July 30, 2025
How Generac Standby Generators Keep Your Home Powered During Thunderstorms
A power outage during a thunderstorm can be dangerous, especially if you rely on power for medical equipment or safety equipment. Installing a Generac standby generator can protect your home from power outages and supply reliable, safe power to all of your crucial equipment and electronics. Keep reading for a closer look at why you should consider a backup generator and why Generac is the best choice for reliable power outage solutions.

Understanding Your Risk of Thunderstorm Power Outages
Knowing the biggest risk factors in your area will help you pick out the right size and type of generator and make sure it has features that will improve its safety and performance during a storm. The most common causes of power outages are:
- Strong Winds – High winds can break branches off of trees or cause aging power lines to fall.
- Lightning – A lightning strike to your home or nearby electrical infrastructure can cause damage and outages.
- Heavy Rain and Flooding – Heavy rain and flooding can damage underground cables and electrical substations. Water damage can also affect your home’s electrical system, causing a short circuit or equipment failure.
- Flying Objects and Fallen Trees – High winds and heavy rains increase the risk of flying objects and fallen trees, branches, and other vegetation. This can interfere with or damage power lines.
- Infrastructure Issues – Aging infrastructure is more likely to get damaged in a storm. Overhead lines, transformers, and substations are also at risk of storm damage, depending on their age, condition, and location.
How Generac Automatic Backup Generators Respond to Power Loss
Generac automatic backup generators are designed to provide near-seamless power restoration when they sense an outage. They are integrated into your home’s electrical circuit during installation and equipped with an automatic transfer switch that continuously monitors the level of power entering your home. Here is a closer look at how they work:
- Detection of Power Outage – The generator’s automatic transfer switch can detect a loss of power from the grid within seconds.
- Activation of Generator – A power loss triggers the activation of the generator, which can start up within minutes.
- Transfer of Power – When the generator starts up, it transfers the electrical load from the utility grid to the generator.
- Continuous Supply of Power – Your home will receive a safe, reliable, continuous supply of power for as long as the generator has fuel.
- Power Restoration From the Utility Company – When your utility company restores your home’s power, the automatic transfer switch will detect this and verify that the power supply is stable.
- Automatic Disconnection – The automatic transfer switch will transfer the electrical load back to your utility grid and shut down the generator, putting it in standby mode should there be another outage.
Generac Features That Prevent Thunderstorm Power Loss
Generac generators include safety features that ensure continuous operation of crucial equipment, appliances, and electronics. Here is a look at some of its key features:
- Automatic Transfer Switch – The automatic transfer switch allows the generator to switch on as soon as it senses a loss of power from your utility grid. This reduces the amount of time your home goes without power and can maintain the performance of crucial equipment in your home.
- Weather-resistant Design – Generac generators are designed to be robust, durable, and weather-resistant. They can handle extreme heat, heavy rains, strong winds, impact debris, and more. They are also designed with corrosion-resistant enclosures that offer further protection.
- Surge Protection – Generac’s whole-home surge protection devices can help you avoid safety hazards and inconveniences associated with power surges during thunderstorms.
- Cold Weather Protection – You can purchase cold weather accessories like Generac’s Cold Weather Kit and Extreme Cold Weather Kit to ensure your generator operates reliably during hard winter storms.
- Remote Monitoring – Generac’s Mobile Link™ technology allows you to monitor your generator’s performance from anywhere using a smartphone app.
- Load-Shedding Technology – Some of Generac’s generators are equipped with load-shedding technology to prioritize power loads to crucial equipment during a storm. This prevents overloading.
Benefits of Automatic Generator Activation During Storms
Your home’s automatic generator will turn on as soon as it detects power loss, ensuring continuous, reliable power backup during a storm. Some of the biggest benefits of automatic standby generator installation are:
- Seamless, uninterrupted power supply when you need it most
- Continuous operation throughout the length of the power outage
- Automatic transfer of power to and from the generator
- Reduced risk of injury or safety hazards that could occur if you have to manually switch to generator power
- Protection for crucial and sensitive equipment in your home
- Reliable operation of crucial equipment like security systems, heating and cooling, refrigeration, and medical devices
- Increased comfort, safety, and peace of mind
Learn More About Installing a Generac Standby Generator
Seidel Electric offers a range of reliable, secure power outage solutions that can protect your home and family during a storm. We are committed to protecting your safety and ensuring that your home stays comfortable and that all of your equipment remains operational even in the most extreme weather conditions. Since 1944, we have been installing and maintaining backup generators. We can help you choose the right size and type of generator for your home. Call us now or reach out to us online to learn more about the benefits of installing a Generac standby generator in Blairstown, NJ, or throughout the tri-state area.