Preparing a severe weather Generator Readiness Plan

June 1 marks the start of Atlantic Hurricane season 2019, and even though we rarely get to bear the full brunt of a hurricane up here in New England and northern Westchester, the remnants of these intense storms can still do quite a bit of damage to our CT and NY homes (as we saw with Florence and Michael last year).

One way to lessen the potentially devastating impact of hurricanes, tropical storms, and other severe summer weather, of course, is to install a propane backup generator, which can keep your sump pump, HVAC, refrigerator, and home security system up and running during a power outage.

But a backup generator only helps if your family and your equipment are ready to respond quickly and decisively to the threat of severe weather. To make sure you’re prepared the next time Mother Nature unleashes her fury on Connecticut, it pays to take a little time to develop a severe weather Generator Readiness Plan.

Here are some items to include:

1. Before a severe weather event
• Review your generator’s operating manual – Don’t wait for a weather crisis to learn how your generator works.
• Service your generator – Invest in professional generator maintenance before you need to rely on it for severe weather use. Get your generator serviced at least once a year; twice (before summer and winter) is even better.
• Do a test run – If your generator has been sitting idle since winter, run it with all of your home systems on for a full half hour to make sure everything is in working order. Run it for 10 minutes in subsequent months before scheduling maintenance in advance of the winter storm season.
• Fill your propane tank – Your propane generator should have enough propane gas in it to run your generator for a week in the event of road closures and lengthy outages. If it isn’t, schedule a propane delivery as early as possible.
• Have a “Plan B” – Know what you will do if your generator does not start.
2. During a severe weather event
• Keep access to your generator clear – Try to keep a pathway clear of debris, and keep its gas line accessible for refueling.
• Listen to your local authorities and evacuate if you need to. If you do vacate the premises, use extreme caution when returning to your property.
• Keep records of your generator use – Keep track of how often and for how long your generator is called into service, along with any problems or repairs that may occur.
3. Post-severe weather event
• Assess your home comfort equipment – Make sure any fuel-burning equipment operates correctly; if you experience or suspect any problems, get a professional inspection before you use that equipment again.
• Have your system maintained – Severe weather can strike any time of the year – especially in the summer and winter. Be sure your generator is ready when it’s called upon.
• Review your Readiness Plan – After the storm, and again when summer ends, assess what worked and didn’t work in your plan, making changes as needed.

Stay one step ahead of severe weather with a propane backup generator – installed, maintained, and fueled by the pros at Casey Energy. Contact us today to learn more, or to get a FREE, no obligation estimates on a backup generator for your Northern Fairfield or Westchester County home.