Real Stories
3 Easy, Affordable and Smart Tips on How to Prepare for Extreme Weather
June is National Hurricane Preparedness Month and the start of the summer storm season. Severe summer weather can strike anytime, anywhere, so homeowners are urged to be prepared. Being proactive is key when faced with an emergency situation and having a plan can reduce the effects of the disaster. Having access to things like clean […]
Commercial Generators 101 for Small Business
What is a�commercial generator? A standby commercial generator keeps your power on and your business open during an outage. It's installed outside your business (like an AC unit) and comes on automatically – whether you're open or closed. All within seconds of a power outage. Plus, commercial generators run on propane or natural gas, so […]
Creating a Culture of Preparedness
"On any given day, Mother Nature can break. You have to be prepared to be your own first responder when a natural disaster strikes." ‐Lt. General Honoré Lt. General Russel Honoré (retired) served in the U.S. Army for more than 37 years. During his distinguished service to our country, the media dubbed him the […]
HGTV Host Experiences Benefits of Backup Power Firsthand
John Colaneri, co-host of HGTV’s Cousins Undercover recently moved into a new home with his wife outside of Jersey City, N.J. With his vast experience in construction and home improvement, Colaneri knew he needed certain resources at his home. One of those resources was a KOHLER standby generator. "Growing up in this area, we lost power constantly […]
When the Chief of Police calls for help!
"When you're in the generator business and the town's power goes out in the middle of a blizzard, you know the phone is going to ring," says Scott Matthews, general manager of NE Generator in Pembroke, MA, a town of 19,000 about an hour south of Boston. "But it isn't normally the Chief of Police […]
Emergency Preparedness Tip: The best $25 you can spend
Almost every person we talk to about enduring an extended power outage says it: "The first thing we ran out of was water." As I reported in previous blog postings about living "48 Hours Without Power," my wife and I ran out of drinking water in just 36 hours. A lack of water can quickly […]
Generator installation costs - Aren't they all the same?
The simple answer to that question is no. Since standby generators are custom fit and permanently installed into your home, no two installations are alike. A site visit must be made by an authorized Kohler Generators dealer to inspect your property and existing […]
From Bathtubs to Generators
The name KOHLER is much more than six letters found on plumbing fixtures and power products. It’s an experience that you feel. Whether you’re relaxing at the spa, eating chocolates, riding your lawn mower, or watching TV while the rest of your block is without power, the feeling is the same. This feeling comes from […]
What Will My Kohler Standby Generator Run During a Power Outage?
The number of appliances a Kohler standby generator can power at one time depends on the generator's output capacity and the amount of power each appliance uses. During a power outage, your first priorities are most likely personal safety and protecting your home. It may be […]
What you Need to Know Before Buying a Standby Generator
Q&A with Chris Stiles, President of Total Energy Systems, LLC, An Authorized Kohler Distributor. Although he certainly looks the part, Chris is not your typical company president. He’s a laid back, family man with a laugh that’s larger than life. With Chris’ straight-to-the-point approach, he’s the perfect person to explain exactly what you need to […]
Spring Weather Can Bring on a Flood of Problems
Spring is here and even with the mild winter in many areas of the country, most of us look forward to this time of year. Before you get too excited, I just want to remind homeowners that Spring weather can also bring along basement flooding in many areas of the country. […]
The Rookie's Guide to Portable Generators
These beasts can back up your home in the midst of a power outage, power a campsite or weld a house without breaking a sweat. If you’re thinking of buying one, we’re sure you have questions. So, let’s break it down for you. What is a portable generator? Portable generators provide instant power virtually anywhere. So, whether […]
7 Winter Weather Power Outage Safety Tips
With major snowstorms like Winter Storm Jonas, homeowners are reminded to keep preparedness top of mind. KOHLER Generators�has put together a list of expert tips to help homeowners prepare for possible power outages. Power Outage Safety Tips Turn off major appliances such as water heaters, stoves and air conditioning units. Unplug other appliances such as […]
FAQ: Winter Weather Generator Care
At this time of year, winter storms can bring strong, possibly damaging winds, heavy snowfall, significant icing and coastal flooding. We’ve put together a list of FAQs to help homeowners ensure their KOHLER generators are ready for severe winter weather and impending power outages. Q: Do I need to clear the snow from the intake and exhaust vents? [â¦][…]
5 Tips to Stay Safe During Extended Power Outages
When severe summer storms come rolling in, power outages pose a likely threat to your home.�In addition to considering backup power, the experts at KOHLER Generators have developed a list of important things you can do to ensure the safety and security of your family in the event of a power outage. 5 Tips: Candles […]
3 Home Improvements to Withstand Severe Summer Weather
Mother Nature can be hard on your home, especially during the summer months. Thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes can cause extensive damage to houses and entire communities. Some preparation, however, can help homeowners defend their homes against severe-weather damage. Here are some home improvements you can undertake to help protect your home from summer storm damage: […]
Hurricane Matthew: We Didn't Sit in the Dark
Hurricane Matthew devastated hundreds of thousands of individuals, leaving many without power when they needed it the most. KOHLER gave John Zarrella a generator last year and this was his experience with it during Hurricane Matthew
We Should Have Bought a Kohler Years Ago
“Sometimes a power outage can mean family fun -- board games by flashlight. But after one evening, when the kids want TV and you don’t have Internet and your cell phones need charging, it’s not so much fun. And when you’re huddled around a propane heater – one that’s supposedly safe indoors – it’s definitely not fun at all. You walk into a dark bedroom and out of habit flip on the light switch and … nothing. That kind of sums it up. ...
A Tale of Two Outages
Like many folks, John Donaldson was on the fence about buying backup power for his home. After all, a backup generator is a significant investment, and he had lived in his house for years, with the longest power outage lasting just five hours. Until October 29, 2011.
A Tale of Two Outages
Like many folks, John Donaldson was on the fence about buying backup power for his home. After all, a backup generator is a significant investment, and he had lived in his house for years, with the longest power outage lasting just five hours. Until October 29, 2011.
It was the worst of times.

Fourth Time is the Charm: Centerville Greenhouses
There seems to be a “buy-twice” pattern for many consumers when it comes to buying a generator for home or business standby power. In the home, it’s often a portable generator first, then a robust standby generator with automatic transfer and no need for re-fueling. In a business, it’s typically a small generator first, and later, as power needs grow, a powerhouse that can handle the full load, that exercises itself, and that keeps on humming for ...
Fourth Time is the Charm: Centerville Greenhouses
There seems to be a “buy-twice” pattern for many consumers when it comes to buying a generator for home or business standby power. In the home, it’s often a portable generator first, then a robust standby generator with automatic transfer and no need for re-fueling. In a business, it’s typically a small generator first, and later, as ...
Post-Derecho Takeaways: Think Ahead and Have a Long-Term Plan
On June 29, 2012, a derecho storm raced from northern Indiana to the southern Mid-Atlantic coast in just 12 hours, leaving a 700-mile trail of destruction and plunging an estimated five million people into darkness. Among them was Patrick Wingfield, who lives 20 miles outside Sistersville, West Virginia, a little piece of Americana on the Ohio River. Patrick shared his experience.
It Was a Dark and Stormy Derecho
What’s a derecho? It’s something akin to a tornado. The names of both come from the Spanish: a massive thunderstorm complex with destructive straight (“derecho”) winds is the counterpoint to a twisting tornado (“tornar”).