Tag: Power Outage Plan

Power lines covered in ice after a winter storm that caused power outage

What To Do If Your Power Goes Out

Written by justin on January 2, 2022. Posted in Power Outages.

With the winter season just beginning, you can be sure that the inevitable snowstorm is coming your way. These storms are a threat to electrical equipment. When snow and ice create buildup on power lines, the weight can cause them to break. Tree limbs can also become heavy with snow and ice, causing them to snap and fall onto power lines.

A home power outage can happen with electrical equipment down and not functional. Having all your power shut off at once can lead to utter panic but remaining calm and rational during an outage is important. When you have a plan in place, you are relieved from extra stress and anxiety.

Power Outage Checklist

Call your utility company. Your utility company is responsible for restoring service during power outages, damaged power lines, and other electrical emergencies. They must be aware of your outage to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
Protect your appliances. Invest in a surge protector to ensure your appliances and electronics are protected ahead of time. When the power goes out, unplug important appliances, such as TVs, computers, or large appliances, if it is safe to do so. Leave just one light turned on so you can tell when the power comes back.
Gather flashlights. Do not use candles for light or warmth, as they are a serious fire hazard.
Keep refrigerator doors closed. Food in an unopened fridge should stay cold for about four hours. A half-full freezer should keep the temperature for 24 hours and a full freezer for about 48 hours.
Have an emergency kit on hand. This step requires some preparation ahead of time but will pay off in the long run. Prepare your emergency kit with non-perishable food, water, extra batteries, medical supplies, extra clothes, and blankets. Having these items on deck will prevent you from having to find them in the dark.

Invest In A Backup Generator

The easiest way to function in your home with a power outage is to invest in a backup generator. Generators can keep your lights on during electrical outages and necessary power appliances. Every home should have a backup generator to avoid the inconveniences and dangerous situations having no electricity can put them in.

If you want to save you and your family the struggle of trying to survive without power this stormy cold season, call (301)365-4226 to contact a professional generator installer. GenTech Generators provides one free preventative maintenance visit with the purchase of a generator so you can be sure to have a safe and working generator this winter.

How to Prepare Your Home for a Storm

Written by justin on June 3, 2020. Posted in Storm Preparedness.

As we welcome autumn—and soon enough winter—storm preparedness should be of top priority. Be ready for any kind of storm and ensure the safety of your family and property by following these few steps in preparing your home for a storm.

Inspect the outside areas of your property

Take a walk along the outside of your property and inspect anything that could potentially prove hazardous.

-Are there dead branches or unstable-looking trees near your house?

-Does your roof appear to have any damage or areas where water could seep through?

-Do you have the tools necessary to secure fences or patio furniture to prevent them from blowing away?

Taking note of these areas now means you have time to prepare and call in a professional if need be. If you are nervous about the potential of trees falling on your home, double check if your insurance will cover the damage (most standard homeowner’s policies will).

Prepare for the worst-case scenario

In order to be properly prepared for a dangerous storm, it’s vital that you account for all possibilities. Creating a mini disaster kit for your kids to carry with them and keep at school will give you, and them, peace of mind in the event of a storm.

Then make sure you have portable, backup battery powered chargers for all of your electronic devices to keep them charged in the event of an outage so you can call family members and friends. Also, have a disaster-plan in place with your family where each member takes on a specific role; this will allow you to react quickly if a storm does become dangerous and you need to take action.

Exercise your generator. If you don’t have one—get one.

Leading up to a storm, it’s important for you to exercise your backup generator by manually turning off the power and ensuring your backup power kicks on properly. Generators are quiet, affordable, and can be massively helpful in the event of any sort of emergency.

So, if you don’t own a backup generator, the first step in your storm preparedness plan will be to get one for your property.

If you’re preparing for dangerous weather, we at GenTech Generators offer Cummins power generators, considerably the best generators in the world. Give us a call at 301-469-7800 for more information on preparing for a storm and the benefits of having a backup generator that you can rely on.