Your Pre-Hurricane Season Checklist for Home Generators
Hurricane season in Texas usually runs from June through November, and locals know to take it seriously. When Hurricane Beryl tore through the state in early July 2024, it caused widespread damage across most of the region, and in 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused even more widespread damage to the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
At
Premier Generators of Texas, our expert technicians work with business owners and homeowners year-round. However, some of the most important calls we get are in the spring, when there’s still time to plan for these weather emergencies. We’ve compiled this guide with tips on hurricane prep for your generators.
Plan Your Hurricane Prep Generator Install Early
After a hurricane or other severe or tropical storms cause power outages, many homeowners wish they’d installed
backup generators beforehand. Or, once a named storm is tracking toward the Gulf Coast, installer schedules fill within hours, and lead times stretch for weeks, making last-minute consultations and appointments challenging.
Permitting, equipment ordering, site preparation, and inspection all take time.
What Is the Best Home Generator for Hurricane Season in Texas?
A generator that can’t carry your home's actual load during a multi-day outage isn’t much better than no generator at all. For most homes between 1,500 and 2,500 square feet, a unit in the 20-22 kW range comfortably covers the essentials: HVAC unit, refrigerator, medical equipment, lighting, and security systems. Larger properties with higher electrical demands benefit from upgrading to a 24-26 kW unit, eliminating the need to manage load priorities during an extended outage.
Fuel type is also part of this decision. Natural gas backup generators connect directly to the municipal supply line, eliminating the need for fuel storage and refueling runs during a storm. For homes not on a natural gas line, a properly sized propane tank provides days of reliable, uninterrupted runtime.
Our Premier Generators of Texas team can assess your home's square footage, appliance load, and fuel access to identify the best home generator for your specific property and energy needs.
The Safety and Placement Checks That Can’t Wait
Before hurricane season starts, go outside to inspect your generator’s perimeter. Clear out any leaves, debris, and any vegetation that has grown up around the unit over the winter months. Confirm that gas lines that are above ground are free from obstructions, overhanging branches, or storm damage. Check that exhaust vents face away from the home and that nothing has shifted since the last inspection.
Your backup generator needs a properly installed automatic transfer switch to connect safely to your home's electrical system. Without one, the system can’t operate safely or legally.
The transfer switch also handles automatic startup, so your home generator comes on within seconds of a grid failure, without any manual intervention. Make sure that the switch is where it’s supposed to be.
Why Is Generator Maintenance Important Before Hurricane Season?
At Premier Generators of Texas, we advise our clients that a backup generator sitting without service for a year or more is a risk. Pre-season maintenance should also cover the following:
- Oil and filter changes.
- Spark plug inspection.
- Battery testing.
- Transfer switch verification.
- Full load test.
We also suggest running the generator under load for at least 15 minutes each month to keep the internal parts lubricated and prevent its surfaces from developing serious problems.
For those who prefer not to manage that and other maintenance tasks themselves, generator maintenance near Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, through our techs at Premier Generators of Texas includes scheduled service visits, priority storm-season response, and a documented maintenance record for your home or business.
Find Generator Maintenance Near Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, in Time for Hurricane Season
Our team at Premier Generators of Texas features only the best of Generac® Generators, certified technicians, and professional maintenance and installation. Leave the details to us, and be prepared for what Mother Nature has in store.
Contact us online or call (214) 945-2525 to request your quote today or learn more about how our technicians can help prep your home’s backup generator for hurricane season.
Premier Generators of Texas offers professional installation, service, and maintenance of backup generators, and proudly serves Dallas, Fort Worth, Collin County, McKinney, Plano, Tarrant County, and Denton County, TX.