Florida is still recovering from the severe damage caused by hurricane Ian and will be for some time. Southwest Florida experienced a direct hit from a category 4 hurricane that has caused incredible amounts of damage from flooding, destroying homes, downed trees, and power outages. Many of us that have lived in Florida for years have experienced hurricanes before and know how important preparation for the storm can be.

We can not account for all the damage a hurricane can cause, but taking careful account of your home’s electrical needs and how to protect them during a storm is a strong step in keeping you and your family safe.

Start Your Planning Early with an Electrical Safety Evaluation

Part of preparing for Hurricane season should include an electrical safety evaluation from experienced local electricians. At Pat Myers, our team of professional electricians will know what to look for when examining your home for any issues that could be a safety concern during a storm. With that knowledge, you can take precautions to make any immediate repairs needed.

If our team finds any issues at your home we can have our experienced technicians improve the safety and function of your home electrical with electrical panel changes and service upgrades. Whether you need to be ready to power more devices from family coming to stay with you or bring your home’s electrical system up to code, Pat Myers will get the job done efficiently and safely.

Portable Generators Will Keep Your Home Powered

Floridians can lose power quickly in a storm. When hurricanes reach winds over 150 miles per hour branches and trees can knock down power lines and even the entire pole can be brought down. If you are worried about losing power during a storm a portable generator is a great way to keep your home powered during and after a storm. A portable generator will allow you to run the basics, such as the refrigerator, some lights and fans, and a window AC unit, or even more importantly, a well. It is imperative to have a licensed electrician install the portable generator set up at your electrical panel in order to make sure it is safe to operate for both the homeowner and the power company.

When it’s your safety on the line it’s important to make sure you are getting the right generator for your needs! The experienced Pat Myers team can help you understand the best options for a portable generator for your home. The set up that Pat Myers Electric most often installs includes a generator inlet, an interlock kit for the electrical panel, a generator breaker, and a 20 ft twist lock cord. Here is a little bit more about each of these components, and how they work together to create an easy to use back-up power solution for homeowners.

Generator inlet– a receptacle (outlet) that is configured for either 30 or 50 amps, depending on which is appropriate for the generator you have purchased.

Generator breaker– a 30 or 50 amp breaker we install directly into your electrical panel that will take the place of the main breaker when running the generator. Once all the breakers have been turned to the off position, you will turn the generator breaker on, and then select which other individual circuit breakers you’d like it to power.

Interlock– the interlock we install will be unique to your specific brand and style of electrical panel. The interlock prevents the main breaker and the generator breaker from being in the on position at the same time. This fail safe means you will never accidently be back feeding power through the main breaker and unintentionally creating a safety hazard for workers from the power company or anyone else.

Twist Lock Cord– we provide a 20 ft twist lock cord, which means you’ll have enough room to safely locate your running generator/exhaust outside of your home/garage. The twist lock feature is an added safety measure which helps to prevent a loose cord from unintentionally shocking someone.

In an emergency like a hurricane, you may not always be able to access your generator if it is experiencing issues. A professional installation can help mitigate any issues you might experience down the road. By having a Pat Myers professional electrician come out to set up and set up your new generator you can feel safe knowing that when you need power, you’ll have it.

When It’s Your Safety, Trust the Professionals

DIY projects are great cost-saving options, but when it is your home and your family’s safety at risk it’s the right move to trust the professionals. The Pat Myers team are your local, family-owned Ocala electricians. With the right experience and expertise in handling all home electrical and understanding the right way to prepare for a hurricane, we can make sure your home is ready to handle the hurricane season. Contact us today!