If burgers sizzling on a grill makes you think of football, you might be a tailgater. 80% of Americans tailgate every year according to a study conducted by Quicken Loans Racing and Beckon Media.
Get Serious About Fun
If you’re serious about tailgating fun, you’re going to want lights, music, and other items that require power. We recommend making an inverter generator part of your regular tailgating setup.
But first, what is an inverter?
Inverter generators are lightweight which means easy transportation, portability, and convenient storage. They are also fully enclosed and therefore quiet, which means you won’t disturb others around you or drown out conversations. If you plan to power sensitive electronics, you’ll appreciate the more refined electrical output offered by an inverter generator.
Although they can be expensive up front, over time, your savings will add up due to the variable speed engine that provides fuel efficiency and extended engine life. If you have a demanding power situation that one inverter generator alone can’t handle, you might consider a model that allows you to pair two inverters together, giving you the power advantage of a larger, heavier, generator with the lightweight, portable advantage of an inverter.
Get Smart About Power
Inverters are quiet. You don’t want a noisy generator drowning out the music, TV, or conversation around you.
Inverters are lightweight. You are going to be bringing a load of gear, food, and drinks already. Your power source needs to fit in your vehicle and be easy to load, unload, and set up without straining anything or anybody.
Inverters reduce emissions. Inverters sense how much power is needed and make adjustments. This reduces emissions, plus the variable speed can also extend your run time (and your fun time!) and the life of your engine.
Inverters produce clean power. The clean, smooth, steady flow of power produced by an inverter is ideal for electronics that use a microprocessor. You don’t have to think twice about using one to power up your sensitive electronics. Go on and get that satellite dish, laptop, and TV going.
Inverters are easy to connect. If you need additional power, some inverters can be paralleled with another one to increase or even double your output. Many people really love the flexibility of Champion’s ultra-lightweight inverters that are parallel-ready. If you buy a parallel kit, you can use it to easily connect two compatible inverters together when you have greater power needs.
Inverters have special features. Choose an inverter with electric push-button start, wireless remote start, economy mode, USB outlets, surge protector, and much more.
Get Tailgating Season Started
Whether you’re a seasoned tailgater or just getting started, you need to know which inverter generator is the best fit for your tailgating style. Champion has a handy Generator Selector that makes it easy to think through your power requirements so you can see which generators will be the best fit for your tailgating season.
What motivates you to keep up with your lawn? Do you want to win Best Lawn in the Neighborhood, make the HOA happy, or maintain the property value of your home? You might just want to feel good, and maybe a little proud of yourself, too, when you drive up to your house.
You might be interested to learn that keeping your lawn maintained helps the environment. A well-maintained lawn can slow stormwater runoff, reduce noise pollution, keep soil structure loose and open, and clean the air.
No matter what motivates you to maintain your yard, having the proper equipment for each outdoor task will help you avoid frustration while saving you time and effort.
Professional landscapers have the right equipment for each job. Why shouldn’t you?
No matter what outdoor outcome you’re hoping for, Champion has a tool to help you get there more efficiently.
After you mow, you’re going to need to trim the parts of your lawn and garden that your mower can’t reach. A string trimmer, also known as a weedeater or a weed wacker adds a neat, finishing touch to a freshly cut lawn. Gas-powered trimmers are ergonomic and lightweight and can help you get the manicured look you want for your lawn.
A curved shaft trimmer feels balanced and lets you see and maneuver around objects in your yard as you trim around flower beds and under bushes. A straight shaft trimmer provides a longer reach and helps you trim in tight areas with confidence.
If you want to give your lawn that professionally edged look with minimal effort, consider a walk-behind edger. Who knew that taking a walk could transform your yard from overgrown to edged in no time? A curb hop wheel adjustment feature makes it easy to edge along your curb, and if you want a special, decorative edge along your flower beds or mulched areas, you’ll love the fact that you can adjust the blade bevel angle up to 15 degrees to the right or left.
After mowing, trimming, and sawing, there is usually debris that needs to be taken care of. Having a leaf blower handy can transform an hour-long raking or bagging chore into a simple 15-minute task. A handheld blower is an ergonomic and efficient way to clear away yard debris with minimum effort. You can choose from a lightweight handheld blower, a backpack blower, or a walk-behind leaf blower. Backpack blowers and walk-behind blowers are excellent tools for moving large volumes of garden and yard debris quickly. If you leave your rake in the garage and choose a blower, you can be sure you’ll save your back and have time left over for other things you want to do.
Maintaining and Storing Your Equipment
Now that your garage is neatly equipped with everything you need to have a great-looking lawn, you’ll want to be sure you maintain your equipment well so it will be ready to operate when you need it.
If your equipment has a 2-stroke engine, remember this: Premix. Make sure you never mix the oil and fuel in the product’s fuel tank. Read the manufacturer’s directions carefully and always premix the oil and fuel in a separate container first, then add the mixture to the fuel tank on the product.
If your equipment has a 4-stroke engine like the walk-behind edger, you will not mix oil and gasoline. Follow the directions in your owner’s manual for adding oil and fuel separately, and after use, be sure to store your equipment the right way to save yourself time and trouble later on.
Before storing your equipment for an extended period of time, we recommend you either drain the fuel from the machine or use a fuel stabilizing additive. If you’re getting equipment out of storage in the springtime, do a spring check-up of all your equipment in case you stored your tools with gasoline in the engine. Gasoline that’s been sitting in an engine for an extended time can cause issues with your equipment so it may not be ready for use when you need it.
Depending on the type of equipment, you may also need to check the oil and change it before the beginning of the season. If your equipment has an air filter, take the time to clean and inspect it, and replace it if necessary.
Do your tools have pull cords? If you’ve ever experienced a pull cord breaking when you’re ready to get down to work, you know how frustrating that can be. Pull out all your cords periodically and inspect the entire length and check for cuts, breaks, or fraying. Save yourself a lot of time and trouble later by replacing the cord immediately if you notice any damage.
Check your edger blades to make sure they’re sharp and mounted correctly, and be sure your weedeater spool has plenty of string. It’s also wise to check your tools to be sure all the bolts and fasteners are tight.
CO Shield®: Champion Power Equipment’s Technology Monitors the Accumulation of Harmful Carbon Monoxide
Champion Power Equipment is taking a large step in generator safety by equipping and transitioning all models manufactured after January 1, 2023 in its portable generator lineup with CO Shield, an advanced carbon monoxide (CO) detection system.
CO Shield monitors the accumulation of carbon monoxide and shuts down the generator when unsafe levels are detected. CO is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and poisonous.
The dangers of carbon monoxide are real. It’s impossible to determine the presence of the harmful gas by sight or smell. CO Shield is not a substitute for safe practices or an indoor carbon monoxide alarm.
Generators must ALWAYS be used outdoors, far away from occupied buildings with engine exhaust pointed away from people and buildings. Engine exhaust fumes must never be allowed to enter a confined area through windows, doors, vents or other openings.
When unsafe elevated levels of CO gas are detected, the CO Shield LED alert will pulse red to indicate dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and the generator will shut down.
As a charter member of the PGMA (Portable Generator Manufacturers’ Association), Champion helped develop the ANSI/PGMA G300-2018 portable generator safety standard, including this important update addressing carbon monoxide safety.
Since portable generator safety is the top priority for Champion, they urge their customers to remember that no generator feature can ever replace safe operating procedures. CO Shield is now available on current and newly released generator models.
According to Champion, CO Shield was designed for reliability and longevity. The UL-listed sensor tests itself automatically and lasts a minimum of a decade.
CO Shield Technology is one of many examples of how Champion Power Equipment is working tirelessly to provide advanced, innovative features to ensure its customers have safe, reliable power whenever they need it.
Champion’s CO Shield is not a substitute for safe practices or an indoor carbon monoxide alarm.
Visit www.takeyourgeneratoroutside.com to learn more about generator safety and the hazards of carbon monoxide, and look for CO Shield on Champion generator models.
Going camping for vacation? You’re not alone. According to Kampgrounds of America (KOA), 57 million households headed to the great outdoors last year, with 80% of all leisure travelers choosing some form of camping or glamping for some of their trips.*
Whether you’re a seasoned camping enthusiast or ready to try something new, you need to decide on a power source.
If you’re planning to add a standard portable generator to your camping gear, consider an inverter generator instead. Here’s why.
Inverters are Quiet, Save on Fuel, and Reduce Emissions
Ask people why they’re choosing to camp and most will say something about peace and quiet. What they’re envisioning usually doesn’t involve a loud generator.Inverters are quieter than traditional generators because they’re fully enclosed which means you won’t disturb others around you when you want to power up your coffee maker. Campgrounds and parks have noise ordinances for many reasons, and it’s wise to make sure the generator you purchase will stay well within the boundaries of what’s allowed. Just like those around you, you’re probably camping to enjoy the wildlife, not scare it all away.
The noise level of an inverter depends on what’s connected to it. It senses how much power is needed and makes adjustments. This lowers the noise level, saves big on fuel, and reduces emissions. An inverter’s variable speed can also extend your run time and the life of your engine.
Inverters Produce Clean Power
Clean power is defined as 3% or less THD (Total Harmonic Distortion). The THD level of some traditional portable generators can be as high as 9% which makes them less than ideal for powering many electronics. The THD of inverters is usually below 3%, many times as low as 1%.
The clean, smooth, steady flow of power produced by an inverter is ideal for electronics that use a microprocessor. Inverters produce some of the cleanest power around, meaning you don’t have to think twice about using one to power up your sensitive electronics.
Inverters Are Easy to Transport and Easy to Connect
For outdoor activities when you’re camping, you need a power source that’s lightweight and easy to transport from one place to another. An inverter’s fuel tank and other components are smaller, making them much lighter and more portable than traditional generators.
If you want to use an inverter but need additional power, some inverters can be paralleled with another one to increase or even double your output. Many people really love the flexibility of Champion’s ultra-lightweight inverters that are parallel-ready. If you buy a parallel kit, you can use it to easily connect two compatible inverters together when you have greater power needs.
Inverter Selection Made Simple
Whether you’re glamping in your RV with a TV, gaming console, and air conditioning or roughing it in a tent, you need to think about what items require power and whether or not you’ll be using several of them at the same time. Champion has a handy Generator Selector that makes it easy to think through your power requirements so you can see which generators will be the best fit for your needs.
Inverters are available with many other special features, such as electric push-button start, wireless remote start, economy mode, USB outlets, surge protector, and much more.
Whether you plan to camp for an extended season, take a week or two with the family, or enjoy a quick weekend getaway, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’ve chosen a power source that’s the best fit for your needs.
For lightweight, portable power on the go, grab an inverter and take it with you on your next camping trip.
People who experience hurricanes have one thing in common. If they could go back in time, they would have been more prepared. Most of us subconsciously assume that our lives won’t ever really be disrupted by the weather. This makes it easier to put hurricane preparedness at the bottom of our to-do list.
Most of you reading this probably won’t have your life disrupted by a hurricane. But wouldn’t it be worth it to go ahead and prepare anyway just in case? Get ready now and your future self, your family, and your home will thank you.
Here are 6 items hurricane survivors recommend you take care of right away.
Evacuation Plan: Know the recommended evacuation route, and keep your gas tank full.
Supplies: Keep bottled water and other supplies on hand.
Hurricane Kit: Include a first-aid kit, medications, a battery-powered radio, flashlight, batteries, whistle, and local maps.
Copy Important Documents: Back up your computer, and keep copies of important documents in a safety deposit box.
Prepare Your Home: Secure or store outdoor items, and make sure your roof and shingles are in good shape to withstand strong winds.
Hurricanes mean power outages. If conditions are unsafe, you and your family may need to remain at home. You depend on your refrigerator, electric stove, lights, and A/C. What if they can’t be used? Communication is vital during a hurricane power outage, and if you can’t charge your phone, use your computer, or tune in to the local news, you’ll be cut off from communication.
If you lose the ability to cool your home during the summer months, the heat can make your home unbearable, and continual high temperatures and humidity can damage your home’s interior. Losing power to your refrigerator means your food will go bad and replacing it can be incredibly expensive.
Hurricane power outage readiness should include the purchase of a generator. Owning a reliable generator ensures peace of mind during a power outage caused by a hurricane.
There are two main types of generators for hurricanes: portable and home standby.
A portable generator is a convenient solution if you only want to back up a few essentials. Portable generators come in different sizes, they run on either gasoline or propane, and they don’t need to be installed. If you haven’t looked at generators in a while, you’ll find lots of new technology and features designed to make your life easier. One example is Carburetor Free® electronic fuel injection technology, which helps conserve fuel and simplify long-term storage. Portable generators also include a variety of convenient features like wireless remote start so you can start and stop your generator from up to 80 feet.
If you’d like to power more than just the essentials, or even your whole home, you may want to have a standby generator installed. Standbys never need refueling since they are connected to your propane or natural gas system. Your home standby generator starts automatically when the power goes out and returns to standby when power is restored, ensuring security and convenience for your family during a hurricane power outage.
Hurricane season is upon us, so post your to-do list in a prominent place, and don’t forget to invest in a safe source of backup power. Following recommendations from hurricane survivors and making preparations ahead of time will give you and your family peace of mind so you can relax and enjoy your summer.
Grime, pollen, mold, mildew, and dirt have been busy accumulating over the winter. Why hire someone to clean things up for you when you can do it yourself?
Using your own pressure washer is cost-effective, efficient, and satisfying! Here’s what you need to know so you can be confident your spring cleanup projects will be a success.
Hot or Cold
You can buy a hot water pressure washer or a cold water pressure washer.
The hot water variety is especially good for cleaning up any kind of grease or oil, plus hot water kills germs, mold, and bacteria. The hot water allows you to use less detergent and you’ll also have a shorter drying time. Hot water pressure washers are typically much more expensive than cold water pressure washers. If a pressure washer is not explicitly labeled as “hot” it’s generally safe to assume it’s a cold water unit. The vast majority of pressure washers available at retail are cold water.
Cold water pressure washers are less costly than the hot variety and are the machine of choice for most homeowners. They are a popular solution for cleaning up your home’s exterior, driveway, sidewalk, patio, or deck.
Do I really need a pressure washer?
When springtime arrives, most people notice how dingy or dirty their home looks. Winter weather tends to leave dirt and debris behind, but warmer weather’s arrival means it’s time to clean things up.
Whether your home’s exterior is brick, stucco, or vinyl, a pressure washer and a little time on the weekend is all it takes to brighten up your home and give it a fresh appearance for spring. Your sidewalk, driveway, patio, or deck may also need a spring cleaning. Unless you enjoy using a scrub brush and a bucket, you’ll love how a pressure washer will make your outdoor cleaning a lot easier. You might also want to clean up your patio furniture, your vehicle, or your boat.
Pressure washing saves your back. When you are washing your deck, you don’t have to be on your hands and knees scrubbing away stubborn stains. Stand upright and let the water do the work for you.
Pressure washing saves time. You can have all the outdoor areas of your home fresh and clean in the amount of time it would take you to do one area by hand. You also don’t have to drag out lots of extra stuff like buckets, cleaning solutions to mix, sponges, and ladders. Speaking of ladders, using a pressure washer means no more dangerous climbing. Just point your pressure washer up and spray away that hard-to-reach mildew on your house.
Pressure washing saves money. Did you know that using a pressure washer instead of a garden hose saves water? The high pressure creates more cleaning power with less water so you’ll use less water and save on your water bill.
Pressure washing keeps your family safe. You’ll blast away contaminants and harmful mold so your family can breathe easier. When you clean slippery algae off horizontal surfaces, you’re preventing dangerous slips or falls.
Pressure washing boosts curb appeal and helps maintain the value of your home. Improving the condition of your driveway and sidewalks and spraying away unattractive mildew will make your home more attractive so it stands out whether you’re selling your home or not.
Which detergents should I use?
First, you don’t have to use detergents with your pressure washer, but sometimes it might be necessary.
Before you clean, read up on the safest way to clean each surface.
If you want to use your pressure washer for lots of different projects, you should consider a multi-purpose detergent so you can use it on your house, deck, vehicle, or driveway. Also, using one detergent for most of your projects is more cost-effective than buying different specialty detergents for each item you want to clean. On the other hand, you might get better results from a detergent created specifically for the job you have in mind. You might choose a detergent specifically formulated for removing stains on stucco, or for destroying mold and mildew on brick. If you’re washing a boat or a car, you should read your owner’s manual in case you should use a recommended type of detergent. If you’re about to clean all the concrete, you might want to grab a detergent created to get the job done right.
If eco-friendly products are important to you, you’re already familiar with reading labels. Choosing the right detergent also means you need to read the label and make sure the detergent you choose is biodegradable and the ingredients are environmentally friendly. You’ll also want to check the toxicity levels of the product to make sure it won’t cause harm to people, animals, or plants.
Outdoor Cleaning Simplified
Simplify all your outdoor cleaning projects with pressure washing and be confident your spring cleanup projects will be a success.
What a Site Survey Is and Why It Is Important When Purchasing a Home Standby Generator
A site survey takes the confusion out of purchasing a home standby generator.
Knowledge is power. Purchase a Champion site survey now to learn exactly what’s involved with the purchase and installation of a home standby generator. A Champion dealer will walk you through the installation process from start to finish, and you will be equipped with all the details you need, all your questions answered and a customized estimate specifically designed for you, your family, your home and your budget.
Automatic home standby generators provide peace of mind since they operate whether you are home or not. Your family is your biggest investment, and we understand how important it is to know they are safe and protected during unexpected emergencies.
Champion’s “keep it simple” strategy connects you with the most affordable backup solution for your needs.
Your costs for purchasing and installing a home standby generator system will include:
The generator itself
An automatic transfer switch
Any power management modules needed for high demand appliances (e.g. electric cooking range or electric clothes dryer)
Placement and installation of the system by an authorized Champion installer, including materials related to electrical connections and natural gas (NG) or propane (LPG) plumbing, fittingsand connections and batteries
Once purchased and installed, ongoing costs are fuel and maintenance. Your Champion dealer can size your generator to minimize your fuel consumption costs with an efficient Champion home standby generator and support your Champion home standby with scheduled maintenance.
During a site survey: What you will learn
Champion will contact you within 48 hours of your site survey purchase and connect you with a local, authorized dealer. Then, the authorized Champion dealer will schedule a convenient time to meet with you at your home to conduct the site survey.
The Champion dealer:
Walks you through the system installation process
Ensures local codes are met·
Provides a turnkey solution that works for you
In order to avoid costly mistakes that would need to be corrected in the future, no important details will be overlooked. Your dealer site survey determines the placement, installation and materials needed for your home standby generator system. Your Champion installer will teach you how your system operates, and once installed, will demonstrate the features of your new standby.
Where can my generator be installed?
The answer to this question isn’t always easy due to the various local codes and proper safety precautions that must be considered. A Champion dealer knows exactly how to answer these questions and make recommendations resulting in an efficient and cost-effective installation. Champion home standby generators are rated for installation as close as 18 inches from the outer wall of your home (where code allows), saving wiring and plumbing costs. A home standby generator should never be installed closer than 5 feet to an opening in the home, including windows, doors, and vents, and should also never be installed under decking.
Do I need a concrete pad?
Depending on local code, some installations may require a concrete pad, although home standby generators are usually installed on graded landscape rock or pea gravel to allow for drainage. A Champion dealer can provide a pre-formed pad solution if required.
How much plumbing will I need?
Your Champion generator must be connected to your home’s fuel source (NG or LPG) in order to create electricity. The installer will determine the best standby generator placement based on several factors including the location of your gas meter in order to minimize the fuel pipe required. An optimal installation uses under 20 feet of pipe.
Do I need a meter upgrade?
In order to prevent your generator’s fuel requirements from starving the other appliances in your home, natural gas may require a gas meter upgrade through yourgas utility. This will be determined by a Champion dealer.
Where will the transfer switch be installed?
Your Champion generator is connected to your home’s electrical distribution system through an automatic transfer switch. Depending on where your distributionpanel is located, your home may need a transfer switch installed either outdoors or indoors. Champion offers switches for either requirement.
How much wiring will I need?
The amount of wire you’ll need depends on what side of the house your electrical meter and main distribution panel are located. This will affect how much wire needs to be run to the generator. The Champion dealer will determine the best standby generator placement in order to help minimize the electrical wire and conduit required. The optimal wire run is under 20 feet.
Do I need a load management module?
For whole house power, with intelligent load management technology, larger electrical demand items that use 240-volt double pole breakers such as electric cooking ranges or electric clothes dryers can be managed with the optional load management module (LMM). Managing these items with an LMM allows you to use a smaller generator by intelligently controlling when each appliance can start, saving you money on fuel consumption and the cost of a generator
Before a site survey: What to know
What are my goals for a home standby generator system?
If you want your generator system to manage your entire home’s electrical demand during a power outage, then you are the perfect match for our most flexible solution – a Whole House Standby Generator System.
If you want your generator system to manage 12 or 16 select circuits in your home during a power outage, then you are a great fit for our most cost-effective solution – a Select Circuit Standby Generator System.
Other helpful items:
When estimating installation costs, it’s helpful to know the size of your home in square feet, the size of your home’s electrical panel, and whether your home’s fuel supply is natural gas (NG) or propane (LPG). Your home’s electrical service size in Amps can be found at the main circuit breaker in the distribution panel of your home.
Whole House: For Champion Whole House managed power systems, if your home is under or around 4000 square feet, typically, it may be managed with a Champion 14kW generator.
Select Circuit: Champion’s Select Circuit systems can manage 12 or 16 circuits and requires your preselection of items you want to power during an outage. Sizing requirements are not based on the square footage of your home.
If you’re not sure about any of these items, a Champion Dealer will be happy to answer any questions you might have and offer a personalized recommendation during your site survey.
When you purchased your portable generator, you either filled it up with gasoline and oil to give it a test run or you waited until you actually needed it. Once you tested it or used it the first time, you probably put it away and moved on.
Has a month or more passed since you put your generator away? If so, the gas left in the carburetor can start to go bad. Gasoline that has not been treated with fuel stabilizer can gum up the carburetor creating blockages that will affect the engine’s performance.
Blockage warning signs to watch for:
You’re only able to run the machine on choke.
Surging.
Your generator won’t start at all.
When an outage occurs, you pull your generator out of storage, trusting it to get your lights back on, keep your food from spoiling, and heat or cool your home. What if it doesn’t work? What then?
If your generator was stored improperly, it may not be able to come through for you.
Just like your generator, your log splitter, snow blower, and other gasoline-powered products need to be stored properly. Whether you need to keep the power on, split logs to stay warm during cold days and nights, or clear snow after a heavy winter storm, it’s important to keep the fuel fresh in any of your gasoline-powered products so they’re ready to go when you are.
Take a little bit of extra time now and go through this safe storage checklist to ensure your peace of mind later.
Use the Right Type of Fuel: We recommend unleaded gasoline with an ethanol content of 10% or less. It’s perfectly fine to use 85 to 91 octane fuels. The difference between them won’t be noticeable. Using non-ethanol fuel is beneficial since it reduces fuel storage issues. Visitwww.Pure-Gas.org to find a station that offers this kind of fuel.
Add Fuel Stabilizer: Storing your generator without the addition of fuel stabilizer means the gasoline can go bad within a month, causing major problems. Using fuel stabilizer can help extend the gasoline’s lifespan for up to 24 months. If you do have older fuel sitting in the carburetor, we recommend that you run it at least once a month for about 15 minutes to prevent any older fuel from corroding it. You can get stabilizers at your local auto parts store or online.
Clean or Replace Your Carburetor: Bad fuel produces debris that prevents fuel from flowing the way it should. If your generator has been stored improperly with gasoline in the fuel tank or carburetor, all the fuel must be drained and the carburetor has to be cleaned to remove the debris and clear up blockages so you can use your generator safely.
Want to skip the cleaning process? Replace your unit’s carburetor and your generator will fire right up.
If you did store your generator properly by draining the fuel tank and carburetor according to your owner’s manual, great! You have a much easier job ahead of you.
Removal from Storage: Take your generator out of storage and place it outside.
Add Fresh Fuel: The first thing you’ll need to do is add fresh, regular octane fuel. Make sure you don’t overfill the tank so you can allow for fuel expansion.
Check for Fuel Leaks: Next, you’re going to want to check for fuel leaks. Make sure your engine switch is off, then, turn your fuel valve on. Wait five minutes and then check the carburetor and air filter areas for leaks. If you do happen to discover a leak, you’ll need to disassemble your carburetor to clean it or replace it.
Check the Oil: If you don’t find any leaks, you can go ahead and turn your fuel valve to off, use a dipstick to check the oil level, and add fresh oil if necessary.
Check the Air Filter: Next, take a look at your air filter and make sure there are no obstructions like bugs or cobwebs. Remove any obstructions you find and clean and replace the air filter according to your owner’s manual.
That’s it!
Fresh fuel, no leaks, fresh oil, clean air filter, and you’re good to go.
The next time you’re ready to store your generator, log splitter, snow blower, or other gasoline-powered product, resist the urge to just put it away quickly because you have other things to do. During an emergency, you may not have the luxury of time to complete this checklist properly.
Take the time now to do it right, and you’ll save yourself time and hassle later. Your future self will thank you!
Six Things You Can Do Now to Prepare for Hurricane Season
The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season is predicted to be more active than usual and the latest outlook calls for 19 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes (category 3 or higher). For comparison, this forecast is above the 30-year average of 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.
The official Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 to Nov 30, so now’s the time to make sure you’re prepared.
Here’s a quick list of items to check off your list ASAP.
Evacuation Plan: Know the recommended evacuation route, and keep your gas tank full.
Supplies: Keep bottled water and other supplies on hand.
Hurricane Kit: Include a first-aid kit, medications, a battery-powered radio, flashlight, batteries, whistle and local maps.
Copy Important Documents: Back up your computer, and keep copies of important documents in a safety deposit box.
Prepare Your Home: Secure or store outdoor items, and make sure your roof and shingles are in good shape to withstand strong winds.
Back Up Your Power: Determine what type of generator you need in case of a power outage.
Last year’s storms, wildfires, and concerns over COVID contributed to the fact that the portable generator industry experienced record growth last year. This year, due to the same factors and ever-changing current events, people continue to buy portable generators at a record rate. Buy early to avoid having your item on backorder and to take advantage of pre-hurricane season promotions.
When the power’s out, appliances you depend on, like your refrigerator, electric stove, lights and A/C can’t be used. Your food will go bad if you lose power to your refrigerator and replacing all of it is incredibly expensive. If you can’t charge your phone, use your computer or tune in to the local news, you’ll be cut off from communication, which is vital during a hurricane power outage. If you can’t cool your home because the power’s out, staying home could get unbearable, plus high temperatures and humidity can damage your home’s interior.
A reliable generator ensures peace of mind during a power outage caused by a hurricane. There are two main types of generators for hurricanes: portable and home standby.
A portable generator is perfect if you only want to back up a few essentials. Portable generators come in different sizes, run on either gasoline, propane or even natural gas, and don’t need to be installed.
If you’d like to power more than just the essentials, or even your whole home, consider a home standby generator. Standbys are connected to your propane or natural gas system and never need refueling. Your home standby generator starts automatically when the power goes out and returns to standby when power is restored, ensuring security and convenience for your family during a hurricane power outage.
Having a safe source of power during an emergency is priceless since now more than ever, the security and safety of your family is more important than anything else.
Grime, pollen, mold, mildew, and dirt have been busy accumulating over the winter. Why hire someone to clean things up for you when you can do it yourself?