Preparedness breeds confidence. Having confidence in the ability to survive a trivial situation removes fear of that situation. New England has no shortage of weather challenges including tropical storms, blizzards, and occasional hurricanes. These weather events can take down the power grid leaving us vulnerable. Get prepared and eliminate vulnerability by addressing the items below.
Purchase a Generator
Residential
Home generators can be used as a life saving measure or simply for comfort. Whatever your need for a home generator is, we can help you determine the right size that fits within your budget. As a Fortress (by Briggs and Stratton) dealer, we proudly offer the Symphony Power Management System which allows you to prioritize the loads for backup power. This gives you the ability to power more of your house for less money! Standby home generators are safer in fuel storage and operation than portable generators. They also startup automatically within seconds, giving you confidence that the lapse in power is minimal. Standard lead times are 4-6 weeks. Contact us today for a free quote and have your home generator installed before the next outage!
Commercial generators can support fire, life, and safety and/or business continuity. We understand a generator purchase is a capital planning expense, so we proudly offer capital planning guidance. Our product portfolio is comprised of reputable brands that use open protocol equipment. Open protocol gives you control of your equipment and the power to choose your generator services provider. Standard lead times vary from 4-16 weeks. Contact us today for a free quote or to schedule a capital planning conversation.
Schedule Generator Maintenance
Maintaining a consistent preventative maintenance schedule is key to ensuring your generator system functions when you need it most. Maintenance should include at least one oil and filter change per year. Maintenance intervals vary from annual to monthly depending on the application of the generator equipment. Replace batteries every three years. Keep spare parts on hand in case they are unavailable, but needed during an emergency.
Exercise the generator weekly and test under building load at least one time per year. Testing under building load means simulating a power outage. It can be inconvenient, however it is the most reliable way to ensure your backup power system works properly during an actual outage.
Conduct Visual Generator Inspections
For propane and diesel fueled generators, consistently monitor fuel levels. Top off your diesel fuel tank with at the time of generator service. In the winter and with impending storms, keep propane tanks filled to capacity at 80%.
Always keep your generator free from brush, trash and snow. Shovel snow from around the unit to keep the airflow clean as generators can overheat if the airflow is blocked.
Pay attention to warning lights and leaks. Make note if the generator runs outside scheduled exercise times. Alerts, exercise activity, and maintenance visits can be monitored from a remote monitoring app. Alerts can even be sent directly to your generator service provider!
Complete an Emergency Preparedness Checklist
The Department of Homeland Security suggests using a 4 Step Plan for preparedness which includes creating a Family Communication Plan. The State of Massachusetts offers guidance in building an Emergency Kit.
Contact FM Generator
With over 45 years of generator experience and accolades from the Presidential office, we fully understand emergency preparedness and response. We are here to serve you during emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For emergency service calls, contact us at 800-253-6617.
