Category: Generators

There is much to enjoy once the summer season rolls around. Outdoor activities, backyard barbecues, and weekend getaways with family and friends are all part of what makes summer such a great time of year. Unfortunately, though, the summer season can also mean some seriously stormy weather. Severe thunderstorms and high winds can cause tree branches and other items to fall on electrical wires – and that can mean a prolonged power outage.

You may be wondering what you can do to protect yourself and your family during an extended power outage in your area. In this article, we’ll give you a few practical suggestions you can follow, and we’ll also let you know what Boelcke can do to help you weather any storm, no matter what the season. Keep reading to learn more!

5 Tips on Staying Safe During a Power Outage

Nobody likes to think about losing power in their home, and especially for several hours – or even days. If you find yourself without power, there are a few things you can do to help you stay safe. Here are five tips you can easily follow:

1. Make sure to have an emergency kit prepared. This should include a flashlight, battery-operated radio, extra batteries, matches/candles, bottled drinking water, non-perishable foods, charged backup chargers for cell phones, medical supplies, blankets, and extra clothes appropriate for the weather.
2. Stay informed about the storm. Listen to the battery-operated radio we mentioned above or keep track of the local news on your cell phone. Most utility companies also provide an estimated wait time on their website, so you’ll be able to better plan for a prolonged outage.
3. Keep away from downed power lines. If there has been a severe windstorm or tornado in your area and you are without power, it’s safe to assume that there are downed power lines. If you see a downed power line, stay at least 35 feet away from it and call 911.
4. Keep refrigerators and freezers closed as much as possible. A full freezer will keep food safe for consumption for 48 hours, and a fridge will keep it safe for up to four hours. These estimates are without opening and closing the appliances. According to the government’s food safety website, if you have any doubts about food spoilage, throw it out. You can visit their website to learn more about how long most foods are safe – and at what point they should be discarded.
5. Do not use grills indoors. While it can be tempting to pull your grill into a garage or enclosed porch to cook during a power outage, this can be very dangerous. That’s because grills produce carbon monoxide. Outside, the CO easily dissipates into the outdoor air, but inside it doesn’t have anywhere to go, and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

What can I do to avoid losing power in my home?

While the tips we’ve shared above can help keep you and your family safe during a prolonged outage, you may be wondering how to avoid losing power in your home altogether. Fortunately, Boelcke can help! We offer our customers the quality Honeywell generators they need, to weather any storm. You’ll never have to worry about going without power again – and this is vitally important if you or someone in your family relies on electricity for medical equipment. When you choose us to help, our expert technicians will provide you with professional generator installation. We can help you choose the right generator for your home, based on your family’s needs.

Learn more about our home generator solutions.

Honeywell generators provide backup power for everyday life. They come in a variety of sizes that can power your entire home. Boelcke’s home backup solutions provide the power you need during an outage, without the need to start the unit. We proudly offer our customers some of the best home generator solutions available, including:

• Whole-Home Backup Generators: Honeywell automatic backup generators help guard against potential dangers that power outages can bring. These generators automatically turn on when they sense a utility power disruption and provide power until your main power is restored.
• Portable Generators: Portable generators can be used for home backup, work, or recreation. They are a great option for emergency backup power for your home and can be used in a variety of different settings based on your needs. These are available upon request.

While we can’t prevent power outages from happening, we can help keep you and your home safer if one occurs. Simply give us a call at 269.429.9261, and we will be more than happy to assist you with your home generator needs.

During the later summer months, the weather can turn stormy. Thunderstorms are more likely to roll through, bringing with them heavy rains and damaging winds. As a result, the chance of a power outage becomes higher. It’s likely that we’ve all experienced a few power outages in our lifetime, and while it can be fun for a while to play board games and chat by candlelight, a prolonged power outage can start to cause trouble.

In this article, we’ll talk about some of the problems that can occur during an outage, measures you can take, and how Boelcke Heating, Air Conditioning, & Plumbing can help. Keep reading to learn more!

Areas of Your Home Where a Power Outage Can Cause Problems

Power outages can certainly cause inconveniences, such as no internet or no phone. However, there are certain areas in your home where power outages can actually cause some expensive damages, or can even be dangerous. Below, we’ll talk about some things you should be on the lookout for during an outage, and steps you can take to stay as safe as possible.

• Sump Pumps: If your home relies on a sump pump to keep water out of your basement, it can’t operate during a power outage. And that can be the time when you need it most, as power outages are often accompanied by heavy rains or other wet weather. If your basement floods, it can be dangerous to enter. Never try to use any appliances, outlets, or fuse boxes until they’ve been evaluated by an electrician.
• Appliances: In today’s world, many appliances operate via microprocessors, which are essentially tiny computers. Because of this, they are more sensitive to fluctuations in voltage and can be damaged during a power outage. As such, you’ll likely want to unplug any major appliances, such as washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers, until the power is restored.
• Food Spoilage: When the power is out for a prolonged period of time, it can cause the food in your refrigerator or freezer to spoil – and that can be very costly. Usually, food is safe in the fridge for 24 hours, and in the freezer for 36 hours – as long as you keep the door closed. If you’re unsure of your food’s safety, you should not eat it.
• Medical Equipment: Some people rely on medical equipment that requires electricity to operate. If someone in your household does, you’ll want to make sure you have a backup power supply, such as a generator. You may also want to identify safe places that may have access to backup power, such as your local school, fire department, or hospital, where you can take your family member in need during an emergency.
• Heating and Cooling Equipment: Like your other major appliances, many of today’s air conditioning systems and furnaces also use microprocessors. And they have components that can be damaged by the power surges that often occur at the end of an outage. As such, it’s usually a good idea to turn off any heating or cooling equipment when the power goes out.

Can a brownout cause problems, too?

Brownouts are when electricity is still flowing into your home, but at a lower volume than usual. You may notice that any incandescent bulbs you have are still providing light but at a much lower level. Brownouts can wreak havoc with sensitive items like computers and laptops, so to be on the safe side, you should unplug them during a brownout, especially if you don’t have a backup generator. You’ll also want to turn off any non-essential home appliances.

Can Boelcke help prevent a power outage from causing problems in my home?

While we can’t prevent power outages from happening, we can help keep you and your home safer if one occurs. At Boelcke, we’re proud to offer our customers quality Honeywell generators, which can help you avoid problems should a power outage occur. When you choose us to install a home generator for you, we’ll help you choose the best one for your home and lifestyle needs. And, you can count on our expert technicians to provide you with professional installation. Simply give us a call at 269.429.9261, and we will be more than happy to assist you.