Storm PreparednessWinter weather can be unpredictable and severe, often bringing with it a range of challenges. One of the most significant issues arising from harsh winter conditions is power outages. These outages can disrupt daily life. These outages can cause essential utility services to stop. This makes it hard to do routine activities. When the power goes out, homes can become uncomfortable. Heating systems stop working, and temperatures fall. Heavy snowfall, freezing rains, and freezing temperatures can lead to downed power lines and further disruptions to utility services. In these circumstances, a standby generator becomes an invaluable asset for any homeowner. Keeping your family warm and staying safe is crucial during cold weather. With a KOHLER cold weather generator, you can enjoy winter confidently, knowing you're ready for anything Mother Nature brings. See below for our buyer's guide to toughing through severe winter weather.
Get a free quoteReliable Power Supply: A standby home generator ensures you have continuous generator performance during winter storms. This prevents disruptions that can affect your safety and comfort.
Avoid Carbon Monoxide Risks: Unlike portable generators, you install standby generators permanently outside your home, which diminishes the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Automatic Operation: Our automatic transfer switch (ATS) turns on a standby generator during a power outage. With this automation, you won't need to go outside in the cold, snow, or ice to start the generators manually.
Power Critical Appliances: A generator ensures that essential appliances like sump pumps, water heaters, and stoves remain running. This helps you avoid water damage while also allowing you to cook meals, keeping your daily routines intact.
Support Connection: Make sure your internet and devices stay powered to work from home and remain connected without interruptions. A dependable energy supply is vital for uninterrupted online meetings and streaming important content like news or weather forecasts.
Emergency Lighting: Keep your lights on during power outages. This helps reduce accidents and makes it easier to move around your home safely. Emergency lighting can help your family remain calm during severe snowstorms or outages.
Charge Essential Devices: Keep your phones, tablets, and other devices charged. This helps to ensure you can stay in touch with family, friends, and emergency services.
Protect Home Systems: Prevent damage to essential home systems like HVAC units, water filtration systems and medical devices. Providing a consistent power supply can help you to avoid costly repairs and replacements.
"The weather has been more extreme and a little more erratic in the past 10 years."
Stay Informed Monitor your local weather reports and pay attention to warnings and advisories.
Dress in Layers Wear warm and moisture wicking layers. Be sure to use a waterproof outer layer to stay dry and insulated from snow or freezing rain. Keep in mind the wind chill factor and dress appropriately.
Avoid Frostbite and Hypothermia Limit outdoor exposure and stay indoors during extreme cold weather.
Prep Your Home Let faucets drip during extreme cold to ensure water flow to help prevent freezing. Inspect and seal any drafts near windows or doors. Be sure to test fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors if using space heaters, fireplaces or additional portable generators.
Winterize Your Vehicle Check tire pressure and tread while also keeping your gas tank half full to prevent freezing.
Drive Safely Increase your follow distance from other vehicles on snowy and icy roads. Avoid sudden breaking or acceleration to prevent sliding.
Keep an Emergency Kit Ready Include essentials such as: I. Battery Powered Flashlights and Spare Batteries II. Non-perishable Foods III. Bottled Water IV. Extra Blankets V. See our preparedness article here to learn more.
Protect Your Pets Bring your pets indoors and provide warm bedding or other heat sources in case of extreme cold temperatures. Wipe paws after being outside to remove ice as well as salt and chemicals from de-icing products.
Shovel Safely Warm up before and after attempting to shovel heavy snow. Be sure to take frequent breaks if the temperature is extremely low to avoid fatigue.
Stay Hydrated Stay hydrated even if you don't feel thirsty, cold weather can cause dehydration without obvious signs.
Stay up to date with winter storm watches, winter storm warnings and extreme cold maps: National Weather Service.
For backup power that keeps you in motion, even during an outage, choose a Kohler home generator. Request your free quote today to find the right model for your home.
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