Having access to electrical power is critical for most households. If you live in an area that sees severe winter storms on a regular basis, there is always the possibility that these storms could leave you without municipal electricity.
Investing in a backup generator can be a simple and effective way to ensure you are able to produce your own electricity until municipal power is restored. Here are three tips that you can use to ensure your generator is ready to perform this winter.
1. Determine your current electrical needs.
Before you begin preparing your generator for winter, it's important that you work with an experienced electrician to determine your current power needs. The electrician will be able to help you identify which appliances and fixtures in your home are critical to your comfort, as well as the electrical demands of these appliances and fixtures.
If you have recently upgraded your home, you may find that your old generator is no longer powerful enough to provide you with the electricity you need. Determining your power needs should always be the first step in any generator preparation program.
2. Have your generator inspected.
Once you have determined that your generator is powerful enough to meet your needs, it's important that you have an experienced electrician inspect the generator for signs of damage. A damaged generator could not only leave you without access to power in an emergency, it could become a serious safety hazard over time.
An electrician will be able to determine if connections, conduits, and ground wires are functioning properly to ensure the safety and performance of your generator throughout the winter.
3. Store enough fuel.
In order for your generator to create the electricity needed to power your home in an emergency, you need to have an adequate supply of fuel available at all times.
Your electrician will be able to help you determine how much fuel is needed to generate a single hour of electricity, and you can use this measurement to help you determine how much fuel you should keep stockpiled for emergency use in the future.
Having a generator can be a great way to ensure you are prepared for a severe winter storm. Be sure that your generator is ready to serve your needs this winter by checking to see it's powerful enough, having an electrician inspect it for damage, and keeping a stockpile of fuel on hand. Contact a service, like Dunedin Electric Co., Inc., for more help.