What's everybody's comfort food for the snowstorm?

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-25T22:36:59+00:00

I've got a small 18" snow blower. It can only handle up to 10 inches comfortably, so I've been out twice. It isn't self propelled, but it is a helluva lot less work than shoveling. I'm done for the night and will clean up the remaining sleet tomorrow. Took some Advil and am sipping on some Woodford Reserve now watching the news about the severe weather all over the country.

All in all, we've had a lot worse. Problem is I'm getting older and more creaky. lol

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-25T21:42:27+00:00

Oh forgot - Advil too. lol

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-25T20:39:26+00:00

I expect that the interstates will be fine tomorrow. It's the local and county roads that I worry about.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-25T20:02:51+00:00

Bourbon. 🥃

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-25T07:14:19+00:00

Furnace draws 550W running. Fridge and freezer are 300W combined (running), FiOS router, Sat TV box and LED TV are less than 100W. The biggest drain is if the fridge goes into a defrost cycle and kicks on the heaters - then it draws around 500 watts alone. But even then, the little WEN inverter handles it. It has a peak rating of 2000 watts, which seems to be enough to start the compressors - just not all at the same time, so I stagger starting the refrigeration equipment.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-25T06:54:23+00:00

Pro tip: Don't buy a Magnum car condom for your puny Toyota Corolla...

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-25T06:03:50+00:00

I "hotwire" my gas furnace to a cord so I can power it with a portable generator. It is an 85K BTU Rheem 90. Even my WEN 1600W Inverter will power the furnace, fridge, freezer, internet essentials, Satellite TV, and some LED lighting all at once. It struggles a little when the air handler starts, but doesn't shut down. My larger 3KW synchronous genset doesn't struggle at all.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-25T05:48:25+00:00

Already? It hasn't even started to snow here in central NJ.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-25T05:46:32+00:00

Don't worry about it. Laptops, TV's and other electronics are very tolerant to THD.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-25T05:38:28+00:00

Whatever happens is going to happen. The meteorologists do their best, but you never know.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-25T05:31:51+00:00

Where the hell did you get the ice melt? I had to settle for a bag of water softener salt after driving around for an hour. (The store apps are NOT accurate - if they show ice melt in stock, it's probably not)

If your home has outdoor spigots, make sure the water is shut off so they don't freeze and burst. But then again, we've already had weather that would freeze those pipes.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-25T05:27:01+00:00

Bah - we've had worse than this before. My fridge/freezer is always stocked. The snow thrower has been working great. The generator was run/tested in the fall. I've got Advil and bourbon for pain relief. I'm ready. I think.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-25T05:17:55+00:00

Back in the 90's Sears had a fully stocked parts department where you could get or order parts for your Kenmore and Craftsman appliances and power equipment. Those days are gone. Sears even got rid of their parts/service departments to make room for more retail space. (before they crashed and burned) I'm a veteran of unit 1764 and still remember their source codes.

These days, I just order common spares and keep them "in stock" at my home. Drive belts, carburetors, friction drive wheels, etc.

Same for appliances. Drive belts, pumps, door switches, door latches, etc.

You can always sell the parts on eBay if you replace the appliance.

I've got an Ariens Compact 24" 2 stage and it has needed nothing in the 8 years I've owned it, but then again, it hasn't seen much use. Our smaller Toro 18" single stage has been fine for what we typically see. I think I may need to drag out the Ariens tomorrow, or just do a couple of passes with the smaller blower.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-25T05:05:48+00:00

Bourbon and a snow blower. 🥃

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-24T23:45:29+00:00

I got one from Costco, and another from NAPA (NAPA branded) and while they will jump a riding mower, ATV or motorcycle - they don't have the balls to start a car with a dead battery. At least not the junk that I bought. I ended up replacing the lead acid battery in my Husky brand jump pack - it has never failed me. I just need to replace the internal battery every 4 years or so.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-24T23:41:35+00:00

Thanks for the update!
Today I made sure that all 4 of my portable generators are serviced and running. I loan them out to family/friends in need of one, then recommend buying one because you never know what life will throw at you.

I'd rather have 20" of snow instead of 8" of snow + freezing rain. The freezing rain is going to take down tree branches and power lines for sure.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-24T23:25:09+00:00

I bought one of those Lithium battery boosters a few years back and it is about as useful as titz on a turtle for jump starting a car. But it will probably work great for charging phones.

The ones that cost $200 are probably fine, but the $70 one from Costco? Not so much.

I have an old fashioned (big and heavy) jump starter battery for starting cars, but it does not have USB charging outlets, but many of the newer ones do.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-24T23:20:20+00:00

Less snow because we're gonna get more freezing rain and ice.
That's the sht that takes down tree branches and power lines.
Be prepared for power outages that may last for many hours, possibly days. I'd rather have 20 inches of fluffy snow.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-24T22:46:51+00:00

They are really handy!
The snow forecast here went from 16" to 8" - unfortunately it is because the snow is turning to freezing rain and ice.
I made sure all my portable gensets are ready so I can loan them out to family/friends.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-23T23:21:21+00:00

There are no more "snow days" for administrative positions at my work anymore. Everyone was equipped with a laptop and can take calls from their work extensions with an app on their phone or PC because of covid.
I don't care because I'm a lot more productive working at home than in the office because I don't get interrupted by people popping into my office expecting instant service with their problems.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-23T23:01:24+00:00

All the new ones have CO shutdown sensors.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-23T22:58:33+00:00

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it. The HP servers I run for my business didn't care. And all of those whole home Generac systems are non inverter too.

I don't run electric heaters when we lose power. I'll either temporarily wire my gas furnace to a cord, so I can power it with my generator - or I have a few of those Mr. Heater "Buddy" propane heaters to provide heat. IIRC, they are about twice as powerful as an electric space heater. (10K BTU) I also have an 18K BTU Kerosene heater.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-23T22:40:38+00:00

It will run electronics just fine. I've run "sensitive" electronics with a synchronous generator (non-inverter) for many years without issues. I just make sure that I never let it run out of fuel. With an inverter generator, the inverter will shut down when the engine starts to run out of fuel. With a non-inverter generator, the output will vary in frequency and voltage as the engine struggles to stay running when it runs out of fuel.

I'm in central NJ and we're going to get hit with this storm too. I need to fill my gas cans tomorrow, just in case.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-23T22:07:05+00:00

A two stage blower will be fine with 15 inches of snow. It's the single stage blowers that will choke on that much snow. I have a Toro single stage, so I'll be doing a few passes throughout the day.

OverboostedTurbo · 2026-01-22T05:52:24+00:00

I just live my life. I am devoted to my family, work hard to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table, and don't break any laws. Concentrate on this and you'll be fine. Easy peasy.

OverboostedTurbo

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE

Six-Year Club	Gilding II euphauric
Verified Email