Ice storms and blizzards can snap power lines just as easily as any hurricane, spawning prolonged power outages during the darkest days of the year.
You don’t have to look too hard to find someone who’s weathered a winter power outage. Just ask me. A few years ago, my family endured a 4-day power outage, turning my home into a walk-in freezer.
When the power went out, so did our electric-powered blower. So even though we had a natural gas furnace, it was rendered useless during the height of the blizzard. I learned my lesson, to put it mildly.
My winter power outage tips and tricks for you are:
At a minimum, you should have a portable winter generator on hand that you can pull out during an emergency. If you live in an area prone to outages, you might consider a home standby generator, which will kick on automatically during a winter blackout without you lifting a finger.
GenTents are custom designed to fit your particular model of backup generator. They have flaps and cut-outs that are strategically placed to maintain airflow, keeping your generator cool while protecting it from Mother Nature's harsher elements.
You simply start your generator outside, run a heavy-duty cord to your transfer switch, and voila… your furnace and lights are restored.
We were rightfully concerned about the water pipes freezing. Water expands when frozen, and the pipes can rupture and flood the entire home. An early warning can literally save you thousands of dollars in damage later.
Unless you're a glutton for punishment, you're probably not going to want to shovel your way through the waist-deep snow. A powerful snowblower is the perfect tool for the job.
Find one that's right for you, and you'll actually enjoy clearing the driveway, the sidewalk and maybe even use it to help the neighbors dig out too.