When a storm interrupts power in Mobile, knowing what your generator should do can save you from making hurried decisions. Keep the owner’s manual nearby, know whom to call about a fault and decide in advance when your household would leave. This walkthrough follows an existing generator owner from the days before an outage through the return of utility service.
The instructions for your specific equipment come first. If you are still comparing whole-home generator options, use these stages to ask Hansen Super Techs what ownership and operation would involve.
Before a storm is forecast: learn your system’s normal behavior
Read the owner’s manual while you have time to ask questions. Learn what the normal status display looks like, which circuits the generator serves and how the manufacturer describes operation and shutdown. Keep the manual, service contact and maintenance history together where you can find them offline.
Review any unresolved warning, missed exercise cycle or unusual operation with a qualified professional. A system that has been reporting a problem needs attention before you depend on it. Leave wiring, transfer equipment, covers and fuel connections to qualified technicians.
Walk around the unit only when conditions are safe. Look for vegetation or debris that could obstruct its required ventilation and access. Follow the manufacturer’s clearances; do not improvise an enclosure or change the installation yourself.
As severe weather approaches: finish the household preparations
Charge phones and backup batteries, gather flashlights and confirm how you will receive alerts. Check the National Hurricane Center for tropical weather updates and follow local emergency-management instructions. The National Weather Service’s hurricane safety resources can help you review your broader preparations.
Confirm your evacuation destination and transportation. Anyone who relies on powered medical equipment needs a separate plan developed with their care team and equipment provider. A running generator is not a reason to stay when officials tell you to leave.
If service is needed, contact a qualified professional and confirm availability. Do not count on a repair or new installation being completed before an approaching storm.
When utility power fails: follow the manual, not a guess
For an installed standby system, follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions and the guidance your installer provided. If the unit does not respond as expected, note any information you can obtain safely and contact your service provider. Never defeat a safety control or repeatedly reset a fault to force the generator to run.
Do not head outdoors in hazardous weather to check equipment. Stay out of floodwater, and keep away from downed lines. If there is an evacuation order, follow it even if some lights and appliances are still working.
During the outage: keep portable-generator rules separate
If you use a portable generator, operate it outside at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents. Point exhaust away from buildings. Never run it in a home, garage, basement, carport or another enclosed or partially enclosed space, even with doors open.
Keep battery-powered or battery-backup carbon monoxide alarms working. If an alarm sounds, get everyone outside, call 911 and wait for emergency responders to say it is safe to return. Review the CDC’s carbon monoxide guidance before an outage.
Never feed home wiring by plugging a generator into a wall outlet. Proper connection and transfer equipment require a qualified professional. The portable-generator distance rule does not determine where a permanent standby unit belongs; standby siting must follow its manufacturer’s requirements and applicable codes.
After conditions improve: check before returning to normal
Return after an evacuation only when officials say it is safe. Do not approach a generator through standing water or operate equipment that has flooded or suffered damage. Arrange a qualified inspection before use.
When utility power returns, follow your equipment’s instructions rather than assuming every system uses the same transition or shutdown procedure. Once it is safe, record any warnings, interruptions or unusual sounds from the outage. Share those observations with your service provider and review any maintenance now due under the manufacturer’s schedule.
Take the next step with Hansen Super Techs
If this walkthrough raised questions about adding backup power, review our generator installation page and ask what the work would require at your Mobile-area home.
$0 down, 0% financing for up to 60 months on Generac Generators
Restrictions may apply. See Dealer for Full Details.
View current Generac generator financing specials.
Visit our financing page for more information, contact Hansen or call (251) 202-6164. Bring your questions about installation, operation and the available offer.