Power Outage Checklist for Homes on a Well

Before the outage

Store water. Your pressure tank holds a little water after the pump stops, and that's it. Keep sealed drinking water on hand. When a storm is on the way, Generac's checklist says to fill bathtubs and large containers for sanitation, which is how you flush toilets on a dead well.

Know your well pump's numbers. Look at the pump control box or your well records for the horsepower. A 1/2 HP pump needs about 750 to 1,000 running watts and 1,500 to 2,000 to start; a 1 HP pump can need up to 4,000 to start. That starting surge sets your generator size more than anything else in the house.

Get the hookup done now. A well pump is hardwired, so it can't plug into an extension cord. Generac notes that a transfer switch lets a portable power hardwired loads such as the furnace, well pump and lights. An interlock kit does the same job on many panels. Either one takes an electrician and a permit, and nobody's doing that during the storm.

Test the generator. Start it monthly. Fresh fuel, charged battery, oil checked. A generator that sat all year with old gas is the one that won't start.

Set up CO alarms. Put them on every level and outside sleeping areas, and test them monthly. Interconnected alarms are best, because when one sounds, they all sound.

Plan for medical needs. If anyone uses a powered medical device or refrigerated medicine, plan how you'll run or chill them.

During the outage

1. Turn off big loads first. Switch off the main or the breakers for large appliances before starting the generator, then bring loads on one at a time so the generator isn't hit with every motor at once.
2. Run the well pump in turns. Let it refill the pressure tank, then switch it off and run the fridge or furnace. Rotating loads lets a mid-size generator carry a well house.
3. Keep the fridge shut. Generac's guide says refrigerated food is safe for only four hours without power, while a full freezer holds about 48 hours (24 if half full) with the door closed. Check food with a thermometer for 40°F or below before eating it.
4. Refuel cold. Shut the generator off and let it cool before adding fuel.
5. Leave the alarm alone and get out if it sounds. Generac's advice: go outside right away, then call 911.

If you don't have a generator yet, compare a portable generator with a standby generator before the next storm season. A home battery can also carry a well pump for short outages if it's sized for the surge.

When the power comes back

Before it returns: unplug major appliances and electronics to cut the risk of surge damage when the grid comes back on. If water got into the house, have an electrician check it before you turn the power back on.

Switch back the right way. Turn the generator breaker off, then the main back on, then shut the generator down. With a transfer switch, flip circuits back to utility first.

Well pump. Listen for the pump and watch the pressure gauge climb. If the pump doesn't start, check its breaker first, then work through well pump not working. Air spitting from the taps for a minute is normal after the tank ran dry.

If the well flooded, don't drink the water until it's tested. Use a state-certified lab, and see shock chlorination for disinfecting the well.

No hot water after a power outage

This is the most common callback after the lights come on.

• Electric water heater: check the breaker first. A tripped breaker is a very common reason an electric heater stops working. If the breaker's fine, the red reset button (A.O. Smith calls it the Energy Cut Off) behind the upper access panel may have tripped. Turn the power off before you open the panel. See electric water heater not heating.
• Be patient. An electric tank takes about 60 to 90 minutes to recover, and a gas tank 30 to 40 minutes.
• Gas water heater: a standing-pilot model may simply need the pilot checked and the gas valve confirmed open. Power-vent and electronic-ignition models need electricity, so they'll be cold until the power is back or the generator feeds their outlet.
• Apartment or rental: the heater is the landlord's, so report it rather than resetting anything yourself.