Why autumn is the right time
Electrical demand in Vermont peaks with the first sustained cold, and so does demand for electricians. A generator that will not start, a well pump that trips, or a heating circuit that fails is a far harder problem to solve in December than in September.
Autumn is also when work that needs a utility disconnect, a permit or a parts order can still be scheduled comfortably. The same job booked in January competes with emergency calls.
What matters most before the cold
In rough order of how much trouble each causes if it fails in January.
- Heating system electrical — boiler, furnace, heat pump circuits and their disconnects
- Well pump and pressure system — no power means no water
- Standby generator — serviced, fuel confirmed, and actually load-tested rather than just started
- Any circuit that has been tripping, buzzing, or running warm
- Outdoor, garage and outbuilding circuits, and their ground-fault protection
- Knowing where the main disconnect is and how to reach it in the dark
Portable generators and carbon monoxide
If a portable generator is part of the plan, its placement matters more than its size. Current CPSC guidance is to operate a portable generator outdoors, at least 20 feet from homes and buildings, with the exhaust directed away from windows, doors and vents. Never operate one in a garage, basement, shed, porch or carport, even with doors open.
Never connect a portable generator to home wiring through a receptacle or an improvised cord. Backfeeding is both a fire risk and a danger to utility crews working on the line.
Ice, wind and the service connection
The service connection and mast are the parts of a residential system most exposed to ice loading and falling limbs. Damage there is not a homeowner repair and often involves the utility as well as an electrician.
If a service connection is damaged, pulled loose or has a limb across it, treat the conductors as live, keep clear, and call the utility that serves the address before anyone approaches it.