June 1st through November 30th is hurricane season, and we are all hoping it is nowhere as exciting as our Carolina Hurricanes season!!! However we all know how unpredictable this storm season can be so here are a few ways to prepare your home for potential power outages.
This hurricane season home electrical checklist for Raleigh and the Triangle covers several important steps homeowners can take before severe weather arrives. Electrically preparing your home involves protecting electronics from surges, testing backup systems, and mitigating shock hazards before the storm arrives. Taking these technical steps protects your property from the electrical instability that comes with severe storms.
Surge Protection and Appliance Isolation
Power grid instability during a hurricane can create massive electrical surges that could destroy appliances:
- Unplug sensitive electronics: Disconnect computers, televisions, microwaves, and charging blocks directly from the wall.
- Isolate major appliances: Turn off the circuit breakers for heavy equipment like your HVAC system, water heater, and well pump to prevent compressor burnout when the grid fluctuates. There are even surge protection devices available to protect these appliances.
- Utilize point-of-use protectors: Ensure essential items that must stay plugged in are connected to high-quality surge protectors rather than standard extension cords.
- Have a whole home surge protector installed to your main electrical panel along with upgrading the main grounding system on your home. With both of these upgrades you will be giving your home the best chance against these surges.
Backup Power System Diagnostics
If you own a portable or standby generator, verify its operational readiness before the storm makes landfall:
- If you have a standby generator be sure to be up to date on maintenance. Call your generator service provider to set up a pre-storm visit to be sure.
- Run a test cycle: Start your generator and let it run for 15–20 minutes to confirm it holds a steady voltage.
- Check fluid levels: Verify that the engine oil and coolant are topped off, and stock up on matching spare oil and filters.
- Inspect power cords: Examine heavy-duty extension cords for any fraying, cracks, or exposed copper wiring.
- Verify transfer switches: If you have an interlock kit or manual transfer switch, test switching your home panel from grid power to generator power safely.
Flooding and Shock Prevention
Water and electricity create highly lethal conditions during and after a hurricane:
- Clear the main panel: Ensure access to your main electrical panel is completely clear and free of clutter. There should always be 3ft clearance around any electrical panel.
- Shut off flooded zones: Turn off individual breakers for any low-lying areas of the home, such as crawlspaces or basements, if water starts to intrude.
- Elevate floor electronics: Move power strips, UPS battery backups, and lower-shelf electronics off the floor in flood-prone rooms.
- Avoid main switch if wet: Never stand in water or use wet hands to turn off your main electrical panel breaker.
- Test all GFCI devices to be sure they will operate properly if water does make contact with electrical equipment.
We’re Here To Help
If you would like to know more about your options to better prepare, give us a call today to have one of our electricians come out to discuss all of the options for your home.
At NCHomeElectric.com, we help homeowners throughout Raleigh and the Triangle prepare their homes for storm season with professional electrical inspections, whole-home surge protection, generator services, panel upgrades, grounding system improvements, and other safety solutions. Our licensed electricians can evaluate your home’s electrical system and identify potential vulnerabilities before severe weather arrives.
The best time to prepare for a power outage is before a storm is in the forecast. By taking proactive steps now, you can help protect valuable electronics, reduce the risk of electrical damage, and improve your home’s readiness for extended outages. Whether you’re interested in backup power options, surge protection, or simply want peace of mind heading into hurricane season, the team at NCHomeElectric.com is here to help. Contact us today to schedule an electrical evaluation and learn more about the solutions available for your home.