are there any generators that run on propane? my parents are moving to Pennsylvania in 3 months and the house will have a generator, we just haven't bought it yet. They will have a propane tank buried on the property for heat/cooking/hot water, so I"m thinking that the genset could run on that if possible?

See MD's link, the Generacs for residential installations are either natural gas or LPG (propane).

thanks, missed that.

We're hoping to make some....improvements...to our house in the coming year and a generator is at the top of the list. But we live in the backcountry--well water, with an electric pump that moves the water, oil heat, with a boiler that is started by electricity, and a septic system that uses electricity to move some of the fun. We cannot easily place a propane or diesel tank on the property. It ain't that easy. But the natural gas line is near, and if we rip up the driveway and knock down half of the house and....ok that's for another thread.

I will, however, be coming back to the experts here for more generator advice when the time comes.

Oh, and they lost power again yesterday for about 12 hours, and today for another hour. And I am in Florida on business, so you can imagine how well that is going over at home! $#%$%@ :mad:

RF: I realize your "gen situ" is a ways off, but here's a couple of points to consider:
-a 50 or 100 gal propane tank can be buried or easily disguised on any peice of property.
-that little tank can run a gen for a Long time.
-the only downside is finding a propane supply co. that will deliver that small of a "drop"; they will probably charge a considerable delivery charge for that small amount, but hey, you are cooking for quite awhile.
-I have a neighbor, on the "other side" of our mtn that has a Generac brand diesel sucker: that baby can run 24/7 forever, if fuel is supplied. I'll check with him and see what his diesel fuel supply "container" is; I've been to his home socially, but don't recall seeing a big diesel fuel tank.

Premature, but stuff to think about when you get bored, :rofl:

Let me/the gang, know when you get closer and maybe we can give more tips/ideas.
BR,md

PS: Ah, the "I'm on the road and all hell is breaking loose back at the ranch" situ...I remember it well!

The natural gas here in my suburb (municipal) has never been disrupted, regardless of direct hit hurricanes, in over 40 years. I will chance it!

My youngest sister moved to Ridgefield 15 months ago - the house they bought came with a generator - they already have had to use it 5 times because of power outages!:wtf:

Nat Gas would be a very good thing, barring supply probs., as noted by JCL, and if the utility allows for "tapping in"...for almost all of us back in hillbillyheaven and, I suspect for many people in some variation of the "boonies", nat gas is not an option.

For us, back on the Mtn, propane is the only fuel alt. for hot water, heating, etc. Even fuel oil was dismissed as the oil burning boilers of that time (2000), were very ineffecient at 5000 ft altitudes, as are "heat pumps".