The chilly temperatures are hardly the winter storm of 2021, but they bring back reminders of power outages and misery. So, as the thermometer drops, interest in portable home generators is heating up.

While a whole-house generator model can be very expensive, Consumer Reports says there’s a less pricey option to power just the essentials.

His store on Loop 410 even had to fire up the generator to stay open last week. AdPortable generators can save lives, but the carbon monoxide fumes from the gasoline can be deadly. If carbon monoxide gas levels get dangerously high, the machine shuts off. Some are even designed to emit less carbon monoxide in the first place. Once you have a generator, Coleman says maintenance is critical, or you, like many people last week, could be left out in the cold.