Chances are, you’ve been through an Indiana blackout before- but hopefully it didn’t last too long. Do you ever wonder about how your family would handle a lengthy power outage? When severe weather hits, utility companies may be burdened and restoring power to all affected areas may take more time than you’d like. No electricity can be an inconvenience and cause troublesome issues, including:
- Perishable food products in refrigerators and freezers may spoil, and refrigerated medicines may not keep.
- Electric-powered medical devices for use in the home will not be able to operate
- Air conditioning and heating systems may not be able to operate, depending on your home’s system.
- Downed power lines near your home can pose a safety risk to children, pets, and others.
Generators are safe and easy to use in the event of a power outage. A backup generator can be permanently installed outside your home and are connected to your home’s electrical system. With a permanent generator already wired for your home’s necessary appliances, you won’t have to run extension cords from the outside unit indoors.
Locating the generator outdoors is key- generators burn fuel to produce electricity and emit exhaust which you don’t want in an enclosed space for safety reasons. They should also exhaust away from openings like doors, windows, and vents. Generators need to be installed on a stable, dry surface with plenty of surrounding space.
Manual and automatic transfer switch options are available. A manual transfer switch requires that you switch the generator on in the event of a utility power outage. With an automatic transfer switch, the system senses when utility power is down and comes back, and controls your generator accordingly. An automatic switch is not only a convenience, but can be a big help; if you’re not home or out of town when power fails, your generator will start up automatically so you don’t risk food spoilage or other problems. Your generator should only be plugged into this transfer switch, never directly into your home’s wiring system or outlets; doing so can create backfeed (power flowing the opposite direction from the usual flow) which may cause injury, fires, and other dangers.
Frye Electric can help keep your family safe and comfortable in the event of a spring power outage, or loss of power any time of year. We install backup generators for homes which supply power to your necessary appliances and electrical devices in the event of utility power loss. We ensure your generator is installed correctly and safely to maintain reliability when you need it the most. Contact Frye Electric today to learn more about backup generators and have one installed before spring storms roll in.