Is Your Texas Home Ready for a Power Outage?

Texas homeowners are no strangers to extreme weather. From tornados to lightning to high winds and winter storms, unpredictable weather can spark power outages that add to the misery extreme weather can cause.

Weather is not the only reason your electricity can go out unexpectedly. Utility companies may temporarily cut power when maintaining equipment. They sometimes initiate rolling blackouts to prevent excessive demand from overwhelming the power grid or high winds from toppling transmission poles and wiring when wildfire risk is high.

Generator Authority can help you keep the lights on, no matter what causes the next outage in Fort Worth, TX , and all the surrounding communities. We believe a whole-house generator is the best way to prepare because it maintains your home electrical system when utility-provided power is down.

With a whole-house generator, you will not spend a second without power.

According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), homeowners nationwide averaged five and one-half hours of electricity interruptions in 2022. That may not seem like much time to spend without electricity, but it is long enough to spoil food in your refrigerator or interrupt your work day at home.

How a Whole-House Generator Works

A whole-house generator taps into your natural gas or propane supply to operate. It does not need refueling like a portable generator and can run for days or weeks without interruption.

When a whole-house generator detects a power outage, an automatic transfer switch disconnects your home’s electrical panel from utility power and connects it to generator-supplied power.

When the electric company restores power, the transfer switch disconnects from the generator and reconnects to utility power.

The switch is automatic and seamless. It works whether you are at home or on vacation. A whole-house or standby generator can power your electrical system, running lights, appliances, entertainment devices, and HVAC. It prevents food spoilage and frozen pipes and keeps life-saving medical devices operating.

It also enhances the appeal of your property to future buyers.

Installing a Whole-House Generator in Texas

One of our Generator Authority professionals will assess your power needs and recommend the best size unit and model for your home. We will discuss the optimal outdoor location for your generator and will install a concrete pad for the new equipment.

Our experts will position the generator on the pad, install the transfer switch, and make the necessary electrical connections. Your generator will stand by until the next power outage in Fort Worth or surrounding communities.

Maintaining Your Generator

Like any home system or appliance, your whole-house generator needs periodic maintenance. A typical checkup includes changing oil and air filters, inspecting spark plugs, and lubricating moving parts.

At Generator Authority, our knowledgeable technicians can make life easier by maintaining your generator. An annual tune-up ensures it performs safely and at peak efficiency whenever you need it.

An annual generator checkup extends the life of your unit and prevents minor problems from becoming costly breakdowns. We can repair issues before they spiral out of control.

We recommend trimming shrubs and trees that might interfere with your generator and brushing dirt and debris off its louvers. Consult your manufacturer’s manual for the frequency of air filter changes.

Preparing for a Power Outage

Although a well-maintained generator is unlikely to break down unexpectedly during a power outage caused by an extreme weather event, accidents can happen, causing your unit to fail. You can prepare for that remote possibility by keeping batteries, a portable charger, flashlights, water, and nonperishable food on hand. 

Create a plan in consultation with your doctor for refrigerated medicine and electricity-powered medical equipment. If your generator is not operating during an outage, unplug major appliances and electronics and turn off your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for protection from power surges when the utility company restores the electricity.

Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed. The Food Safety and Inspection Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) says refrigerated foods are safe for up to four hours in a refrigerator and 24-48 hours in a freezer.

Prepare for Outages with a Generator

A whole-house generator will restore electricity and peace of mind. Ask us at Generator Authority about installing a whole-house generator in your Fort Worth, TX, home. Call us at 817-984-3600 or request service online.