keep certain appliances and home utilities powered even when they aren’t home, counter to having backup power when they are home. Sometimes with seasonal homes and properties, by the time you discover there’s been a power outage, it’s too late to fix the damage.
Could frozen pipes cause serious damage to your home? Is a sump pump being used to prevent basement flooding? Got freezers filled with meat and other perishables? If these are potential issues for you, or if you've dealt with damage from power outages in the past, then a standby generator is almost certainly a good investment.

How long can you manage to go without power? How long do power outages in your area generally last?

One of the major benefits of a backup generator is that it can operate uninterrupted for days without issue. If you’re living in an area where outages lasting longer than an hour or two are common, the value of a standby unit is likely much higher than it would be in areas where they are uncommon.
A major consideration here, particularly for older people, is how much of an inconvenience will an extended power outage be for you personally? Do you have medical equipment or other electronic devices that need to have power? Will losing heat for a few hours or even days be hazardous to you? These are questions that only you will know the answer to.

In summation, the value of a standby generator comes largely from how inconvenient and hazardous power outages can be for you, and how often they occur. Here in Upstate New York power outages are not exactly uncommon, particularly from late fall to early spring, where blizzards and high winds can wreak havoc on a regular basis. If you’re looking to learn more about standby generators feel free to call our main office at (585) 244-0099 or fill out a web form here on our website , we would be happy to supply you with all the information you need.

Cummins V.S. Kohler Generator

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 19:28:26 GMT

We compare and contrast two of the best home generators on the market, the Cummins and Kohler Standby Generators.

When Hurricane Home Solutions was created we wanted to make sure we were setting our customers up with the best possible power solutions. We looked at a wide variety of options and came to the conclusion that the Cummins brand produced the best unit at the best price. We knew that Cummins would be the best fit for our customers, but we also knew that it would be necessary for us to explain the differences between Cummins and other brands to our customers who were on the fence.

When we go through the process of identifying the needs of homeowners and the products they are interested in we often end up discussing a wide variety of different manufacturers and products. We like to steer people away from Generics and Briggs and Stratton generators because of the general inferior quality and rampant service issues. If you aren’t willing to consider a Cummins, Kohler is one of the few other brands we would recommend to homeowners.

The things that both of these units get right are in their engineering and manufacturer support. During our internal discovery for which product we would be investing our knowledge and expertise into, Cummins and Kohler were the top runners almost immediately, particularly because of their quality and performance. As installers, we want to avoid units that will require constant service calls and repair issues, and the combined experience of our electricians and industry professionals indicated that Cummins and Kohler would be the best choices.

The Volume Difference Between Cummins, Kohler and Other Competitors:

It probably won’t be too much of a shock to most home or car owners that engines are actually quite loud while running. With standby generators, the volume can range from barely noticeable, mildly irritating, and insufferably loud. Kohler is by no means the loudest, but the Cummins Quiet Connect Series Generators are by far the quietest running unit on the market. Take a look at the video below:

Cummins Generators Superior Performance in Cold Weather:

In their default condition, Cummins generators operate flawlessly all the way down to 0°F, and can be equipped with an “Extreme Cold Weather Kit” to bring that temperature range down to -40°F. In our opinion, this kind of Cold Weather performance is absolutely necessary in the north east, where we often have brutal winters.
Kohler standby generators (and most other manufacturers as well) also offer cold weather kits, the performance of which is not specified.

Cummins Withstand the Test of Time:

Cummins has been in the business of creating renowned engines since engines were invented, so they know a thing or two about doing it right. The Cummins standby generators are quieter than competitors, built stronger and last longer.
Cummins Generators also come with a smartphone application that allows you to remotely monitor your generator status and keep an eye on whether or not there’s power when you aren’t home. Speaking of which…

Remote Monitoring an Mobile Apps:

It is slowly becoming common practice for many manufacturers to include some degree of wifi connectivity to their standby generators, for the general purpose of status updates and remote monitoring.
The functionality of these apps vary quite a bit, the Cummins Cloud App allows for remote starting, but that isn’t true of all of them. Bizarrely, the Kohler app actually includes a yearly fee, which seems unnecessary given the high price of a generator to begin with.

The Cummins Quite Connect series is quieter than competitors like, they have a more robust and fulfilled warranty, they also have a longer lifespan and they also have more features than most competitors. with yearly maintenance, you can expect a Cummins unit to last between 20-25 years. This lifespan is among the highest in the industry, even compared to other well-built units that do not have persistent maintenance issues.

WIFI Enabled Standby Generators: Monitor Your Generator Online With The Mobile App

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 13:15:02 GMT

WIFI enabled generators allow for direct web connectivity and remote monitoring through their smartphone app, giving homeowners status updates 24/7 from anywhere.

Suppose you decide to get a standby generator for your seasonal home in the North Country; you want to make sure that if there’s a power outage your heat stays on, the sump pump keeps running, and none of the winter season’s harsh weather has a chance to do damage to your home. You might find yourself comfortable in Central New York, or maybe somewhere on a nice beach in Florida, but you’d like to be able to know whether or not your generator is working.

Mobile Notifications

This is where the mobile app comes in. For example, when you get a Cummins Quiet Connect Generator installed, the unit is hard-wired to your modem, allowing it to share its running status over the internet. Your smartphone is then used to remote-monitor your generator from anywhere. If there’s a power-outage and it turns itself on for a period of time, the generator gives you updates on its status and run time. If the generator has issues or needs service, the app lets you know with direct notifications to your mobile device.

Remote Monitoring

It is sometimes (but not always) the case that the home you want to install a generator in is not the home you spend most of the year in. For that reason alone, having the ability to remotely monitor the performance of your generator is an absolute must. After we finish a generator installation we always walk customers through the process of setting up the Cummins Connect Cloud app on their smartphone, and then they are good to go!

If you're interested in learning more about Cummins Standby Generators fill out a form on our site right here or give us a call directly at (585) 244-0099 . We provide free power assessments as well to help consumers discover what generator will work best for them.

Water Quality in Upstate New York

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 19:20:28 GMT

New Yorkers from the Capital Region all the way to Western New York have questions and concerns about their water quality.

From Albany to Buffalo, homeowners have similar questions about the water they use every day for everything from drinking to cleaning; what’s that smell? Why is my water discolored? My water has an odd consistency to it, why? The reality is that, depending on your location and municipality, the source of your water and the quality control for that source can vary quite a bit.

First let's cover some of the broader strokes, since many water conditions have a regional component that tends to be consistent across certain areas. Here in New York, and the North East in general, there are a few things to be on the lookout for: Arsenic, Iron Deposits, Lead, Chlorine, Salt and High Acidity Levels. These are not the only potential issues with water quality in New York, but are considered to be the most common.

In rural areas ( Southern Tier , Finger Lakes , North Country and even northern parts of the Capitol Region ) Boil Water Advisories can be an almost regular occurrence, municipalities can have a difficult time keeping up with monitoring water conditions over entire towns and counties. There's also the very real and somewhat uncomfortable reality that industrial runoff is a continuing and intermittent issue for many homeowners with well water. These days you can find articles monthly in the Times Union about regional water quality issues .

When it comes to bad smells you’re generally looking at sulfur or iron, which can be difficult to differentiate since they often have a similar stinky “egg” odor. With discoloration iron and high acidity are most likely the culprits. Slow degradation of a home's plumbing will cause pipes to rust into the water, which will break many home appliances and begin to take on a yellow or reddish hue out of the faucet. If there’s an indescribable “taste” issue it is likely chlorine or salt, but could be almost any of the other regional issues as well.

If you’ve identified an issue with your water quality the next step is generally getting some tests done and looking into a water treatment system. Most companies that offer water treatment services will supply you with a water test for free, since their goal is to be your service provider. This process generally does not take long and you should be able to get a few different quotes without much effort, either through online requests or contacting companies directly.

If you ever have any questions about how these systems work feel free to give us a call or fill a form here on our site to learn more. If you’re interested in a free water test or getting a quote on a treatment system you could also fill out a form or call our office and request an appointment. As always, our number one priority is helping homeowners find the best solutions for their needs, and we’re always happy to help however we can.

Standby Generator V.S. Portable Generator: Which One Should I Get?

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 19:35:03 GMT

Homeowners have options about how to get backup power for their homes. Portable or Standby, which is right for me?

Homeowners often struggle with the pros and cons of getting a portable generator for their home for power-outages, or getting a standby generator installed, which automatically activates and powers your whole home while the grid is down. It is probably obvious that a standby generator is a better and more capable solution, but it is also a more expensive one.

Here is a brief video that describes some of the common conditions in which homeowners will want to purchase a backup power solution, and which is needed for your circumstances.

Portable generators are generally fine for very short outages, and to power a small number of devices and appliances. These portable units must be started manually, monitored and refueled regularly to prevent the generator from running out of gas and stalling. This can be particularly troublesome in Upstate New York, where our winter storms make going in and out difficult and undesirable.

Home Standby Generators on the other hand are hooked up directly to a propane or natural gas line, and can go for extensive periods of time without any performance issues. These backup units are installed with automatic transfer switches that immediately switch your home over to generator power, which means homeowners often experience only a few seconds of power loss, or sometimes none at all.

Standby generators can be sized to power your entire home, everything from your appliances to your furnace, which is impossible with any kind of portable generator. The Cummins Quiet Connect series generators we recommend also have remote monitoring over the web and through their proprietary smart phone app.

Both standby generators and portable generators have to vent out exhaust which means they must always be located outside the home. People have attempted to run portable generators inside their homes with devastating effects, including inhaling deadly fumes. It goes without saying that this is not recommended.

Standby generators are built to withstand both high and low temperatures; our Cummins Generator default lows being 0 °F, which can be expanded to subzero temperatures with a cold-weather kit, another big "plus" for Upstate New Yorkers who are often losing power during snow storms.

If you're interested in learning more about Home Standby Generators fill out a form on our site right here or give us a call directly at (585) 244-0099.

We service major areas all across New York State, all the way from Albany to Buffalo . We also provide free power assessments as well, to help homeowners discover what generator options will work best for them.

Backup Power For Your Home in The Storm

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 20:21:04 GMT

On August 29th, 2021 Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana on and quickly swept through the North East causing heavy winds and flooding throughout New Jersey and New York, among other states. Many homes and businesses and additional areas sustained heavy damage, but even more places were dealing with the ramifications of all the structural damage, impaired public services and power outages.

Many homeowners in New York were left reeling without power for far longer than they expected, while others were discovering the benefits of their home standby generators, backup power supplies that run on propane or natural gas and are specifically designed to keep the lights on during unforeseen power outages. According to the New York Post, around 130,000 were left without power in the Tri-State area for (in some cases) over a week.

We’re all too familiar with unpredictable weather here in New York. In your average year we get everything from high gusts to flooding to snow storms. Natural events often cause power outages without much in the way of advanced warning. Some homeowners will go days without power, others may have small portable generators they use for emergency devices or to power a small electrical draw. Some homeowners elect to purchase standby generators because of their capacity and convenience, which will allow most homes to remain fully powered indefinitely during outages.

Although New York is particularly susceptible to these natural forces, states all across the country are subjected to elongated power outages and unfavorable conditions. Earlier this year Texas experienced an unprecedented snow storm that froze their grid and left over 4 million people in the state without power. Homeowners who had backup power were able to keep the lights on and became a safe haven for their neighbors. This Wall Street Journal article follows one family as they powered their way through the storm with their standby generator.

At Hurricane Home Solutions we offer and recommend that homeowners take advantage of our free power assessment, which helps to identify which kind and size generator would be best for their home. Give us a call directly at (585) 244-0099 to learn more.

Cummins V.S. Generac Generator

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 18:00:04 GMT

With so many options on the market, why should I choose a Cummins standby generator over a Generac?

Besides our Cummins units, we are most commonly asked about Generac generators, which in some areas are the cheapest and most popular units on the market. Because these units are cheaper, we have observed that over time they experience more issues and degrade in quality faster than many other brands. Maintenance issues become more frequent and difficult to handle.

Cummins engines have a reputation for high performance and longevity, which carries over into their series of standby generators. The collective experience of our technicians, who have worked on many different brands and types of engines over the years, has had a huge influence on our approach to installations and maintenance. Cummins has proven to be reliable time and time again.

Many modern standby generators are feature packed and capable, but being an installer in the NorthEast US, we’ve developed an appreciation for Cummins performance under low temperature conditions, and their noise level relative to other generators of similar output. It is worth noting that many brands offer cold weather kits, which we generally recommend as well.

Although they are more expensive than a Generac, we chose Cummins specifically for their quality and expected life span. Regular, manufacturer recommended maintenance on a Cummins is also very simple and straightforward. Here’s a short breakdown of some of the specific qualities a Cummins generator has over a Generac:

The Cummins Generator is a Learning Machine:

Cummins generators utilize a technology that recognizes the power being drawn from it and limits the output based on the power demanded. This allows for the unit to save on fuel and use, as well as allowing you (the homeowner) to regulate what you want to power. As previously mentioned, it is common for homeowners to purchase a smaller generator with the specific intention of only powering certain essential items in the home.

Cummins Generators Perform in Cold Weather:

In their default condition, Cummins generators operate flawlessly all the way down to 0°F, and can be equipped with an “Extreme Cold Weather Kit” to bring that temperature range down to -40°F. In our opinion, this kind of Cold Weather performance is absolutely necessary in the north east, where we often have brutal winters.

Cummins Withstand the Test of Time:

Cummins has been in the business of creating renowned engines since engines were a thing, so they know a thing or two about doing it right. The Cummins standby generators are quieter than competitors, built stronger and last longer. They also come with a smartphone application that allows you to remotely monitor your generator status and keep an eye on whether or not there’s power when you aren’t home.

In addition to those qualities the Cummins Quiet Connect series is quieter than competitors like Generac, they have a more robust and fulfilled warranty, and they also have a longer lifespan. with yearly maintenance, you can expect a Cummins unit to last between 20-25 years. This lifespan is much longer than leading competitors, particularly Generac, whose units have notoriously short life spans and persistent maintenance issues.

The Importance of an Automatic Transfer Switch

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 12:00:02 GMT

Without an automatic transfer switch, your generator will not turn on during a power outage.

When most people research and purchase a home standby generator they have a handful of expectations about how it will function and what it will do when they lose power. What is not always well explained is that your generator won’t automatically turn on unless it is hooked up to an automatic transfer switch. Many installers will include a transfer switch as part of their installation process but that isn’t the case all the time. Here are a few things to consider during the purchasing process.

Make sure your contract specifically includes an automatic transfer switch.

The transfer switch is often built into the generator purchase, but if you aren’t sure whether or not it will be included, double check your contract details. If your generator installation does not include a transfer switch, you may end up spending a lot of time and money trying to find a contractor who will be willing and able to take on the addition. Hurricane Home Solutions always supplies our customers with switches as part of the installation.

Make sure your switch is compatible with your generator.

It is generally not a good idea to mix and match parts of equipment on a large project like a standby generator installation. Service providers like ourselves use generators and automatic transfer switches from the same manufacturers that were designed to be used together. It seems like the obvious way to do it, but there are often situations where people will mix and match whatever they can find at the lowest possible cost, this predictably causes function and service issues.

Understand where your automatic transfer switch box is.

Depending on the complexity of the install and the available space, installers will generally put your new automatic transfer switch as close to your panel box as possible, but that isn’t always the case. Your power will be routed through your new switch and if you ever have electrical or plumbing work done on your home, you may want to make those contractors aware of the fact that you have a standby unit and a transfer switch, just in case it is relevant.

If you’re in the market for a Home Standby Generator, and want to learn more about the power demands and installation process, give us a call directly or fill out a form here on our site with your specific questions.

The Benefits of an RO System

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 16:59:38 GMT

Get better drinking water (and more benefits) in your home with an RO unit.

With a Reverse Osmosis system, homeowners get better drinking water and will have less contaminants. The benefit of cleaner, better tasting water is an obvious attribute of an RO system, but there are actually a large number of other benefits as well. We employ a variety of different water treatment solutions for homeowners depending on their water conditions, which can be determined with a free water test .

What Is Bad Water?

"Bad Water" is a blanket term often used to describe things like hardness, contaminates, bad smells, bad tastes and chlorine. depending on your regional location there may be some specific things that are generally being referred to. In much of New York state (the Northeast in general), when people talk about water issues they're often talking about chlorine, iron, arsenic and lead. These are not the only things you will encounter in New York but they are among the most common.

Save Money on Cleaning.

When your water is softer and the quality is better you end up getting better results from cleaning and end up using less water as well. This means that homeowners are saving money on their utilities and spending less on cleaning products, all while getting better results from their efforts.

Appliances and Plumbing.

When your water is cleaner everything that uses that water is better off for having it. Appliances like water heaters, dishwashers and laundry machines all perform better and last longer when they use water with less minerals and contaminants. Replacing these sorts of appliances less often saves homeowners money year over year.

Do You Have Well Water in The Capital Region?

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 19:22:29 GMT

In case you haven’t seen the recent article in the Times Union, the subject of well water quality is on the minds of many homeowners.

If you weren't already aware, homeowners in Albany and the Capital Region have long struggled with the ongoing problem of well water. If you live in the Capital Region and aren’t familiar with the ongoing issues around private well water quality, we highly recommend giving the article a read .

This issue has two faces that the article discusses thoroughly; the effects bad water can have on you as an existing homeowner and the difficulties that can arise during the sale of a home if the well water doesn't pass required inspections. To pass an inspection, a well must be coliform-free. Homeowners will often “shock” their wells with chlorine which kills the bacteria for a window of time long enough to pass an inspection, but it doesn't solve any water issues for any significant amount of time.

Even in situations where well water doesn't need to be bleached for the purposes of passing an inspection, there are a plethora of other concerns facing residents and their well water. A predominant issue for homeowners who live near agricultural areas is herbicide and pesticide runoff. For these particular chemical compounds, an abundance of arsenic in your water supply is an indicator that your well water may be affected.

Hurricane Home Solutions is an expert in the field of battling poor water quality. We offer free in-home water tests particularly for the reason of identifying and combating many of the different and unique conditions that arise from private wells.

Give us a call today to learn more about getting a free water test, and also consider reading the full Times Union article here .

Bottled Water V.S. Filtered Water: 5 Misconceptions

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 17:00:03 GMT

Is bottled water better for you than filtered water? Not exactly, here are the misconceptions.

It says "Natural Spring Water" on it, so it must be healthy and natural right? Not exactly, particularly since things aren't always what they seem to be. Bottled water is certainly a nice convenience, but it has its ow n share of issues and potential hazards.

1.) Bottled Water is Often Not From Where the Packaging Implies.

There was a period of time when the popularity of bottled water skyrocketed, and people weren't really asking questions like "does this natural spring water come from natural springs?" Over time some different companies got in a bit of trouble for that and many bottles today disclose on the packaging that the water comes from public supply. In some cases, it is questionable whether or not the water is even filtered.

2.) Plastic Bottles Can Contain Harmful Plastic Toxins.

People have been aware for some time of the potential risks associated with carcinogens and other harmful chemicals that can be ingested from a plastic water bottle. While the odds and likelihood of these issues is said to vary, the consensus is generally that the longer the bottles have been sitting, and the more heat that they've been exposed to, the more likely they are to have issues. Reusing these bottles also increases the chances of ingesting harmful chemicals.

3.) The End Result Of Production is Waste.

Even with extensive recycling programs in states like New York, many plastic water bottles end up in landfills. At the end of the day, filling up a reusable water from the tap is always going the be better for the environment than going through dozens of plastic bottles.

4.) Bottled Water isn't Cheaper.

Many people who have issues with their municipal water think that by buying bottled water regularly they are saving money on not having to buy a filter. Most municipal water sources end up costing 1 or 2 cents a gallon as opposed to the 2-4 dollars you end up spending on bottled water, and that doesn't even address any of the other issues you may be having with your water like showering, dishwashing, laundry and more.

5.) The Standards of Measurement Are Very Different.

It makes perfect sense when you think about it, but bottled water and tap water are not evaluated or regulated the same way. The DEC is responsible for evaluating and testing public water, but the FDA is the group that handles bottled water. The methods for testing used by the FDA are generally considered to be less rigorous.

If you're worried about the condition of your municipal or well water, you should consider getting a free water test to help determine if you could benefit from a water purification system. Reach out to us directly here on our site form or give us a call at (585) 244-0099.

Common New York State Power Outage Causes

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 13:00:05 GMT

It seems like power outages are becoming more common in New York State, What is going on?

Well, power outages are certainly nothing new, especially in Upstate New York, but it sometimes seems like they're occurring more and more. This might have more to do with the fact that we rely on electricity in our modern lives more than we ever have in the past. For some people, the need for constant power can be life and death, particularly for people with medical conditions and devices that require power to function.

Snow Storms:

Our snow storms are infamous, and there's always a possibility that we could lose power during a particularly rough season or storm. Not having a backup heating option can become a major issue for some homes.
Depending on the conditions, it may take some time before service providers can even make it out to fix downed lines or other issues, our snow storms cause extended outages and make travel incredibly difficult.

Strong Winds:

This is even more of a problem when your lines are above grounds, which is the case for most of rural New York.
Depending on how isolated your home is, it may take several days for downed lines to be repaired. During that time, some downed lines can be hazardous so it is best to avoid those areas.

Issues with your Power Supplier:

It's often unpredictable, but every now and then things just go wrong on the supplier end, and not much can really be done on the user end.
Often suppliers (like RG&E for example) will have information about outages when they occur. It's always a good idea to check their website on your smartphone to see if you can get any information.

While power outages are not limited to these causes, they are generally related in some way. Because of the frequency and inconvenience of these power outages, many New Yorkers choose to invest in a home backup generator to keep the lights on. Demand for these generators has sky-rocketed over the past few years, making it difficult to find quality products with professional installers.

If you're interested in learning more, read some of the details on our Standby Backup Generator page, or reach out to us directly with questions and inquiries. You can do this by filling out a Form here on our website, or giving us a call at (585) 244-0099 .

Why Should You Get A Free Water Test?

websitebuilder@thryv.com — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 11:45:03 GMT

What do you learn from a Free Water test?

Most companies that sell water treatment systems offer free water tests to show consumers what's in their water and to help them identify what kind of treatment system would be the most helpful. This process is very useful for companies like ours but you may be wondering how useful it will be for you. Here's a quick breakdown of what you'll gain from a free water test.

Peace Of Mind. Sometimes just having a good understanding of what is going on with your water can help you make plans and considerations in the future. If it turns out you don't need any water treatment, that's good information to know.
Health Related Issues. If you are someone who suffers from a specific skin condition or allergies you may have a more specific concern when it comes to water conditions.
Understanding What Solutions Will be Helpful. There are dozens and dozens of different water filtration systems and other products that treat water, but many of them are specialized for specific conditions. You won't know what will be helpful until you know what's in the water.
Private Water Supply Conditions Change. According to the EPA, it is recommended that you get your water tested yearly if your supply is coming from a private well. It is fairly common for the conditions of a well to change over time, so even if you don't test it yearly, it might be a good idea to get it checked every now and then.
Identify Odd Odors or Other Issues. This one is the most obvious, but if there is something visibly wrong with your water, if it tastes or smells off, you should really get it tested as soon as possible. If there is something harmful in your drinking supply, the sooner you know the better.

If you'd like a free water test today don't hesitate to give us a call at (585) 244-0099 or reach out directly on our website form . We'd be happy to talk you through the process and help you find the water treatment solutions you need.