During a Power Outage: Safety Tips

• Only use flashlights for emergency lighting, candles can cause fires.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. Most food requiring refrigeration can be kept safely in a closed refrigerator for several hours. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours.
• Turn off or disconnect appliances and other equipment in case of a momentary power “surge” that can damage computers and other devices. Consider adding surge protectors to electronics or have a licensed electrician install whole house surge protection.
• If you have an automatic generator, make sure you have fuel, and any debris is cleared around the generator.
• If you have a portable generator, make sure it is properly connected (installation by a licensed electrician) and  NEVER run a portable generator inside a home or garage

3 Reasons Why Maintaining Your Standby Generator is Essential

 

There’s A Lot To Check

Standby generators seem simple enough — using LP or natural gas as to create electricity — but really it’s a complex machine, just like your car. Would you let your car go a year without a check-up? Of course not, because you know if you miss a little problem in your car it can quickly turn into a big one. As an authorized Generac Service Center and Dealer, we check the oil, oil filter, spark plugs, air filter, adjust and tighten the valves, perform a transfer test, check the gas pressure, check the voltage, hertz, and RPM outputs, and check the battery.

It Will Pay Off In The Long Run

A well-maintained standby generator can last from 10,000 to 30,000 hours.  On the conservative end your generator could last about 10,000 hours; that means your standby generator, if well-maintained has a potential life span of at least 20 years. That is definitely a long-term investment. A well-maintained standby generator should last you years and give you peace of mind.

It’s Not Worth The Risk

Your family is the most important thing to you. You can’t protect them from everything, but if there’s something you can protect them from, wouldn’t you want to? When you neglect to regularly maintain your standby generator you are risking it not working when you need it the most. We all know that most blackout occur in terrible weather such as blizzards or rainstorms. It’s at these times that heat, information, and comfort are the most important to your family, and a standby generator you can rely on is most important to you.

Will Monday’s Solar Eclipse affect our electrical power in Connecticut?

 

Most likely not. While Monday’s solar eclipse will interrupt several hours of sunshine and potentially solar power in

key states like Oregon and California, experts have been working to prevent any disruption to the electrical grid there

and throughout the country.

 

However, if your home is powered by solar energy, you might want to make some back-up preparations during Monday afternoon

even though Connecticut won’t be experiencing the maximum impact of the solar eclipse.

 

The attached article explains the situation in more detail.

 

https://www.nrdc.org/experts/julia-prochnik/how-will-eclipse-affect-solar-power