Help, portable generator opinions please

[smoothshooter]

In reality, just to get by, you don’t need much. For years I ran a gas powered pull start 5500 watt generator. I was on well water with an oil burner. It powered both of those, a refrigerator and a couple outlets.Heat running water and a fridge, enough for short periods. With a transfer switch.
Did ok for a number of years with just that. Does one need a hot tub heated and driveway lights on?
The pain in the butt was to go outside and start the generator each time the power went out and then go back out when the power was restored. Yeah, but it worked for a few years.

Being able to run a hot tub and pool pump would be at the very bottom of my priority list during a power outage.

 

[chief38]

Being able to run a hot tub and pool pump would be at the very bottom of my priority list during a power outage.

Yes I agree, not essential to survive, got it. But have you ever had to completely drain a pool and hot tub, then refill and then balance all the chemicals??? I have. It costs a whole lot and becomes a major pain in the butt! The easy solution is to step up one size in a generator and run the pool filter even during a power outage. In my case the 22K was only about $200 more than the 20K. Draining and refilling the pool would have cost a whole lot more - and that is just for each time. When power goes out we never know for how long. Maybe a few days you could get away with no pool filtration. More than that when it's 98ºF outside - forgetaboutit!

 

[smoothshooter]

I know a lot of people like pools, but the time, effort, and money involved in maintenance is not worth it to me. I know a couple of people that have them and it seems like they have to dink around with them all the time.
I don’t want to pay the higher homeowner’s insurance costs involved for pool owners either.
But that’s just me.