Category Archives: Summer storms

The Importance of Electrical Inspections Before Hurricane Season

As the summer approaches, so does the potential for severe weather, especially hurricanes. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, bringing with it the risk of strong winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding. These conditions can pose significant threats to your home’s electrical system, making it crucial to ensure everything is in top shape before the storms hit. Here’s why scheduling a professional electrical inspection before hurricane season is essential.

1. Identifying Vulnerabilities
A thorough electrical inspection can reveal potential vulnerabilities in your system that might not be apparent to the untrained eye. Loose connections, outdated wiring, and faulty components can become major hazards during a hurricane. Identifying and addressing these issues beforehand can prevent electrical fires, power outages, and other dangerous situations when the storm arrives.

2. Ensuring Backup Power Systems are Ready
Many homeowners rely on generators for backup power during hurricanes. An electrical inspection can verify that your generator is correctly installed and in good working condition. This includes checking the transfer switch, fuel supply, and overall functionality to ensure it will perform when you need it most.

3. Preventing Power Surges
Hurricanes often cause power surges that can damage appliances and electronics. An electrician can install or inspect surge protectors to shield your valuable equipment from sudden voltage spikes. This preventative measure can save you from costly replacements and repairs after a storm.

4. Checking Grounding and Bonding
Proper grounding and bonding are critical for electrical safety, especially during a storm. An inspection will ensure that your home’s electrical system is properly grounded, reducing the risk of electric shock and enhancing the overall stability of your electrical system during adverse conditions.

5. Safeguarding Against Flooding
Hurricanes can bring heavy rains and flooding, which can severely impact your electrical system. An inspection can identify areas at risk of water intrusion and recommend solutions, such as elevating electrical panels, outlets, and wiring above potential flood levels. Additionally, installing ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) can protect against electric shock in wet areas.

6. Peace of Mind
Perhaps most importantly, a professional electrical inspection provides peace of mind. Knowing that your home’s electrical system is prepared for hurricane season allows you to focus on other aspects of storm preparation and ensures the safety of your family.

As hurricane season approaches, don’t leave the safety and reliability of your home’s electrical system to chance. Scheduling a professional electrical inspection can identify potential hazards, ensure your backup power systems are ready, prevent damage from power surges, and safeguard against flooding. Taking these proactive steps not only protects your property but also provides invaluable peace of mind as you face the uncertainties of hurricane season.

Summer storms need a generator back-up plan

These past few months, we have learned the importance of having back-up plans.

Now, even as many shuttered businesses reopen, we have another factor to consider: the summer storm season!

An above-average hurricane season (which runs between June 1 and November 30) has been predicted by Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane researchers and AccuWeather.

The CSU Tropical Meteorology project team predicts 16 named storms during the Atlantic hurricane season. The research models indicate as many as eight storms will become hurricanes and will reach major hurricane strength (Saffir/Simpson category 3 or higher). Both hurricanes and fierce summer storms are important reasons to have a backup generator!

For homeowners, a permanently installed standby generator protects your home automatically. It runs on natural gas or liquid propane (LP) fuel and sits outside just like a central air conditioning unit. A standby, or backup, generator delivers power directly to your home’s electrical system, supplying your entire home or just the most essential items when the utility power goes out.

Potentially devastating losses for businesses

The potential loss a business faces from power failure can be devastating. From losing customers and data to spoiled refrigerated inventories, the costs are often substantial. Generac offers a broad range of commercial options, making backup power a reality for thousands of businesses. Generac’s commercial line features affordable generators with LP, natural gas, diesel fuel, or dual-fuel, for both single- and three-phase systems.

On the industrial front, there are mission- critical businesses that are legally required to have automatic standby power, such as hospitals. Data centers, 911 call centers, and so forth, cannot operate at all without backup power. Generac’s range of industrial solutions has been proven dependable in the most severe power outage situations.

Little Sparkie Electric has been selling, installing, and servicing Generac generators for many years, including large commercial generators that have a rating up to 150 kW. Catherine Nazarene, Managing Member, is a Generac factory trained Commercial Level II Certified technician. We also install manual transfer switches for portable generators.

If you already have a generator, here is a quick reminder that they should be serviced twice a year; a well-maintained generator lasts much longer!

If you are interested in a generator for your home or business, call us at 301-606-5181 or e-mail Catherine at [email protected].

For a free homeowner’s guide to preparing for hurricanes, click here: https://www.generac.com/hurricane-prep