To support our community, we’re offering complimentary home safety inspections plus 5% off for military, first responders, and teachers. View specials for more details.

Our Blog

Trust the Local Gaithersburg, MD Electrical Experts

icon

Professional Electrical Services Near Gaithersburg, MD

Call Today for Your Circuit Breaker Installation Service!

4 minutes read

Better to Be Prepared: Why Homes Should Have an Emergency Backup Generator

Published by Electrical Connections

 

How Homeowners Can Prepare for Emergencies With a Backup Generator

It’s shown on the news after nearly every natural disaster: the power is out, and no one knows exactly how long it will be before it comes back on. When summer is just around the corner, if an emergency happens, the last thing anyone needs is for the power to go off and the AC to stop running.

Small hand-held, battery-operated fans won’t do much good! It’s situations like these that highlight the importance of having a backup generator. This article will discuss the function of a backup generator and why it’s important for homes to have one. It will also discuss common causes of a power outage that will cause the backup generator to activate: electrical issues and natural disasters.

Starting With the Basics: What Is a Backup Generator?

When the power goes out, it’s always a bit of a shock, followed by the question, “Who else is without power?” But with a backup generator, homeowners won’t have to worry because the generator will support the electrical system in the event of a power outage. A backup generator will kick on within seconds of a utility outage and transfer the electrical load to the generator.

A backup generator is made up of several components: an engine, a fuel system, an alternator, a voltage regulator, and cooling, exhaust, and lubrication systems. Together, these parts convert a fuel source into usable energy, which can then be used as a power source. In other words, when the power goes out, a backup generator can restore that power for the time being to keep the food in the refrigerator cold and the people in the house nice and cool, too.

Electrical Issues That Spark a Need for Backup Generators

The longer the power is out, the more it starts to negatively impact the comfort of those in the home. Severe storms and natural disasters are among the top causes of power outages.

However, there are many other types of electrical issues and damage that can lead to a power outage. Here are a few electrical issues that can cause a power failure:

  • If a vehicle hits a utility pole, the power line can go out.
  • If someone is trimming tree branches or if it is really windy, the trees can come into contact with power lines and disturb the power as well.
  • If a massive heatwave causes people to use more power than they usually do, a power outage can occur.

Having an emergency backup generator will prevent any HVAC inconveniences during situations like these. When a backup generator is installed, it buys homeowners more time to either wait out a widespread power outage or wait until a professional electrician can come to the home and resolve the situation.

Natural Disasters That Lead to Power Failure

Though they’re hard to predict, a natural disaster of some sort occurs every year without fail. Tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods are some of the worst natural disasters that the US sees every year. Within minutes, they can destroy homes and businesses, and they don’t give homeowners much warning time to prepare for the worst. That’s why everyone should be prepared ahead of time.

When natural disasters hit, they frequently disrupt the power, causing massive outages that could last for hours or even days. During the stages of recovery, it’s hard to feel safe and comfortable anywhere. Emergency backup generators are truly essential in situations like this, as they can provide a small sense of comfort and relief when everything around them has been ripped apart.

About Electrical Connections LLC

At Electrical Connections LLC in Gaithersburg, MD, all technicians are safety-driven and provide unmatched care. They have been in the industry since 2003 and are looking forward to exceeding all of their clients’ expectations.

Back to Blog
icon

Reviews

Licensed electrician. Prompt service. Contact Us Today!

icon

Electrical Connection’s service was great. Josh, the technician who worked on our project, went above and beyond to make sure we were happy with the results and offered solid alternatives along the way. He was detail‑oriented and did a great job covering the holes in the drywall. As with any job like this, we’ll still need to finish and paint, but he patched everything up really well. This was a major project that included replacing a breaker panel and a few other smaller improvements. I’d definitely call them again when the time comes.

icon

Super easy to schedule and work with. We got recessed lights put into two rooms, and our electrician James was informative and helpful, being detailed and upfront throughout the job. He continued to be helpful through any questions we had. Definitely recommend!

icon

Highly recommend Electrical Connections and Josh T specifically. We had an issue with our gas water heater, and EC / Josh were a huge help in the midst of a chaotic couple of days trying to make decisions on repair/replace, and gas vs heat pump water heaters. EC was easy to get in touch with, got me connected quickly and scheduled with Josh, who arrived on time, did a thorough inspection, and gave me a no pressure set of options to consider. He was incredibly responsive as we worked through final plumbing quotes and was able to adjust his schedule with the dispatcher to do the electrical work the same day so we could get our water heater replaced ASAP. Josh went above and beyond and was professional and a pleasure to work with throughout the process. I can’t thank Josh and EC enough for helping make this experience less stressful for our family.

icon

Franklin was wonderful. He was so thorough and clearly walked us through the work and the issues he uncovered (including some possible fire hazards that we are SO thankful he resolved). He was also just very friendly and nice to have around! Whenever we need an electrician again, we will be happy to have him back.

icon

Kisan Jones is an excellent electrician. This is the second time I've interacted with him. He told me what he was going to do, he did what he said and explained it to me thoroughly before and after. Both times he was in teaching mode with an apprentice by his side. I hope it was a good experience for them because I learned a lot myself. Not only that, he saved me thousands of dollars as the "other" company was only trying to upsell me. He's respectful, personable and knows his business. The other staff was responsive, caring and alert to my concerns. I highly recommend this company.

icon

Peter Aurgaur and Jeremiah Castillo did a great job today replacing/upgrading my breaker panel. They worked very well together to efficiently perform all aspects of the job. I look forward to getting a successful inspection and then closing outage work when Pepco arrives to work with Peter to up date my meter and housing.