Free guide
When the Power Goes Out: a free planning guide (PDF)
This preview is for you if you're about to spend real money on backup power and want to know first whether you need it, in an apartment or a house.
It has you build a load list, shows the math for turning that list into a runtime estimate, and gives you a Buy / Borrow / Skip frame for backup power, with separate answers for apartments and houses. Every fact comes from a public agency, named next to the fact. It doesn't name products or brands.
Download the free PDF (14 pages)
What's inside
- How to use this preview
- What breaks, and when
- Your load list (worksheet)
- Watt-hours in plain terms
- Your runtime estimate (worksheet)
- Buy / Borrow / Skip for backup power
- Cover the small jobs first
- Water and food
- Heat, cold and first aid
- If someone at home uses a powered medical device
- Carbon monoxide: the page we never cut
- Alerts when the power is out
- Test it before you need it
- If you live in New York City
- Next steps: the free checklists
Free preview · v2026.0 · Information only, not professional advice
Personal use only