Theres nothing worse than sitting in the dark when your power goes out. Specially in winter when its freezing and you got no heating. I rember getting a call from a family in Hoon Hay during one of those big storms we had couple years back. Trees were down everywhere, power lines were snapped, and their house had been without power for 12 hours. They had two little kids and the house was getting colder by the minute.
Power outages happen for heaps of reasons around Christchurch. Could be a storm knocking down lines, could be a fault in the network, could be a problem with your own electrical system. Whatever the cause when your power goes out you need solutions fast.
Why Power Goes Out In The First Place
Before we talk about solutions lets look at why outages happen. Understanding the cause helps you figure out the best way to deal with it.
The power company has problems sometimes. Trees fall on lines during storms, equipment fails at substations, planned maintenance shuts down sections of the grid. When this happens theres not much you can do except wait for them to fix it. Could be a hour could be all day depending on how bad the damage is.
Your own electrical system can cause outages too. Main breakers trip, service cables fail, meter boxes have faults. These problems only affect your house not the whole street. Good news is we can fix these quick once we identify whats going on.
Had a customer in Northwood who lost power one morning. All the neighbors had power fine so he knew it was his place. Turns out his main breaker had failed during the nite. We replaced it same day and he was back up and running. If he'd had a backup generator he wouldnt have even noticed the problem.
Backup Generators - Your Power Insurance
If you want real protection against outages you need a backup generator. When the power goes out the generator kicks in and keeps your house running. Simple as that.
Generators come in different sizes depending on what you wanna run. A small portable generator might power a few lights and the fridge. A bigger standby generator can run your whole house including heating, hot water, everything.
Portable generators are the cheap option. You wheel them out when you need them, plug in extension cords to your critical appliances, fill them with petrol and start them up. They work fine for short outages but theyre noisy and you gotta be home to set them up.
Standby generators are way better but cost more. These install permanently next to your house and connect directly to your electrical system. When power goes out they start automatically within seconds. You dont have to do nothing - youre sitting there watching TV and you might not even notice the power went out except for a brief flicker.
We installed a standby generator for a family in Cashmere who were sick of loosing power every winter. They had a heat pump for heating and when power went out the house got cold quick. Now when storms hit their generator kicks in and life continues normal. They love it.
Choosing The Right Generator Size
Biggest mistake people make is buying a generator thats too small. You gotta add up all the power your appliances need and make sure the generator can handle it.
Your fridge might use 200 watts running but 1200 watts when the compressor starts. Heat pumps pull heaps of power specially when they first turn on. Hot water cylinders are power hungry. Add it all up and you need a bigger generator than you think.
For a average Christchurch home if you wanna run the basics - fridge, some lights, TV, phone chargers - you need at least a 3-4 kW generator. If you want heating and hot water too your looking at 7-10 kW. Whole house backup needs 15-20 kW depending on the size of your place.
We help people figure out what size they actually need. We look at your switchboard, see what circuits are critical, calculate the load, and recommend the right generator. Better to get it right from the start than buy something too small and wish you went bigger.
Generator Installation Requirements
You cant just buy a generator and plug it in. Well you can with portable ones but standby generators need proper installation by a licensed electrician.
First you need a transfer switch. This automatically disconnects your house from the grid when the generator starts so your not feeding power back into the lines. Thats dangerous for line workers and illegal. The transfer switch makes sure power only flows one direction.
The generator needs a concrete pad to sit on and it needs to be a certain distance from windows and boundaries. Cant have exhaust fumes going into your house or the neighbors place. Council has rules about noise too specially in residential areas.
Fuel supply is another thing to sort. Some generators run on petrol, some on diesel, some on LPG or natural gas. Gas generators are popular because you dont have to store fuel - they connect to your gas supply and theres always fuel available.
Did a install in Fendalton where the homeowner wanted a diesel generator for reliability. We set up a 200 liter fuel tank next to the generator so he could run for days without refueling. Also installed a battery system to start it and a weatherproof enclosure to keep it running in all conditions.
UPS Systems For Sensitive Equipment
Generators are great for whole house backup but they take a few seconds to start. If you got sensitive equipment like computers or medical devices you need a UPS - uninterruptible power supply.
A UPS has batteries inside that kick in instantly when power drops. Were talking milliseconds so your equipment never even knows the power went out. Then if you have a generator it starts up and the UPS switches over to that.
Computer servers need UPS protection. One power blip and you can loose data or corrupt files. We install UPS systems for home offices all the time - people working from home cant afford to loose their work when power flickers.
Medical equipment is another big one. If someone has a oxygen concentrator or CPAP machine for sleeping they need power 24/7. A UPS keeps them running during outages and gives them time to switch to backup oxygen or get help.
Had a customer in Sumner who runs a home business doing graphic design. He lost a whole days work once when power cut out and his computer crashed. We installed a UPS that gives him 20 minutes of battery backup - enough time to save everything and shut down properly. Hasnt lost work since.
Solar Panels With Battery Storage
Solar panels are getting real popular in Christchurch and when you add battery storage you got backup power during outages. The batteries charge from your solar panels during the day then run your house when the grid goes down.
Problem with regular grid connected solar is when power goes out your solar shuts down too. Safety thing - cant have your panels feeding power into dead lines. But if you got batteries and the right inverter setup your solar and batteries can run your house independent from the grid.
Battery systems aint cheap but they do more than just backup power. They store solar energy so you can use it at nite, they help you avoid peak power rates, and they give you backup when you need it. Three benefits in one system.
The batteries need to be big enough to run your house for a few hours minimum. Most people go with 10-15 kWh of storage which is enough for overnight or to ride out a short outage. If you want days of backup you need way more batteries and that gets expensive.
We did a solar and battery install in Redcliffs for someone who wanted to be as independent as possible. He got 20 solar panels and 20 kWh of batteries. On a good day he generates more power than he uses and the batteries are fully charged by lunchtime. When power goes out he dosnt even notice - his system just keeps running.
What To Do During A Power Outage
So the powers out and you dont have a generator or battery backup. What do you actually do?
First thing is check if its just you or the whole area. Look outside and see if your neighbors have power. If they do the problem is probly in your switchboard. Check if your main breaker has tripped - if it has try resetting it. If it trips again straight away dont keep trying cause theres a fault somewhere that needs fixing.
If the whole streets out its a network problem and you gotta wait for the power company. You can check their website or call them to report the outage and get a estimate on when its gonna be fixed. Sometimes they know right away, other times they gotta send crews out to investigate.
While your waiting turn off major appliances and electronics. When power comes back on theres sometimes a surge that can damage stuff. Leave one light switched on so you know when powers restored then you can turn other things back on gradually.
Keep your fridge and freezer closed. A full freezer stays frozen for about 48 hours if you dont open it. Fridge stays cold for 4-6 hours. Every time you open the door you loose cold air so resist the temptation to keep checking.
If its winter and you got no heating rug up and close off rooms your not using. Body heat and closing doors makes a big difference. Dont use gas cookers or BBQs inside for heating - carbon monoxide will kill you.
Emergency Power For Businesses
Power outages cost businesses way more than homes. Every hour without power is lost sales, spoiled inventory, or interrupted operations. Thats why most businesses need backup solutions.
Retail stores need power for tills, lighting, security systems. Restaurants need coolrooms and freezers running or they loose thousands in food. Offices need computers and servers to keep working. Medical centers cant operate without power.
We installed a big generator system for a rest home in Papanui. They have 40 residents who rely on electrical equipment for health and safety. When power goes out their 30 kW generator kicks in within 10 seconds and runs everything - heating, lights, medical equipment, kitchen, the lot. Cost them about 25 grand installed but its worth every cent for the peace of mind.
Data centers and server rooms need UPS plus generator backup. The UPS keeps everything running while the generator starts, then the generator takes over for extended outages. We see this setup in IT companies, architects firms, anyone who cant afford to loose their data.
One cafe in Addington was loosing money every time power went out because their coolroom would warm up and food would spoil. We put in a small 5 kW generator just for the coolroom and essential circuits. Now when power drops the generator keeps the critical stuff running and they dont loose stock.
Surge Protection After Outages
When power comes back on after a outage theres often a surge. Voltage spikes can fry electronics, damage appliances, and shorten the life of anything electrical.
Surge protectors help but the cheap power boards from the warehouse dont do much. You need proper surge protection installed at your switchboard to protect your whole house. These devices clamp voltage spikes before they reach your equipment.
After big storms we see heaps of damage from surges when power comes back. TVs blown, computer power supplies fried, heat pump controllers damaged. All this stuff is expensive to replace and most people dont realize surge protection couldve prevented it.
We recommend whole house surge protection for everyone specially if you live in a area with regular outages or storms. Costs a few hundred dollars to install and can save you thousands when the next surge happens.
Winter Power Outages Are The Worst
Summer outages are annoying but winter ones are serious. When its 5 degrees outside and your heatings off the house gets cold fast. Pipes can freeze, people get hypothermia, its genuinely dangerous.
Older people and young kids are most at risk. They cant regulate body temperature as good and cold houses make them sick. Weve had customers call us in winter desperate for solutions after being without power overnight.
If you know winters gonna bring outages plan ahead. Get a generator installed before winter hits. Have blankets and warm clothes ready. Maybe get a gas heater as backup - they dont need electricity and can keep one room warm.
A customer in Mairehau told me about when they lost power for three days during a winter storm. They ended up moving the whole family into one bedroom with a gas heater and basically camping indoors. After that experience they got a generator installed and now they dont worry about outages anymore.
Testing Your Backup Systems
Having backup power is great but you gotta make sure it actually works when you need it. Generators that sit for months without running might not start when the powers out.
Standby generators should be tested monthly. Most have a automatic test mode that runs them for 15 minutes to keep everything working. You gotta check the oil, make sure theres fuel, look for any warning lights.
Portable generators need running every few months too. Fuel goes stale and carburetors gum up if they sit too long. Start it up, let it run for awhile, make sure its ready when you need it.
UPS batteries degrade over time. Most only last 3-5 years before they need replacing. If your UPS is old get the batteries tested or just replace them. Finding out your batteries are dead when the powers out is too late.
We offer maintenance contracts where we come check your generator and UPS systems regularly. We test everything, change oil and filters, replace batteries before they fail. Means when you actually need backup power its gonna work.
Cost Of Backup Power Solutions
People always wanna know what this stuff costs. Honest answer is it varies heaps depending on what you need.
Small portable generators start around 500 bucks for a basic 2 kW unit. Good quality 5 kW portable generator is more like 1500-2000. These are fine for basic backup but remember you gotta be home to set them up.
Standby generators cost way more. A 10 kW natural gas standby generator installed is probly 8-12 thousand all up. That includes the generator, transfer switch, installation, council consents, everything. Bigger generators for whole house backup can be 15-25 grand.
UPS systems for home use start around 200 bucks for a basic unit that runs a computer. Bigger UPS for server racks or medical equipment can be thousands. Battery backup systems with solar are 15-30 thousand depending on size.
Yeah its not cheap but think about what power outages cost you. Food spoiling, lost work, business downtime, frozen pipes bursting. For a lot of people the backup power pays for itself pretty quick.
Power Outages From Your Own Electrical Faults
Sometimes what looks like a power outage is actually a fault in your own system. Your main breaker trips or a connection fails and suddenly you got no power even though the grids fine.
These faults need fixing quick cause theyre usually signs of a bigger problem. Loose connections, overloaded circuits, damaged cables - all this stuff can cause your power to drop out and can be dangerous.
We had a emergency call in Shirley where the homeowners power kept cutting out randomly. Theyd reset the breaker and it would work for awhile then cut out again. Turned out they had a damaged cable in the wall that was shorting out when it got hot. Found it with a thermal camera and replaced the cable section. Problem solved.
If your power goes out but the neighbors are fine call a electrician not the power company. We can come check your switchboard, test your circuits, and find whats causing the problem. Usually we can fix it same day and get you back up and running.
Planning For Long Term Outages
Most outages are short - couple hours maybe. But sometimes you loose power for days. Earthquake damage, major storms, equipment failures at substations. When this happens you need a solid plan.
Fuel is the big issue for generators. A 10 kW generator running full time uses about 4-5 liters of petrol per hour. Thats 100+ liters per day. You cant store that much petrol safely at home so either you need a diesel tank or a natural gas generator.
Food storage becomes a problem too. Even with a generator running your fridge and freezer you gotta be careful. Cook food before it spoils, give stuff away to neighbors if you cant use it.
Water can be a issue cause most houses around Christchurch use electric pumps for water pressure. If powers out for days you might loose water supply. Having some bottled water stored helps.
The eastern suburbs learned this during the earthquakes. Some areas went weeks without power and people had to get real creative. The ones who had generators or alternative power sources were way better off.
When To Call For Emergency Help
If your power goes out and you think its a fault with your system not the grid call us straight away. We do 24/7 emergency callouts for power problems.
Signs its your system not the grid - only your house has no power, you smell burning, you saw sparks before power went out, your switchboard is hot or making noises. All of these need immediate attention.
We come out, make everything safe first, then diagnose whats wrong. Could be a simple fix like a tripped breaker or could be something that needs replacement. Either way we get you sorted.
For power company outages theres not much we can do except wait with you. But if you want backup power installed for next time we can quote that and get it organised so your ready for the next outage.
Why Choose WeDo For Power Solutions
We install generators, UPS systems, and backup power all over Christchurch. Done hundreds of installs for homes and businesses who want protection against outages.
We help you figure out what you actually need - not just sell you the most expensive option. Some people need a big standby generator, others are fine with a small portable one. We give you options and let you decide whats best for your situation and budget.
All our installations are done proper with the right permits and inspections. We handle the council paperwork, coordinate with the power company if needed, and make sure everything meets code.
And we do ongoing maintenance too. Your backup power needs to work when you need it so we offer service contracts to keep everything running right.
Give us a call and lets talk about keeping your power on when everyone elses is off. Whether its a generator, batteries, or just fixing faults that cause outages - we will sort you out.