When the power goes out, essential items in your home will no longer work, which can prove costly or even fatal. We asked a couple of industry experts about what you can do to brace for an outage.
Mike Holmes
Builder/Contractor, Investor, TV HostMike Holmes
What is one of the biggest risks when it comes to a blackout?
Well, that depends on the time of year. If the blackout is during a heat and humidity wave, then having no air conditioning or relief for the elderly, young children, or people with breathing conditions could be fatal. If the blackout is due to record-breaking rain and severe winds, then there could be serious flooding. If the outage is during a winter storm, then snow, ice, and frigid temperatures could cause pipes to burst.
In any of these cases, a standby backup generator will kick in and your essential appliances will not be affected — keeping your family safe and warm during a winter storm. Maintaining an indoor temperature of no lower than 55 degrees will prevent your pipes from bursting and having a power backup for your sump pump could prevent basement flooding.
What are the best ways to prepare for a blackout?
Homeowners should be prepared for any severe weather forecasted, especially as we head into the winter months. Being prepared means making sure you have sufficient supplies on hand like bottled water, food, batteries, flashlights, and other necessities, but also making sure you have a snow shovel, and bags of salt or sand.
However, I think the most important thing homeowners can do to prepare for a blackout is to have some sort of back-up power. In case of a severe weather event causing outages, it’s likely safer to stay home and indoors. A back-up generator, either a standby or a portable model, can provide power to the essentials you need until electricity is restored.
I like standby generators, as they are connected right to the home. In the case of an outage, they wake up and start providing back-up power right away. The cost of your generator will vary depending on its size and use. Smaller units used to power particular sections of the home will be much cheaper than a unit meant to power a whole house during an outage.
What should people have on hand in case of a blackout?
Alternatively, if you are unable to have a backup generator, there are a few other products you could consider, like installing a water sensor, drain guard, and/or surge protector.
Installing a water sensor is a great way to keep your home safe. Sensors are designed to detect leaks, and when it notices a problem, it triggers a shutdown of the system, preventing further damage and leaks. Most models come with a battery back-up, so your home will be protected during a power outage if you don’t have a backup generator.
Adding a drain guard on your basement drain can prevent water from backing up your sewer line. When city sewers are overwhelmed with substantial rainfall, water — and sewage — could cause a back up in your line. This inexpensive product can be installed for under $100 (in most cases, you can even install it yourself) and again, it could save you thousands of dollars in water damage.
I also highly recommend installing a whole-home surge protector that connects right to your breaker panel. In case there is a surge, the surge protector stops it from moving throughout the rest of your house. It could save thousands of dollars of electronics!
Why is it important for homeowners to have a concrete plan in case of a blackout?
With the increasing severity in our weather, homeowners should be prepared now more than ever and have a plan. It just makes sense to protect your family, as well as the most expensive investment in your life, which is your house. I think it’s in a homeowner’s best interest to plan for the worst and consider adding items like some form of a backup generator, water sensors, drain guards, and surge protectors to the home. In the end, it could save you thousands of dollars in potential damages.
Ray Simpkins
Channel Manager, Home & Outdoor Power, Caterpillar, Inc.
What is one of the biggest risks when it comes to a blackout?
From a power standpoint, there are many risks such as home damage due to frozen pipes, a sump pump going out, refrigerated food or medicine spoiling, or the inability to properly heat your home. Power surges may also occur, damaging appliances, electronics, or power-dependent medical devices.
What are the best ways to prepare for a blackout?
Take an inventory of items that require electricity in your home. Use our online sizing tool to help determine what size generator set you need to power those items during a blackout. If you already own a generator, we recommend you have it inspected annually.
What should people have on hand in case of a blackout?
Energy-wise, a dependable portable generator set can provide home backup power for any emergency. This power source should be easy to set up and operate, keeping the lights on and all of your critical appliances running. There are a range of durable and affordable models on the market today.
Why is it important for homeowners to have a concrete plan in case of a blackout?
No one wants to be scrambling for a solution. Talk to a professional who can help you understand your power needs. Get a portable generator set that’s right for you and have it ready to go in case of a blackout. Make sure you know how to use it, where to store it, and how to refuel it.
