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Also the sewer system backs up after about a week because the pumping and lift stations need power to operate. The water system shuts down because the tanks ar

by XorNot 7mo ago

Also the sewer system backs up after about a week because the pumping and lift stations need power to operate. The water system shuts down because the tanks aren't reserve supply they're pressure support. And solar plus storage will keep you running for maybe a week if you're conservative and mostly don't use anything...which doesn't help you if it's months till replacement.

PunchyHamster 7mo ago
solar + storage + water sheath fireplace can run pretty much till you run out of wood. But yes, unless you spend serious money (own sewer, water from underground etc), it's basically solution for "the power pole is down", not any grid wide problems.
- XorNot 7mo ago
  I mean "run out of wood" is the problem though. There aren't that many trees, certainly not enough for everyone in a region to start doing it. You'd be better off with an air sourced hear pump for hot water anyway - the one in my house uses less power then my dehumidifier.
- bob1029 7mo ago
  > unless you spend serious money (own sewer, water from underground etc) It is often the case (at least where I live) that having a septic system and well is far more economical than obtaining a property with access to city utilities.
  - GnarfGnarf 7mo ago
    Perhaps, but municipal water runs by gravity whereas your well pump doesn’t operate during a power failure.
    - defrost 7mo ago
      Our bore pumps are all solar powered inline immersion pumps fitted to boreholes under older still standing windmills. They're off grid, and can be swapped out if the PV panels or immersion pumps fail. Ideally you should be pumping into tanks in any case, for the buffer, and those tanks can be placed on a hill to gravity feed .. or pump with a motor. Here's a typical setup, sans old windmill: https://youtu.be/iZAMm_S3GNQ?t=383 https://youtu.be/iZAMm_S3GNQ?t=383 (same rough area (W.Australian wheatbelt) not our land)

by XorNot 7mo ago

PunchyHamster 7mo ago

solar + storage + water sheath fireplace can run pretty much till you run out of wood. But yes, unless you spend serious money (own sewer, water from underground etc), it's basically solution for "the power pole is down", not any grid wide problems.

XorNot 7mo ago
I mean "run out of wood" is the problem though. There aren't that many trees, certainly not enough for everyone in a region to start doing it. You'd be better off with an air sourced hear pump for hot water anyway - the one in my house uses less power then my dehumidifier.
bob1029 7mo ago
> unless you spend serious money (own sewer, water from underground etc) It is often the case (at least where I live) that having a septic system and well is far more economical than obtaining a property with access to city utilities.
- GnarfGnarf 7mo ago
  Perhaps, but municipal water runs by gravity whereas your well pump doesn’t operate during a power failure.
  - defrost 7mo ago
    Our bore pumps are all solar powered inline immersion pumps fitted to boreholes under older still standing windmills. They're off grid, and can be swapped out if the PV panels or immersion pumps fail. Ideally you should be pumping into tanks in any case, for the buffer, and those tanks can be placed on a hill to gravity feed .. or pump with a motor. Here's a typical setup, sans old windmill: https://youtu.be/iZAMm_S3GNQ?t=383 https://youtu.be/iZAMm_S3GNQ?t=383 (same rough area (W.Australian wheatbelt) not our land)