Hurricane season in Sarasota, Bradenton, and Manatee County is not something to take lightly. While most homeowners stock up on water and plywood, few consider whether their electrical system is ready to weather the storm.
From power surges caused by lightning to generator failures during extended outages, your electrical setup plays a critical role in how your home fares during a hurricane. Here is a comprehensive hurricane season electrical checklist to help Florida homeowners prepare.
1. Inspect Your Electrical Panel
Your electrical panel is the heart of your home electrical system. Before hurricane season:
- Check for corrosion: Florida humidity and salt air can corrode panel components. Look for rust or green buildup around breakers.
- Test all breakers: Flip each breaker off and back on to ensure they move freely and are not seized.
- Seal the panel: Ensure the panel cover is tight and any conduit openings are sealed to prevent water intrusion during driving rain.
- Know your main breaker: Make sure every adult in the home knows how to shut off the main breaker in an emergency.
2. Install Whole-Home Surge Protection
Lights flickering during a storm is not just annoying—it is a sign that voltage spikes are hitting your appliances. A whole-home surge protector installs directly at your panel and diverts excess voltage away from your home before it reaches your expensive electronics.
Florida leads the nation in lightning strikes. If you do not have whole-home surge protection, hurricane season is the time to get it.
3. Test and Maintain Your Generator
If you have a backup generator, now is the time to make sure it works. Do not wait until the power is out to discover a problem.
Is Your Home Ready for the Next Storm?
From surge protection to generator maintenance, we help Southwest Florida homeowners stay safe during hurricane season.
