Power outages are a fact of life in Aiken, SC. Summer thunderstorms, occasional ice storms, high winds, fallen trees, and utility equipment failures can all leave your home without electricity for hours or even days. While you cannot prevent outages from happening, you can prepare for them so that your family stays safe, comfortable, and connected when the power goes out.
This guide covers practical power outage preparation strategies for Aiken homeowners, from basic emergency supplies to backup power options and post-outage safety considerations.
Building Your Emergency Kit
Every Aiken home should have a power outage emergency kit that is kept in an accessible location and checked at least twice a year. Here is what it should contain.
Lighting. Flashlights are the safest lighting option during a power outage. Keep at least two quality LED flashlights with fresh batteries in your emergency kit. Headlamps are particularly useful because they free your hands for other tasks. Battery-powered LED lanterns provide area lighting for a room and are safer than candles. If you use candles, keep them in sturdy holders, away from curtains and combustible materials, and never leave them unattended. A battery-powered or hand-crank radio provides access to weather updates and emergency information when your internet and TV are down.
Power for devices. A portable power bank for charging cell phones is essential. Keep one or two fully charged power banks in your emergency kit and check their charge level monthly. For extended outages, a small portable solar charger can recharge your power bank and devices during daylight hours. A car charger adapter for your phone is another backup option, as your vehicle's battery can charge devices for many hours.
Water. If your home uses a well pump, you will lose water during a power outage. Store at least one gallon of water per person per day for a minimum of three days. Even if your home is on city water, pressure may be reduced during widespread outages, so having stored water is prudent. Fill bathtubs and large containers when severe weather is forecast to have water available for flushing toilets and basic hygiene.
Food and cooking. Non-perishable food items that require no cooking or refrigeration should be part of your kit: canned goods (with a manual can opener), crackers, peanut butter, dried fruit, granola bars, and similar items. A small camp stove or portable gas grill can be used for cooking during an extended outage, but these must be used outdoors only, never inside the house or garage, due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
First aid and medications. A basic first aid kit and a supply of any daily prescription medications should be easily accessible. During extended outages, pharmacies may be closed, so maintaining a buffer supply of essential medications is important.
Generator Safety: The Most Important Section of This Guide
Portable generators are the most common backup power solution for Aiken homeowners, and they are also the source of the most serious safety hazards during power outages. Every year, generator-related carbon monoxide poisoning kills dozens of people and hospitalizes hundreds more across the United States. Understanding and following generator safety rules is literally a matter of life and death.
Never operate a generator indoors. This includes inside the house, inside the garage (even with the door open), inside a carport, on a covered porch, or in any partially enclosed space. Generators produce carbon monoxide (CO), which is an odorless, colorless gas that can kill in minutes. The generator must be placed outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust directed away from windows, doors, and vents. No exceptions, ever.
Install carbon monoxide detectors. Every home should have battery-powered or battery-backup CO detectors on each floor and near sleeping areas. These detectors provide an early warning if CO is accumulating in your home, whether from a generator, a malfunctioning furnace, or any other source. Test them monthly and replace batteries annually.
Never backfeed your panel. Connecting a portable generator directly to your home's electrical panel by plugging it into a dryer outlet or wiring it directly to the panel without a proper transfer switch is called backfeeding. It is extremely dangerous and illegal. Backfeeding sends electricity back through the utility lines, which can electrocute utility workers who are repairing the lines, and it can cause a fire in your home's wiring. A properly installed transfer switch isolates your home from the utility lines when the generator is running, protecting both your family and the utility workers.
Refuel safely. Turn the generator off and let it cool for at least five minutes before refueling. Gasoline spilled on a hot engine or exhaust can ignite. Store fuel in approved containers away from the generator and away from the house.
Use heavy-duty extension cords. If you are running individual appliances directly from the generator without a transfer switch, use heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cords that are in good condition with no frayed ends or damaged insulation. Do not overload the generator by connecting more devices than it is rated to power.
Whole-Home Generators and Transfer Switches
For Aiken homeowners who want seamless, automatic backup power, a whole-home standby generator is the premium solution. These permanently installed generators monitor the utility power and start automatically within seconds of detecting an outage. They run on natural gas or propane, eliminating the need to store and handle gasoline, and they can power your entire home including the HVAC system, refrigerator, lights, and well pump.
A standby generator is connected to your home's electrical system through an automatic transfer switch (ATS) that safely isolates your home from the utility lines when the generator is running and reconnects to the utility when power is restored. The transfer switch is the critical safety component that eliminates the backfeed danger and makes the whole system automatic.
Standby generators are sized based on your home's electrical load. A typical Aiken home can be powered by a 16 to 22 kW generator, though homes with large HVAC systems, electric water heaters, or other high-draw equipment may need a larger unit. Your electrician will perform a load calculation to determine the right size for your home.
For homeowners who want some of the convenience of a standby generator at a lower cost, a portable generator with a manual transfer switch is a middle-ground option. The manual transfer switch is permanently installed at your panel, and when the power goes out, you start the portable generator, connect it to the transfer switch inlet, and flip the transfer switch to generator power. This is safer than extension cords and eliminates the backfeed danger, but it requires manual action to start and connect the generator.
Surge Protection After Power Restoration
When utility power is restored after an outage, the initial power surge can damage electronics, appliances, and other sensitive equipment. The voltage may spike briefly as the utility's systems stabilize, and this spike can exceed the tolerance of unprotected devices.
A whole-home surge protector installed at your electrical panel provides the best protection against power restoration surges. These devices clamp voltage spikes before they reach the circuits in your home, protecting everything connected to your electrical system. A quality whole-home surge protector costs a few hundred dollars installed and protects thousands of dollars worth of electronics and appliances.
In addition to whole-home surge protection, use point-of-use surge protectors (surge protector power strips) for your most sensitive and valuable electronics: computers, televisions, gaming systems, and home theater equipment. Layering whole-home protection with point-of-use protection provides the most comprehensive surge defense.
Before a storm or anticipated outage, unplug sensitive electronics if possible. No surge protector provides 100 percent protection against a direct lightning strike or a severe utility surge, and unplugging eliminates the risk entirely.
Food Safety During Extended Outages
Knowing how to handle food during a power outage prevents foodborne illness, which can be as dangerous as the outage itself.
Refrigerator. A full refrigerator will keep food at safe temperatures for about four hours with the door closed. A half-full refrigerator will keep food safe for about two hours. Do not open the refrigerator door unless necessary. Every time you open it, you let cold air out and warm air in, shortening the safe time.
Freezer. A full freezer will hold its temperature for approximately 48 hours if the door remains closed. A half-full freezer will hold for about 24 hours. Group frozen items together to help them stay cold longer. If you know an extended outage is coming, fill any empty freezer space with containers of water, which will freeze and provide additional thermal mass.
Food safety thresholds. Perishable food that has been above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for more than two hours should be discarded. When in doubt, throw it out. Use a refrigerator thermometer to check temperatures rather than guessing.
Coolers and ice. If the outage is expected to last more than four hours, transfer the most perishable items from the refrigerator to a cooler with ice. Have a supply of ice or ice packs available in the freezer before storm season.
Medical Device Backup Power
If anyone in your household depends on electrically powered medical equipment, power outage preparation is especially critical. Devices that require backup power planning include CPAP and BiPAP machines for sleep apnea, home oxygen concentrators, electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters, powered hospital beds, home dialysis equipment, medication refrigeration (such as insulin), and nebulizers.
For each medical device, identify the backup power options. Many CPAP machines can operate on battery packs designed for the purpose. Some medical equipment can operate on a portable power station (a large battery-powered inverter unit). For life-critical equipment, a generator with a transfer switch provides the most reliable backup.
Contact your utility company (Aiken Electric Cooperative or Dominion Energy) and register as a medical priority customer if anyone in your household depends on electrically powered medical equipment. This does not guarantee you will not lose power, but it places your home on a priority restoration list.
Have a plan for where to go if the outage exceeds your backup power capacity. Identify a friend or family member on a different electrical circuit who could host you, a hotel with generator power, or a medical facility that can provide the necessary electrical support.
Communication Plan
When the power goes out, your normal communication channels may be disrupted. Landline phones may not work if they depend on a powered base station, internet-based phones (VoIP) will not work without power, and your internet will be down. Cell phones become your primary communication tool, so preserving battery life is essential.
Reduce your phone's battery consumption by lowering screen brightness, turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, closing unnecessary apps, and switching to low-power mode. Use text messages rather than phone calls when possible, as text messages use less battery and are more likely to get through when cell networks are congested.
Establish a communication plan with your family before an outage occurs. Designate an out-of-area contact person who family members can check in with. This is particularly important if family members may be in different locations when the outage occurs.
A battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA weather radio provides critical weather and emergency information when internet and television are unavailable. This is especially important during severe weather events when conditions may be changing rapidly.
After the Power Comes Back
When power is restored, do not simply turn everything back on at once. Instead, reset your circuit breakers one at a time, starting with essential systems like the refrigerator and HVAC. Wait a few minutes between turning on major appliances to avoid overloading the system during initial power restoration, when voltage may still be stabilizing.
Check your refrigerator and freezer temperatures immediately. If your refrigerator has been above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, assess each food item individually based on the food safety guidelines. Reset any digital clocks, timers, and programmable thermostats. Check your sump pump (if applicable) to ensure it is operational, as a failed sump pump during an outage can result in basement flooding.
Next Steps
Unity Power & Light helps Aiken homeowners prepare for power outages with whole-home surge protection, generator installation, transfer switch installation, and backup power planning. Whether you want a simple manual transfer switch for a portable generator, a whole-home standby generator that starts automatically, or whole-home surge protection to safeguard your electronics, we can design and install the right solution for your home.
Do not wait until the next storm to start preparing. Contact us today to discuss backup power options and surge protection for your Aiken home.