To help prevent a serious disaster from occurring to your home you must be ready. Hundreds of thousands of householders file insurance claims to by some means make back their deficits which are caused by disasters every year. At the very least, home disasters cause significant inconveniences or make homes inhabitable in the worst cases. Some items that may be damaged range from spoiled food and mold infestations inside fridges and freezers. Regional disasters caused by earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other storms can interrupt electrical service, bring about polluted water supplies, and make local travel next to impossible.
It is not possible to prevent every disaster, but it is possible to reduce the possibility of damage and increase the safety of the household and the folks living within it. Take preventative actions ahead of time that help lessen the probability of a home disaster and then follow these home disaster prevention guidelines to help keep your home safe and livable.

Disasters caused by Mother Nature are the biggest concern, but so are disasters caused by accidents or acts of terrorism. Keeping our houses provided with water, and livable, electrical power is key in our day to day lives. Every little thing that relies on electricity will shut down when power is lost and this can include a community, an entire city, or even across several states. A key component in any home disaster prevention plan will involve a standby or portable generator to supply electric power during an outage. A standby generator is permanently put in and calls for no human intervention to run and keep running for days at a time. Portable generators can supply power where you need to have it, when you need it. 

Not all home floods are triggered by overflowing rivers and streams. There are a great deal of disasters waiting to take place in and around your home that you can simply avoid with advanced preparation.

• Turn off the water before leaving your house for extended periods.
• Make sure that your washing machine is employing hoses that will not burst.
• Make sure your fixture connections are using braided steel hoses that include a flood prevention device.
• Include the sump pump electrical circuit as one of the circuits driven by your home’s backup generator. Inspect and check the pump twice a year. Install extended length rain gutter outlets that discharge water downhill and away from the home.

Mold growth’s most perfect environment is warm humid air. Air that doesn’t flow freely enhances the problem. Today, homes are sealed up tight to help with energy efficiency but in turn this stops air circulation. Eliminating humidity from the air and preventing mold growth, air conditioners can assist with the problem. On the opposite side of things, throughout the winter months bursting pipes is an area for concern when temperatures plummet. Manage the environment in your home when the power goes out by including the furnace, air conditioner, and dehumidifiers in the circuits powered by your backup generator. A refrigerator can keep food cold for about a day without power. For a freezer, it may last up to 3 days maximum without power. Food will spoil and thaw quickly after these times. Add the refrigerator and freezer to the list of circuits that need emergency power from your generator. 

Trim trees so that branches do not hang over the house. Remove trees that are too close―their roots can protrude into sewer lines and weaken foundations. Make sure that your landscape grading moves water away from the home and doesn’t stand in puddles or small lakes. Making sure the siding on your home and your roof are in good standing as to prevent issues arising in severe weather. Shovel away snow that is built up against your home. Make sure the area you clear the snow into is away from sump pumps or openings to your home in case of unexpected melting, you do not want water overflow. Performing normal upkeep and maintenance on your generator in accordance to its user manual and instructions will guarantee its safe and smooth operation when it is needed. To keep the supply of fuel fresh, be sure to rotate your fuel for portable generators. Old, stale fuel can cause issues and keep the generator from running efficiently, or prevent it from running at all.

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Since the first engines started to power the world, they have needed maintenance to keep them working. A sure fire way to damage your equipment is the lack of maintenance and service interruption. To put it in perspective, normally we are used to tuning up our motor vehicles with frequent checkups, fluids and filters. As usual, parts will lose their integrity over time and fluids will break down and be used up. A part slips a little here or wears unevenly there, and pretty soon the engine is out of tune. It’s no different for a standby generator. Like an automobile, they are powered by internal combustion engines. Having an on schedule maintenance regimen will keep your standby generator prepared for any type of power outage. Before performing maintenance, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for disabling the generator and make certain the unit will not start while doing work on it

Lubrication

The engine is lubricated by oil. Most standby generators will shut down to avoid damage if there is inadequate oil to lubricate the engine. While the standby generator is in operation it will receive signals to the generators controller if oil pressure is below than the acceptable level. At this time, the controller will deactivate the generator. Every month, be sure to check the level of oil and top up as needed. Frequently check your oil during any type of extended operation. Replace the oil and oil filter as needed by the maintenance schedule―as frequently as every 100 hours of operation for some standby generators. Always use the correct viscosity oil specified for the temperature range of the generator’s operating environment.

Cooling

While the engine is in operation, cooling vents in an air-cooled generator make it possible for air to flow over over top. Keeping these vents clear of any debris or obstruction is most critical to allow the engine to breathe. Examine the cooling vents and air intakes and clear away any leaves, grass, or other debris that blocks the vents. Make sure that doors, lids, and sides are closed and locked. Make sure your coolant levels are topped off as required. Make sure there are no loose clamps or any leaking hoses. Any parts that have endured obvious deterioration make sure you exchange as soon as possible. Change the coolant as needed according to the maintenance schedule found in the owner’s manual. On a liquid-cooled generator be sure to keep an eye on the fan belt for wear and tear, cracks, or any other type of signs leading to failure. Exchange worn belts before they break

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Power outages throughout the globe have an effect on thousands and thousands of people each and every year. High winds coming from powerful thunderstorms is what generally will cause interruption of any type of utility service. Strong storm cells such as hurricanes, micro-bursts and tornadoes. Some power outages are known to last a few hours or even days at a time depending on the severity of the storm. Occasionally it can take up to many weeks for utility workers to regain power after widespread damage from a serious event. In the meantime, homes are left without the power and they need to remain livable and maintain refrigerators cold and pumps running.

Power Outage Problems

It is quite possible that the power outage you come upon only lasts hours instead of days. When the power went out, you called the electric utility and learned that crews would have power restored the same day. during that time of no power, contemplate what was taking place in your home throughout that time. During a heavy rainstorm, houses with basements kept dry by sump pumps can begin to flood in as little as an hour. Without power the temperature of your freezers and refrigerators will raise. Without power, temperature extremes can make a house unlivable in a very short time. In cold weather, pipes can freeze without having heat.

Generators Keep The Power On

Standby generators for emergency power and portable generators can keep a home provided with electricity. The standby option works whether or not anyone is home. Sensing the power outage automatically, the generator will initiate and detach the house from the utility lines and connect it to the generator instead. Standby generators for home use run on either liquefied petroleum gas (LP Gas or Propane) or natural gas (NG). Using NG or LPG eliminates the need for constant refueling. A portable generator works in a similar fashion, but needs the homeowner to set it up, connect it to the house and get it started, and then throw a manual transfer switch to power up the home. If the home is not outfitted with a manual transfer switch, extension cords connect distinct appliances directly to the generator. Small portable generators usually run on gasoline, but LPG is an alternative for some. Generators that are marked as tri-fuel can run on all three types, gasoline, LPG, and natural gas.

Portable Vs. Standby

A home standby generator is a reputable all in one backup system. Without any intervention at all it will run and provide power for multiple days. If an outage happens when no one is at your home, the only thing that will be noticeable when you return is the clocks have reset. Food kept in your freezer or refrigerator will be just as you left it. In general, portable generators cost less than standby units and the electrical connections to a house are also more economical. Portable generators are also an alternative for someone who is seeking for a less expensive option then both a standby generator and transfer switch. Keeping a portable generator for use during a power outage also means keeping fuel on hand and maintaining that fuel supply by including stabilizers and rotating the stock as it grows old.

Be Ready

When the next storm comes rolling through, make sure you and your family are ready rather than being stuck in a bad situation. Stay ahead of the game and start planning ahead of time to be sure you are not worried about the next incoming storm, or power. Stay at home in consolation while others are flocking to hotels to flee from the heat or cold. defending your property ahead of time is much less expensive than fixing or changing it.

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