I have a large diesel generator I use for work that is capable of powering my house as well as a large bulk tank of fuel on site. I can connect it and make it work in a pinch but not super easy as the generator is bolted down on a semi trailer that I can’t get super close to the house.

This storm and outages has convinced me I need to buy a dedicated generator for the house. I am torn on if I should get diesel or natural gas. Where I would mount the generator it would be super easy to tap into my gas line which I just ran to the house last year. The gas seems better in some ways as you don’t have to worry about it going bad but then you are relying on a third party to provide it.

I just ran gas to my house last year for a pool heater and have never had it before so I am not really sure how reliable it is. It would sure be a kick in the nuts to have a fancy backup generator and then when the power goes out you can’t use it because the gas is down too.

Atmos is my provider if it makes any difference.

Get a tank.

Natural Gas is extremely reliable, it would be my choice in a heartbeat over diesel.

I’d go diesel, if SHTF you could have stocked diesel to run for a long long time. NG your still at the mercy of others doing their job and you see how that’s gone in the last few days..

NG has the top spot as far as what gets cuts. Or bottom depending on how you look at it. They’re shutting down NG electric generators to maintain a supply of NG to homes for heat. It appears everything gets cut before NG. This is on the news as well as personal experience. We have a NG turbine generator that makes 4.1 MW of electricity that we had to shut down due to its NG consumption. 4.1 Mw is good for about 700 homes ish.

Bottom line is it’s about as reliable as you can get while still relying on others.

My brother has a propane (tank) generator that has saved us several times. It is a dang big big tank, I am not certain how many gallons but we just went 2 solid days and he said that it went down 2%.
He has another tank of similar size on the camp house that is his back up plan.

Excellent advice, and a big one.

I'm looking at a Generac Model 7177

It will be hooked up to my NG system at the house. I can't count the number of times I've been without power over the many decades, not once have I ever been without NG.

Yup

Diesel

Why didnt' you get one long time ago, If I lived somewhere where I had power issue and had natural gas I would have on in a heartbeat.

This. Would if I could but can't. Its not available here.

Propane is reliable if allowed in your gated community. What I'm gonna do for mine after this fiasco is over with another 500 gallon tank like I have on the house. . Run long long time with that.. Currently Have one of my Miller Bobcat 250 amp EFI model welders plugged into my panel (50 amp plug) . Gasoline model and at 12 peak KW it uses the juice but keeps things a going. ..

NG is usually reliable. But you pay for the convenience at the market price ( as regulated.by some utility commission). Propane you can choose to fill the tank when prices are low.

I am guessing that XL has about a 15kw and and 150ish gallons of diesel. That sounds like a back pretty good back up plan.

I would go Nat gas. I have seen one outage here in 40 years that it went down locally. The maintenance guy/pumper didn't drain the separator off the main line, and it let water get in the lines to the whole town. They were down with no gas for three days.

Easy one Natural gas or propane. Self life is a lot longer and no Water issues

A home compressed natural gas storage system could allow you to weather a gas shutdown with an alternative supply. The question is do you have a CNG fueling station near you, or do you spend the money for a home fueling station, which is pricey.

I have had atmos for 21 years, zero issues.

Whole house with an ATS? How many KW? Have you gotten an installed price yet? I am definitely looking into this as well.