Keeping the Lights On: A Houston Guide to Backup Power

Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, and if you've been through a Houston summer or two, you know how it goes — a storm rolls in, the wind picks up, and sooner or later the power goes out. Backup power isn't paranoia around here. It's just part of owning a home in this city.

There are a few levels of backup power. A portable generator is the entry point — roll it out, run a few extension cords, keep the fridge and a fan going. Add a transfer switch and it can safely feed selected circuits instead of a mess of cords running through a window. Battery systems like the Tesla Powerwall store solar or grid power and switch on the moment the power drops — quiet, no fuel to haul, good for shorter outages. The most complete option is a whole-home standby generator, wired into your panel and fed by natural gas: it senses the outage and starts on its own, running everything from the AC to the well pump. Each step up covers more and costs more. Whatever you pick, use a licensed electrician for sizing and installation — this is not a do-it-yourself job.

I put in a Generac whole-home unit back in early 2015, and it has paid for itself many times over. When the block goes dark and my house stays on, I'm glad every time that I made the call. Thinking about backup power, or what it might mean for your home's resale value? Call or text me at 281-818-8177 and I'll talk it through with you.