What spare parts do you keep in stock for emergencies?
Posted by OneTwoFreeFour@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 44 comments
What spare parts for appliances, machines, tools, etc. do you keep extra in stock that the average Joe/Jane wouldn’t think to have?
My examples:
An igniter for my natural gas furnace. A flame sensor for my natural gas furnace. An extra cheap carburetor for my leaf blower. A capacitor for my hvac outside condenser. An extra clothes dryer belt and pulley.
I”m curious what (unusual) things others may keep in stock.
tokenpenguin@reddit
Depends on the situation. I’m not worried about a carb on my otherwise useless leaf blower but I will always keep extras crush washers. small inline fuel filters, things like lawn tractors and ATVS
I find a good supply of 4’x2’ 1/2 in thick OSB is very useful $5-8 per sheet and can be used for many things. Board up windows, patch a roof or wall, build storage shelves/organizing systems, temporary tables.
And finally, two of the best barter items I have seen or heard of a cheap yet strong type of grain alcohol and a large pack of big lighters.
Go to a resale shop for general hardware you can usually find a decent size bucket of framing nails or large deck screws. Don’t get many different lengths just get 3” long one you can always make them shorter
While you’re at the resale shop, find yourself some good hand tools a couple different sauces for both metal and wood a few different hammers some sort of clamps, a hand drill, wood carving knives and a good set of woodworking drillbits for making holes don’t forget tape and construction adhesives
A good little supply of metric bolts with respective nuts and lack washers, normal washers and a good little socket set. Will take you a long way.
Ropes are also invaluable keep a stock of general cordage, as well as some good rope for moving logs, lifting stuff get yourself a couple shackles and pulleys snatch blocks whatever we could go into the whole mechanical advantage, lifting, pulling.
_Benny_Lava@reddit
I have a huge assortment of nail files. The pain and frustration of snagging a fingernail (or a toenail) when I am performing activities such as splitting wood or digging out bamboo rhizomes has led to me collecting nail files for every occurrence. I recently discovered that they make glass files that are supposed to be far superior to the sandpaper type, but I would guess that they are quite fragile. Not sure the best way to carry around something fragile like that.
CCWaterBug@reddit
AC fan motor
AC capacitor
AntiSonOfBitchamajig@reddit
Yeah thats a crazy question for me as I do maintenance in residential BUT at the top of the list of stupid shit that happens to fail
MagicToolbox@reddit
This list is excellent.
MagicToolbox@reddit
Toilet flapper valves, Shark bite shut off valves for 1/2" and 3/4" pipe, a selection of fittings and spare pipe for replacing plumbing. A couple spare feed lines for toilets and sinks.
A spare motor start capacitor for the Heat pump. Salvaged and new power cords, replacement male and female ends for power/extension cords. A large selection of automotive and glass fuses.
Oil and filters for the vehicles and generator. Regularly rotated ethanol free fuel. Added a tri-fuel kit to the generator so it can run on propane, so I stock 2 or 3 spare propane cylinders in addition to the one on the grill, plus an adapter to run the camping stove from the big ones, and a Fuel-King refill kit with 2 or 3 refill rated 1# cylinders.
Tools, skills, and raw materials to fabri-cobble darn near anything.
IGetNakedAtParties@reddit
Usb cables, chargers, spare laptop charger.
Fuses, plugs, contacts, power strips.
OSB sheeting for boarding up broken windows.
Car battery on a maintainer.
GloriousDawn@reddit
Is it really prepping specific when everyone over 40 has a drawer full of them
IGetNakedAtParties@reddit
I ran out a while ago, bought a job lot to top the drawer up. Guess I use more than most with various Arduino projects needing sacrifices.
No_Character_5315@reddit
Add extension cord ends both male and female can fix basically any cord with one few dollars and just need a screw driver. even if your cord gets cut/frayed in half can repair it by making to shorter cords.
IGetNakedAtParties@reddit
Great point, and junction blocks + electrical tape
JRHLowdown3@reddit
Well pump parts are usually overlooked but cheap enough to easily have 3-4 sets of spares sitting in an ammo can. Starting and running capacitors, pressure switches.
Spares for generators and AE system- haven't had any major failures in 25 years producing our own power, but have lost a charge controller or two due to very close lightning strikes.
PVC components- we have probably 3 totes of smaller (2 inch and under) elbows, tees, ball valves, one way flow valves, connectors for drip, connectors to our small on demand pumps we use for additional pressure, etc. Usually around 100' of 3/4 hanging around sheds. Spares for drip irrigation- Bo smith emitters, black pipe, figure 8 stops, etc.
PVC glue is a problem and has to be rotated. They seemed to have changed the formulation the last few years and it's not keeping longer.
4 of the same model chainsaws, plus 2 totes of spare parts, full shop manuals and tools for them, a couple dozen new in box chains as well as 2X that many used chains we have re-sharpened. When money is good, we will use a new chain for most of one season, sharpen it then change to a new chain and put the old one away. Then add a new replacement in also. When money isn't good we might use the chain longer, sharpening it a few times. The new all in one sharpening devices that sharpen cutter, rake, etc. all at once are awesome. Plenty of files, mix, filters, etc. Have been using whatever oil we had available versus more expensive "bar and chain" oil for years and never had any issues.
Fuel issues will be more common in the PAW, so extra fuel filters for every piece of equipment as well as inline filters used as pre-filters, extra fuel lines, clamps, etc. If your able to scavenge fuel, you will likely be working out a way to pre-filter it before putting it in any equipment you have.
Basically if you sit and think though each scenario you are preparing for, think about the regular needs and how you will provide for that, the logistics involved with items, spare parts, etc. will usually start entering your mind. And this is a great mental exercise versus just reading someone else's list online. If you hit a wall on that, then ask others that have done this for a while. But the value in these mental exercises can't be overlooked. Grok or "the hive" aren't going to be there when TSHTF, you need to be able to think through things yourself.
Cavemanjoe47@reddit
I'm a machinist, woodworker, and farmer, who has experience in a few other trades.
I have spare parts for things that don't exist yet.🤣
OneTwoFreeFour@reddit (OP)
Farmers always know how to fix things… I love watching Farmcraft101 on YouTube, and I have no connection/experience to farming.
AntiSonOfBitchamajig@reddit
Cut the electric cables off truly dead things and throw it into a 55 drum. 5 years later gets re-wired onto something an animal chewed on saving $30 buying a new OEM cord online.
JRHLowdown3@reddit
An interesting thought exercise for those willing- imagine your house was shot at repeatedly in TSHTF. Now think through this question of spare parts again. What could possibly be damaged? What needs to be repaired?
kirksmith626@reddit
Our garden space is an essential area for preps in this house. We have a spare set of everything for the IBC Totes, including 2 100 watt solar panels, cabling, 100 AH LifePO4 battery, auto on/off sensing submersible pump for the cisterns, and an extra 5" 1/4 HP Westinghouse pump that fits in the top of the tanks.
PrisonerV@reddit
fluidmaster fill valve and flapper. Never know when your toilet is going to start running and not stop.
Capacitor for furnace and capacitor for condenser outside. These are much more likely to go out than a glow plug or flame sensor (clean the flame sensor every couple of years with gloves and super fine grit sandpaper).
LopsidedRaspberry626@reddit
1 full replacement set of toilet “guts” per toilet, and a variety assortment of P and S traps for bathroom And kitchen sizes
Leopold_Porkstacker@reddit
Ooh, the toilet parts is something I totally missed, thank you!
bingeingwatches@reddit
I do the same, plus faucet repair kits, supply hoses. Plumbing always breaks/leaks/drips when the stores are closed for some reason. I can fix it faster than a trip to the store and go to the store at my convenience.
Strong-Platform786@reddit
Currently a spare furnace lol
Hot-Profession4091@reddit
Mostly just Tuesday stuff. Like you, I keep spare parts for the furnace. I also keep a spare motherboard for our washer as it’s prone to corrosion. That lets me swap them out and get things going again, then I can take my time reflowing the solder and resealing the board.
I also try to keep a stock of fluids for the vehicles at home and a spare oil filter. When I do an oil change or something, I rotate the stock. Reusable air filters inside and out.
jdnls87@reddit
HVAC capacitors. Those suckers always die during heatwaves. And keep an extra water heater anode rod, it'll double your tank's life. Learned both the hard way.
Skalgrin@reddit
The general "fix it" parts.
Nails, screws, zips, wires, tapes, staples, glues (not a big fan of those due to shelf life), cables (electricity ones), paracords, tarps, bolts, nuts, fabrics, leather, lubricants, metal, some wooden beams, other timber, pipes...
Note: Nails and screws of few types (diameter and length) and special self drilling screws which work for metal (and wood).
I like to keep non powered tools for everything aside my powered tools. Recently modernising to battery powered, due possibility to charge from my PVs when sun shines and use it when it does not.
The idea is to be able to fix broken stuff - I don't have "tons" of the items, but the goal is to have enough of "everything" (I can use and need, the "can" being the biggest limit).
jhuebner223@reddit
Great list! I keep spare water heater elements, extra sump pump, fuses and a backup pressure switch for the well. Small parts save huge headaches during emergencies.
dogsRgr8too@reddit
I have a couple wax rings for the toilet. Leaks always show up when the store is closed or the weather is bad.
EnderWiggin42@reddit
Way too much.
thatguyfromvancouver@reddit
Zip ties (big, small and metal)…tape (all kinds)…fasteners (nails and screws)…wire (all types)…fake bullions (to distract from real ones)… para cord…rebar pieces…charcoal (lump and briquette)… camp fuels…tinfoil…
You can never have enough of them…
surfaholic15@reddit
I am glad i am not alone in that belief. My insistence on keeping all these things in quantity drives my husband nuts.
thatguyfromvancouver@reddit
Some people just don’t get it…if you need it and the system fails then you’re out of luck…but if you already have it then you’re good…well worth it in my mind…
surfaholic15@reddit
Hubby is generally really great about most things. But when it comes to nuts, bolts, zip ties and other odds and ends, he either has too few (like 2 extra of a nut type), or he has none because he used them up and neglected to tell me they needed replacing lol. You would think after 20 years of me producing random widgets when he needs them his blind spot in this instance would be cured.
It's a running joke around here. I will see some random widget somebody is throwing out and i will grab it and disassemble it. And keep all the parts.
Last year a local lab dude was throwing away a super expensive widget that used to be part of an ICP machine. He had already given me some of the nice 1 gallon amber glass chemical bottles amd other amber bottles he was throwing away (imagine throwing away those? they are expensive!).
He asked me if I wanted this widget. I said OF COURSE, SERIOUSLY!?! He thinks it is so funny that he can hand me his trash and broken things and i thank him and bring him sourdough bread to take home to his family lol.
That part turned out to be a highly specialized vacuum pump gizmo. Used they cost 20k. I am keeping it in one piece until i figure out if i can replace the broken fan thingies.
Our chiropractor gave me ten pounds of old x rays, and boy did i have fun recovering the silver off them. I just wish i had a use for the shredded blank film.
Hubby has almost come to terms with my packrat tendencies. Almost.
thatguyfromvancouver@reddit
I grew up on a farm in a remote zone…we used to have power outages that would last weeks if not longer…you learn what you need to get…over time you get priorities…
Spiley_spile@reddit
A repair kit for my Dragonfly stove and my snow shoes. Extra cordage to repair my pulk sled. An extra pair of trekking poles for my winter pyramid shelter. Lots of duct tape lol.
We have a couple big storms a year. A few times, long lines of cars have gotten stuck in the snow for 12-24 hours. After the last time that happened, I built a pulk sled in case it happens again. If I can keep these supplies in good working order, It'll be easier to ferry critical supplies to the motorists, and any motorists with critical medical issues over to a hospital connection point. If need be, I can use the pyramid shelter to set up a 24/hr first aid station directly beside the motor line, until the DOT can get things moving again.
Other than that, a lot of the gear repairs I do are just diagnose the problem and hunt around for whatever random thing I already own that could be used to MacGyver it.
wihaw44@reddit
I keep a stash of fuses, spare power inverters, and extra water pump seals. They’re the kind of parts you only miss when something breaks at the worst time.
SonsOfValhallaGaming@reddit
For Tuesday? I have backups for most appliances and a way to get new appliances if needed within hours, even during Tuesday Trouble.
For Doomsday? We are planning on going full unga bunga and relying on things that don't really require many parts, or establishing trade and commerce with anyone smart enough and reliable enough to be able to do so should the need arise.
PurpleCableNetworker@reddit
I keep extra household batteries (AA, AAA, D, 9V) then for my cars I keep oil, oil filters, and both air filters handy for all vehicles.
Prestigious_Yak8551@reddit
I'm going to get some spare oil for the car. It's on sale at the moment anyway.
KurtaPajama@reddit
where?
Prestigious_Yak8551@reddit
Repco
AlphaDisconnect@reddit
Determine what is mission essential. Don't have parts. Have a full replacement. One of the reasons we won world War 2 was because we didn't bother fixing airplane engines. An engine being mission essential to an airplane doing airplane things. We just replaced the whole engine. The whole airplane if needed.
What part will go bad can go so many ways.
surfaholic15@reddit
Defrost timers and associated widgets for the frigidaire fridge we got free.
We got it free because the former owner believed it was broken in a mon repairable way. We already knew that it is a part that commonly breaks.
Various types of plugs, both 2 prong and three prong, in various sizes from standard lamp or small appliance to electric stove or welder, for 110 and 220v.
A few different sharpening devices, my favorite being the sharpener attachment for my dremel tool. There are times finding a new chainsaw chain has been tough, and it is surprising how many folks we know who own many bladed devices and chainsaws but few or no ways to sharpen them. Quite odd, really.
A spool of nichrome wire. The good kind for winding new heating elements for electric kilns/furnaces, but can be used for other types of wire heating elements.
Propane regulators and adaptor kits for converting natural gas appliances to propane, along with extra hose and quick connects etc.
Those are rhe less common items we have hangjbg around, though i suspect they are common in this group.
thebigDilll@reddit
Any and all hardware. Sort them out to their size and thread type. Couldn't tell you how many times I've needed an obscure nut, bolt, etc. and I thankfully had something.
IGetNakedAtParties@reddit
Rotor & stator for the well pump