Mother Nature is such a tease. Here she had led everyone to believe that this past Sunday and Monday would be filled with thunderstorm and rain and it turned out to be only a trickle at best with none of the scary stuff. Then she’s dropped temperatures to the 30s with cottons, sandals and cargo shorts finding themselves being replaced by puff jackets, cashmere sweaters and insulated gloves. Now North Texas is back in the 80s.
But perhaps the old gal was just providing a warning of times and temperatures to come. So, now is the time to start weatherizing your vehicles and homes, stocking up on pinion wood and having your furnace checked.
For those with back-up generators, be forewarned. You might want to check with your installer that your “lifesaver” has an Emergency Power Off (EPO) switch, also referred to as “Generator Remote Shutdown Switch” and the “Fireman’s Switch.”
What the heck is that? It sounds scary and complicated, but it makes so much sense and you’ll be a first responders’ lifesaver.
Here’s how it works: If a home has a fire, the first thing that firemen do is shut down the building’s breaker box to prevent electrical calamities. However, your generator will respond to the lack of electricity by ramping up gas. The result — the fire is fueled. Thus the need for the shutdown switch.