Five Tips To Prepare For Springtime Power Outages
Spring storms can wreak havoc on your home, causing power outages that can be inconvenient or even dangerous for your family. To protect them and your valuables, follow these guidelines:
- Have an emergency plan – Keep phone numbers of doctors and family members handy, and teach your family where to gather if you’re separated during a storm.
- Stash an emergency kit – Items to keep in your kit include all family medicines plus Sharpies, tape, flashlights, a first aid kit, Ziploc bags, matches, candles, batteries, and a battery operated or wind-up radio.
- Unplug major appliances and electronics – Power surges often happen when power is restored after a storm, so unplug valuable equipment to prevent damage (just leave one light on so you’ll know when the power is back). Also make sure everyone in the house knows how to turn off the main breaker and reset circuit breakers after power is restored.
- Avoid downed wires – Assume any fallen wires are “live” and dangerous!
- Consider installing a whole house generator – A backup generator will keep important equipment like your sump pump, refrigerators, home security systems, and emergency medical equipment up and running during an outage. They look like central air conditioner’s compressor, turn on immediately and automatically when an outage begins, and can pay for themselves in a single storm by preventing thousands of dollar in damage.
Contact Bolkema today for a FREE estimate on a backup generator for your home, or to get service for your current generator before severe weather strikes!