It's Wildfire Season – Are Your Power Outage Solutions Ready?

Prepare for Power Loss With These Solutions

Over the past decade, California has become a spark plug for wildfires throughout the dry summer and fall months. If you live in the Glen Ellen, CA area, you should be prepared for power outages due to PSPS or wildfire.

Losing power during wildfire season doesn't necessarily mean you're in immediate danger. Local power companies will shut down power lines that pass through high fire-threat areas to prevent igniting new fires. However, this practice means you could be without power fordays or even weeks during wildfire season. But no worries! With our power outage solutions, you can maintain a luxurious lifestyle even through an extended loss of power. Keep reading our blog to discover your options!

See also: Keep Your Smart Home Running With Backup Energy

What You Should Have On-Hand

During wildfire season, there are certain preparedness efforts that you can take to ensure your ongoing safety. For instance, having an emergency supply kit ready that includes a battery-powered AM/FM/Weather radio. This will help you to stay informed about potential fire threats to your area and if you need to evacuate. For more information, visit Ready for Wildfire.

Additionally, you should have:

• Battery backups on garage door openers
• Uninterruptible power supplies for telephones, internet, and routers
• Professionally-installed home generator with an automatic transfer switch

Why is a Generator Needed During a Wildfire?

We highly recommend having a backup generator as part of your power outage plan during the wildfire season and year round. Unfortunately, no one can predict how long you may be without power. Smokey skies can also limit the amount of sun, reducing the amount of energy your solar system generates. Even if you have solar with a backup battery installed, it may not be enough reserve power to get you through the entire event.

A backup generator is a stand-alone power source, so it will continue to work following the loss of power from the electric grid. There are a variety of generators available, but some of the most common run on gasoline, propane, or diesel fuel.

Many things can go wrong if a generator isn't correctly installed, such as sparking a fire or leaking gas. For this reason, high-quality generators, built to supply power to a home for long periods, should be professionally installed by a licensed expert, such as the team at Summit Technology Group.

Generator Tips

Generators do require some maintenance. Here are some helpful tips if you've never had to operate a generator before. Of course, if you have a generator-related question, it's always best to ask a professional for guidance.

• Install battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors in your home before operating a generator. These alarms quickly alert any potentially dangerous gasses that could build up.
• Store your fuel safely in an approved container in a cool, well-ventilated space.
• Install a transfer switch to automatically connect your generator to your circuit panel. This connection will help you avoid overload and monitor usage levels.
• If you’re using a gas-powered generator, turn it off and allow it to cool before refueling to prevent igniting hot engine parts.
• Never run a generator inside your home! This will help you reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Professionally Installed Power Outage Solutions

The best way to prepare for wildlife season in Glen Ellen, CA, and the surrounding areas is to contact a professional installation team, like Summit Technology Group for the right power outage installations. Our experts can help you explore the best solutions and ensure they are safely installed and ready to provide for your home. Contact us today to learn more!