Over 100 Thousand Without Power in Georgia

An ice storm has hit the Georgia area. Ice forming on power lines has caused major problems for people in the area, downing power lines and causing power outages.

With power still out, those affected may begin to wonder how they're going to stay warm as the sun begins to descend below the horizon.

If you are among these people affected, you can certainly do something to restore power to your home.

Go to www.ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com, and you'll see they have many different kinds of generators in stock. Portable generators are the lightest, most affordable, and easiest to get going. Just don't run the unit inside your home, garage, or cellar. The carbon monoxide fumes produced are very deadly. Leave it outside away from doors and windows and run extension cords from it to power your utilities inside.

If you're new to generators, call during the day and speak with one of the experts. They'll help you by answering any questions you might have. Visit the on-site electric generator Buyer's Guide to help you find the perfect model for you, and you'll be warm and watching television again in no time!

If you're looking for a more permanent fix that will kick on as soon as the power goes out, you can get a home standby generator from the same place and hire an electrician and a plumber to come out and install it for you.

Businesses that are worried about keeping the power on have an even better option with commercial standby generators to help keep their coolers, lights, and everything else up and running through power outages. Take a look at Electric Generators Direct.

Winter Storm Cleon: Ice Storms and Power Outages

From now through Sunday, December 8th, Winter Storm Cleon will be dumping rain, ice, and snow from Dallas, Texas to Maine. As northwestern arctic air moves south, it will meet increased moisture from the southwestern United States.

This will mean more snowfall for western Colorado, bringing their storm totals up to 1-2 feet of snow. Worse news however is the path of dangerous ice storms and the likelihood of widespread power outages.

If you don't already have a home standby or emergency backup generator, now may be a good time to invest in at least a portable emergency generator in case there is a major power outage in the area you live in. Portable generators are affordable and easy to stow away when they're not being used. Electric Generators Direct has an in-depth buyer's guide to help you find the perfect model for your home.

The path of ice and power outages is expected to cover the following areas:

• Dallas, Texas
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Memphis, Tennessee
• St. Louis, Missouri
• Paducah, Kentucky
• Columbus, Ohio
• Albany, New York
• Boston, Massachusetts

Other areas closely surrounding these cities will be effected as well.

With temperatures rapidly dropping, a major power outage could be detrimental for those living in the path of this storm. If you don't already have a backup emergency generator in place, we strongly suggest you consider one now. You can have one shipped directly to your home on short notice, so it's not too late. 

We have many in-stock that can be shipped to you overnight. We also recommend using a generator canopy like a GenTent to shield the generator from freezing rain and ice. Remember never to run a generator in your home or garage as the carbon monoxide from the engine is very deadly.

If you need assistance determining what portable generator you will need for your home, you can speak with me or another generator expert by calling 1 (800) 800-3317.

Pick a Size - But Not Any Size

As you're shopping portable generators for the first time, you may find yourself overwhelmed with options. Your first question will likely be "What size generator do I need?"

The size of the generator will usually reflect its power. If you need more starting amperage to get powered up, you're going to likely need a bigger portable generator.

To determine how large of a generator you really need, you can follow the formula posted below.

Starting Amps x Volts = Watts

The starting amperage load will be much larger than the running load, which is why proper calculations need to be made to properly size your unit.

Because every home is different, I recommend having a certified electrician do your wattage calculation.

How to Prep a Portable Generator for Winter

With winter fast approaching, you should winterize & prep your generator in case you lose power.

• Always store portable generators in a dry, clean area that is easy to get to (such as a garage or shed). When the lights go out, you don't want to trip over things to get the power going.

• Remove your generator from storage; drain the old gasoline (if necessary) from the tank and dispose of it properly. Inspect the fuel line and components for cracks or damage and replace if necessary.

• Fill the generator with fresh gasoline. If the generator is likely to sit long periods of time before being run again make sure you use a gasoline stabilizer.

• Start your generator at least once a month and let it run for a short period of time with a light load on it. If your generator has electric start, trickle charge the battery from time to time to ensure it is ready to go.

• After the generator has warmed up, put a light load on it to exercise the alternator (after about 15 minutes of running). Turn off the fuel valve and run the fuel line dry.

• After the engine stops, turn off the run switch and change the oil (if necessary) and put the generator back in storage following the manufacturer’s storage procedures.

• Change the oil using winter weight oil (lower viscosity) to help the generator start easier. Switching to lower viscosity oil in winter ensures that the oil will start lubricating the moving parts sooner because it is thinner and flows better at lower temperatures than thicker oil.  Because every manufacturer has their own recommendations on oil always consult your owner’s manual for the recommended oil to make sure that you don’t void the warranty. 

• With multi-viscosity oils such as 10W-30 or 5W-30, there is no need to change oils types based on the season or temperature.

• If you had any trouble with the generator during this test, take it to an authorized service center to ensure that it's in good running condition before the snow starts falling.

• When running your generator in the sleet or snow, keep it protected using a portable shelter such as the GenTent.

Stay warm and jolly this holiday season, and keep your family happy with a backup generator.

Best Place to Run a Portable Generator During a Power Outage

Where to place your portable generator when the power goes out

Portable generators can help restore life to normal during emergencies, but deciding where to place your generator requires care and planning due to the carbon monoxide it produces.

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that is created when common fuels such as natural gas, oil, wood, or coal burn incompletely. This odorless, colorless, tasteless gas is often called the “silent killer” because it is virtually undetectable without the use of detection technology like a CO alarm.  Extremely high levels of carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal within minutes.

Always thoroughly read the manufacturer’s instructions. This can help avoid dangerous shortcuts and assist you in ensuring safe operation of your generator.

 Keep emergency portable generators away from all open windows so deadly exhaust does not enter the home or business.

 Be a good neighbor. If the power is out, your neighbors are probably sleeping with their windows open. Consider placing the generator away from your neighbor’s windows.

Never use a generator indoors, including in homes, garages, basements, crawl spaces, and other enclosed or partially-enclosed areas, even with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent (CO) build-up in the home.

Install battery-operated CO alarms or plug-in CO alarms with battery back-up in your home, according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions. The CO alarms should be certified to the requirements of the latest safety standards for CO alarms.

Test your CO alarms frequently and replace dead batteries. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), unintentional CO poisoning claims more than 400 lives a year. More than 20,000 people visit the emergency room and more than 4,000 are hospitalized due to exposure to toxic levels of the colorless, odorless gas. Fatality is highest among people 65 and older. Many of these deaths and illnesses stem from unsafe use of portable generators, often in the aftermath of devastating storms and other causes of electric power outages.