As the long New England mud season finally fades and the temperatures begin to rise, homeowners across Vermont are looking forward to sunny days and backyard barbecues. But while the threat of blizzards and ice may be gone, the summer months bring their own volatile weather.
The collision of intense heat and humidity creates the perfect recipe for severe summer thunderstorms. From sudden microbursts and torrential downpours to violent lightning strikes, summer weather is a major, consistent threat to the aging New England utility grid.
At Brook Field Service, our local technicians have spent years helping Vermont homeowners navigate the aftermath of severe weather. To put control back in your hands this season, we have put together the ultimate guide to summer storm preparedness.
Here are the top 5 ways to prepare your home for summer power outages.
1. Defend Against Lightning Strikes
Summer thunderstorms bring heavy lightning, which is incredibly dangerous to your home’s electrical system. A direct or nearby strike can send a massive power surge through the grid, instantly frying expensive appliances, HVAC systems, and smart home technology. As a critical step in your summer storm preparedness, ensure your most valuable electronics are plugged into high-quality surge protectors, and consider having a whole-home surge protector installed directly at your electrical panel.
2. Trim Trees and Secure the Yard (The Microburst Threat)
Summer microbursts act like localized tornadoes, bringing sudden, sheer wind gusts that can easily snap heavy, leafy branches. Walk your property and look for any dead branches or overhanging limbs near your incoming power lines or roof. While you are at it, secure your outdoor patio furniture and umbrellas, which can easily become dangerous projectiles in high winds.
3. Build a Summer-Specific Emergency Kit
Losing power in the winter means losing heat, but losing power in July means losing your Air Conditioning during a sweltering heatwave. If the grid goes down, a house will become incredibly hot and humid within hours. A vital part of your summer storm preparedness routine is building an emergency kit that includes:
- Battery-powered fans
- Extra bottled water for hydration
- A high-quality cooler and ice packs to temporarily save medications and essentials
- Extra batteries and flashlights (skip the candles, which add unwanted heat to the room)
4. Don’t Forget Your Sump Pump
We naturally associate flooded basements with the spring thaw, but summer thunderstorms can drop inches of rain in a matter of minutes. If a lightning strike knocks out your power during a torrential downpour, your sump pump will shut off instantly. Verifying that your sump pump is fully operational and has a reliable backup power source is one of the most critical steps you can take to protect your finished basement this summer.
5. Guarantee Your Power with a Standby Generator
The single most effective strategy for complete summer storm preparedness is to remove the utility grid from the equation entirely.
An automatic standby generator continuously monitors your home’s electrical supply. If a thunderstorm knocks out the grid, the generator turns itself on within seconds, automatically powering your Air Conditioning, refrigerator, sump pump, and lights.
Let Brook Field Service Protect Your Summer
Don’t wait for a major storm to realise you aren’t prepared. As your local New England power experts, Brook Field Service is here to ensure your home stays cool, dry, and fully powered no matter what the summer weather brings.
If you don’t have a standby generator or if you have an aging competitor-brand unit that you no longer trust, we can help. Right now, take advantage of our Kohler Trade-Up Program—we will haul away your old, unreliable generator and give you a $1,000 Trade-In Rebate toward a premium Kohler upgrade!
Plus, with our $0 Down and 0% Interest financing options, you can secure total peace of mind today without draining your summer vacation fund.
Is your home ready for hurricane and thunderstorm season?
