Beating the Inconvenience of Winter Storms

As the days get shorter and the air cooler, these seasonal weather changes remind us to clean the gutters, batten down the hatches in readiness of the winter weather ahead.

Many homeowners who were without power in winters past are considering purchasing generators.Portable generators are a great relief for temporary power outages.Portable generators of 5,000 watt range will not power a whole home but working with a licensed Electrical Contractor you can identify those items in your home that are important.The average homeowner wants heat and the refrigerator to have power, but for those with wells, being able to have water and bathroomfacilities take top priority.

There are some safety issues that should be considered at all times when using a portable generator.It should always be run out doors so it is well ventilated.Since the generator will need to be refueled from time to time, depending on the size of the generator, it should never be left unattended for long periods of time.Save the walk in the snowstorm for later.Also care should be taken that the proper cords and connections areused.

In order to power a whole house, it would be necessary to permanently install a larger generator outside.This has become very popular when building new homes in some areas. Your licensed Electrical Contractor can best advise you on the proper size of generator needed.Both the portable generator and permanent ones should be serviced each spring.

Everyone has their own comfort barometer and where a portable generator is fine for some ,others are uncomfortableunless the whole house is up and running.Which ever choice is yours, enjoy the quiet of a storm and relax with family, friends and neighbors. Its almost spring some where!

Elise Gebhardt
Treasurer
JG Electric Co Inc.