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Prepare For Spring Weather and a Gravenhurst Power Outage

 

Kids at window during a Gravenhurst Power Outage.

Prepare For Spring Weather and a Gravenhurst Power Outage

The Spring 2023 forecast is in! And apparently, it’s going to test our patience.

According to the Weather Network, Canadians can expect a "sluggish start to the season".

The forecast shows colder-than-normal temperatures throughout March and April. And because Ontario lies between cold, northern weather and milder eastern U.S. weather, we can expect above-normal rainfall too.

Not quite the warm, springy weather we were looking forward to!

Thankfully, however, the risk of spring flooding is lower than in previous years.

That early February thaw helped reduce the amount of snow and ice. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t still prepare for the worst!

An increased spring flood risk could still develop with cold weather expected to hit Ontario.

At Gravenhurst Plumbing, Heating and Electric, we’ve seen the effects of dramatic spring weather. And, sadly, it’s not always pretty!

The continued onslaught of winter and expected spring storms could get messy, unpredictable and costly.

Is your home ready for whatever spring throws at it?

We're here to help! Our GPHE team prepares your home for even the worst spring weather.

Keep reading to learn how best to prepare your home.

 

Preparing Your Plumbing

A Gravenhurst power outage can be a fun and challenging adventure with the family. But after a few hours, it can wreak havoc on your home.

In fact, water damage accounts for almost 50% of home insurance claims! That makes it the most common cause of home damage in Canada!

Below are three valuable plumbing systems, designed to protect your home during harsh spring weather. Even before a power outage hits!

Sump Pump Installation

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Sump pumps are a necessity in most Ontario homes. They reduce moisture and prevent flooding!

Why do you need a sump pump?

Spring thawing and rain storm both present water damage risks to your home. The fast accumulation of water can seep into your home through the foundation, crawlspace or basement - causing leaks, mould and flooding!

A sump pump detects rising water levels in the sump and carries it far away from the property.

Without this system, that water has nowhere to go but up - straight into your home!

Prevent costly water damage in your home with a reliable sump pump installation.

Already have one installed? Now is the time to make sure your sump pump is ready for spring!

Sump pump maintenance is one of the key steps in preparing for a spring Gravenhurst power outage!

Why?

With a spring power outage typically comes warmer weather and storms - meaning rain, quick thaws and lots of water buildup!

Note: This system will require a battery or generator backup to operate during an outage.

Water Security System Installation

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A water alarm saves you buckets of time, money and stress in the moments before a power outage hits!

Our Flo Water Alarms at GPHE detect:

  • Burst or leaking pipes
  • Severe weather changes
  • Leaking hot water heaters
  • Clogged drains
  • Sewage backups
  • Clogged gutters
  • Leaking washing machines etc.

Note: This system will require a battery or generator backup to operate during an outage.

Frozen Pipe Protection Installation

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As mentioned before, weather forecasters expect an uncommonly cold March and April. This means that while you should prepare your home to handle a spring thaw, you should also prepare it to handle the cold.

If your home heating relies on electricity, an outage means your home is especially vulnerable to an outage. And without sufficient heating, all your exposed plumbing is at risk of freezing!

Heat cable insulates your pipes and produces heat. So as long as the cables heat up, the pipes stay warm!

Note: This system will require a generator backup to operate during an outage. Thankfully, heat cables don’t need a lot of electricity to run either. So even a portable generator should be able to keep it running!

 

Preparing Your Power

Flashlights and candles won’t get you far when you have heating, water and food preservation to worry about.

That’s where a whole home Generac generator comes in - your Gravenhurst power outage hero!

Whole Home Backup Generator Installation

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A home backup generator is a big investment. But it’s also one of the best ones you can make regarding the comfort and safety of your home and family.

A power outage alone can knock out your heating, security system and sump pump - causing both a flood and a security threat.

Add a power surge to the mix, and your expensive HVAC systems and home utilities are also at risk.

Thankfully, a standby generator can back up your entire home! It can prevent these weather conditions from wreaking havoc on your power supply.

During the winter, it helps protect your pipes from freezing.

During the summer, it can keep your refrigerators and freezers running strong.

And during the spring, it could save your basement from a costly flood!

At GPHE, we help you find a standby generator that fits your budget and power needs.

What Is a Backup Generator? How Does It Work?

A backup generator is a guaranteed source of electricity. It protects and powers your home automatically with immediate power restoration.

What Utilities and Appliances Can an Automatic Standby Generator Power?

Of course, not every backup generator can power all these appliances at once. The number of home utilities they can power depends entirely on their size.

For example, if you want to back up your television, you’re looking at a 300W generator. But if you want to back up your sump pump, that will need a 1000W generator.

Not sure what size generator your home needs? Contact our GPHE team to find the perfect fit!

5 Benefits of a Spring Backup Generator Installation:

1. Prevent basement flooding

As you’ve seen in the list above, a standby generator can back up even the heaviest power suckers in your home. That includes your sump pump - the HVAC system preventing your basement from flooding.

With a standby generator, your sump can stay pumping even during intense storms!

2. Immediately restore power during an outage.

Power outages are common in spring, but that immediate loss of power still comes as a shock.

Have you dug your flashlight out of storage?

Did you fill buckets of water to flush the toilets?

You don’t have to worry about these questions if you have a backup generator installed!

Within 20-30 seconds, your generator will automatically provide immediate power restoration.

3. Offers unlimited power supply.

Your Generac generator runs until utility power returns - regardless of how long that might take!

Whether it be 20 minutes or 3 weeks, you’ll never have to worry about losing power. It’ll just keep going and going until your utility power kicks back in!

4. Protect your family, home and investments 24/7.

A backup generator brings peace of mind 24/7, so you never have to worry about a power outage.

It even turns on when you’re not home!

Besides keeping your essential utilities running strong, it also powers your:

  • Alarm system
  • Indoor and outdoor lights
  • Medical devices
  • Communication devices and more!

It works to protect you, your family and your investments 100% of the time!

5. Increases your home’s risk protection.

Increased home protection brings increased loss prevention!

Insurance companies don’t like insuring homes that are high-risk.

That’s why they encourage homeowners to invest in security systems, detectors, sensors and (you guessed it) generators!

Did you know that a standby generator may lower your home insurance premium by up to 10%?

Please Note: This will depend on your insurance company and may not apply to everyone.

 

We’re On Standby! Contact Our GPHE Team Today

A Gravenhurst power outage can be both inconvenient and costly. And without the right equipment, getting back up and running can be a nightmare!

This spring, plan to prepare and protect your home.

Our GPHE team has you covered for all your spring prep and power outage needs!

Call our team at 1(705) 687-3402 or contact us online.

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