Wind and storms
Surge protection, backup power and help with fallen trees after high wind.
What high wind leads to
Storm and tree damage
Fallen trees, downed lines and storm repairs: what to leave alone, and who to call first.
Backup power for your home
Four ways to keep the furnace, fridge and sump pump running through an outage, and which of them need an electrician.
Emergency kit
What to have ready so your household can look after itself for at least 72 hours without power or tap water.
The plan
Fit surge protection before storm season
A surge-protecting power bar covers a few devices; ask an electrician about a whole-home surge protector for the panel.
When the lines come down, unplug
Unplug tools, appliances and electronics and turn the thermostat down, so a surge can’t damage them when the power returns, and leave one light on so you know when it does.
Guides
Comparison
Portable power station vs generator for a power outage
Silent and indoor-safe, or energy for days: how a 1 kWh power station and a 4,500 W dual fuel inverter compare through a real outage.
Comparison
Interlock vs transfer switch: which generator hookup is right?
Two safe ways to connect a portable generator to your panel, which one fits your house, and the rules by province and state.
Best-of
The best generators for a power outage in Canada
Five portable generators with CO shut-off for winter outages, ranked for Canadian homes: size, safe hookup, fuel and the Canadian mark.
