Is your emergency standby generator ready to weather Florida’s hurricane and storm season? Now’s a good time to take another look and ensure your generator is prepared for whatever comes your way.
Hurricane Outlook Reports
AccuWeather and Colorado State University meteorologists predict Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf Coasts will experience between 16 and 20 named storms this year, including seven to 10 hurricanes. That’s well above historical levels, making power security especially important in the coming months.
Outdated electrical grids and changing climate conditions make it more essential than ever to be prepared for a power loss during a hurricane. A standby generator:
- Speedily and automatically delivers power to your South Florida home during a blackout.
- Keeps your home’s HVAC system, computers, TVs, medical equipment, refrigerators, and other appliances operating.
- Maintains your home’s comfort and safety levels.
Taking proactive action to keep your generator in perfect standby condition is key to being protected from storm-related power outages.
Make Sure Your Generator’s Ready for Hurricane Season
In a previous post we covered DIY steps you can take to ensure your generator’s good to go when storms hit. Now that we’re over a month into storm season, it’s worth doing another checkup, so you’re always prepared for the unexpected.
- Check that the electric starter’s battery is charged by running the generator. This step should be done outdoors in a well-ventilated area to avoid breathing in harmful fumes.
- Recheck the fuel lines. This is especially important if you’ve used the generator since the last inspection. A generator’s fuel lines can crack, tear, or become clogged, which prevents gas from reaching the fuel system.
- Check your oil inventory. Larger appliances like refrigerators and stoves use a higher volume of oil. When running the generator, be sure to replace the oil at least every 48 hours or so.
- Check the air filter and spark plugs. Clean or replace them if needed so your generator runs as efficiently as it should.
Tips for Dealing with Power Outages
If you find yourself in the middle of a hurricane-related power outages, here’s what you should and shouldn’t do.
- Do stock up on enough water to cover several days of personal hygiene and hydration. Each person needs about a gallon of water per day.
- Do keep at least one lamp plugged in so you know immediately when the power’s back on.
- Do have an evacuation plan to keep you, your loved ones, and pets safe.
- Do stay away from downed power lines and keep pets indoors so they aren’t harmed.
- Don’t light candles as they’re a fire hazard and aren’t a good or strong source of light. Use lanterns instead.
- Don’t let your phone or other mobile device run out of power. Have fully charged power boosters on standby. It’s also a good idea for only one person in the house to have their phone on at all times. Save the battery for an emergency!
- Don’t keep electronics plugged in. A surge of electricity when the power comes back on can damage them.
- Don’t open the refrigerator or freezer unless absolutely necessary.
Finally, make sure your generator is hooked up to your house correctly. If not, it can backfeed into the power grid and harm workers who are trying to restore power.
A properly maintained portable generator lets you rest easy knowing all your power needs are automatically taken care of during storm-related outages. If your standby generator’s in need of service, Reliable Power Systems provides repair and maintenance services you can count on. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, contact us online today or call us at 561.757.4405.
