Category: Electric Services

Electrical safety during storm season is something every homeowner in Ruston, Monroe, and West Monroe should think about before the first afternoon thunderstorm rolls through. At Albritton Service, we see it every year: a fast-moving summer storm knocks out power on one side of town, a lightning strike fries a TV or an HVAC control board, and someone runs a generator the wrong way trying to keep the lights on. Most of these problems are preventable.

North Central Louisiana summers bring hot, humid days and near-daily afternoon thunderstorms from June through November, right in the middle of hurricane and tropical storm season. That combination of heat, humidity, and frequent lightning puts real stress on a home’s electrical system. Below, we break down what actually protects your home and family when the sky turns dark, plus what to do once the power comes back on.

Why Storm Season Is Hard on Your Home’s Electrical System

A power surge happens when there’s a sudden spike in voltage moving through your home’s wiring. Lightning strikes are the most dramatic cause, but surges also happen when the power grid resets after an outage or when heavy equipment (like your air conditioner’s compressor) cycles on and off during a storm. Even a surge that doesn’t cause visible damage can shorten the life of sensitive electronics, HVAC control boards, and appliance circuit boards over time.

Older homes and homes without whole-house surge protection are especially vulnerable, because a single unprotected point of entry, like the main electrical panel, gives a surge a direct path into every outlet in the house.

Surge Protection: Your First Line of Defense

Plug-in power strips with surge protection are fine for a lamp or a phone charger, but they don’t protect your whole home. A whole-house surge protector installs at your main electrical panel and is designed to intercept large surges before they ever reach your outlets, HVAC system, or appliances.

• Whole-house surge protection at the panel guards your entire electrical system, including your air conditioner and furnace.
• Point-of-use surge protectors (the kind you plug in) add a second layer for computers, TVs, and other sensitive electronics.
• Grounding matters too — a properly grounded electrical system gives surges a safe path to disperse instead of traveling through your wiring.

If you’ve never had your panel evaluated for surge protection, storm season is the time to ask. Our electrical services team can check your panel’s grounding and recommend the right level of protection for your home.

Generator Safety During and After a Storm

When the power goes out for hours (or longer) during hurricane season, a generator can be a lifesaver for keeping your refrigerator running, your sump pump working, and a window unit or two on for comfort. But generators are also one of the most common sources of storm-related injuries and house fires when they’re used incorrectly.

• Never run a portable generator indoors — not in the garage, not on a covered porch. Carbon monoxide builds up quickly and is deadly.
• Keep it outside and away from windows and doors so exhaust can’t drift back into the house.
• Never plug a generator directly into a wall outlet. This is called backfeeding, and it can send electricity back through the grid, endangering utility workers repairing lines nearby — in addition to being a serious fire and shock hazard for your own home.
• Use a properly installed transfer switch if you want your generator to power specific circuits or your whole home safely.

A permanently installed standby generator with an automatic transfer switch avoids most of these risks altogether, since it’s wired directly into your electrical system by a licensed electrician and switches on automatically when the power drops. If you’re tired of scrambling for a portable unit every time a storm knocks out power, our generator installation services are worth a look before the next big system rolls through.

What to Do During a Power Outage

When the lights go out, a few simple habits keep your home and family safer:

• Unplug major electronics and appliances, especially anything with a sensitive circuit board, in case a surge accompanies the power’s return.
• Leave one lamp turned on so you know when power is restored.
• Use flashlights instead of candles — storm season already brings enough fire risk from lightning; open flame is an easy hazard to avoid.
• Stay away from downed power lines. Always assume a downed line is live, even if the surrounding area looks quiet, and keep kids and pets away from it. Call your utility company to report it.
• If you smell something burning or notice sparking outlets after power is restored, shut off power to that circuit at your panel and call an electrician before using it again.

Water and Electricity: A Dangerous Mix During Storms

Heavy summer thunderstorms mean standing water, and standing water near electrical equipment is one of the most serious hazards homeowners face during storm season. A few precautions matter here:

• Never touch electrical panels, outlets, or appliances with wet hands or while standing in water.
• If your home has flooded or taken on significant water intrusion, don’t turn on any electrical system — including your outdoor AC unit — until it’s been inspected. Water in an outdoor condenser or electrical panel can create a serious shock hazard even after things look dry on the surface.
• Outdoor outlets should have weatherproof covers and GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) protection, which shuts power off almost instantly if it detects a fault, well before someone gets a dangerous shock.

When to Call Albritton After a Storm

Not every storm requires a service call, but certain warning signs mean it’s time to get an electrician out to your home. Call Albritton Service at 318-251-0885 if you notice:

• Flickering lights or outlets that stop working after a storm
• A burning smell near your panel, outlets, or HVAC equipment
• Your outdoor AC unit won’t start, or your breaker keeps tripping after a strike nearby
• Any exposed or damaged wiring from fallen branches or storm debris
• You’re considering a whole-house surge protector or standby generator before the next storm hits

We’ve served Ruston, Monroe, West Monroe, and North Central Louisiana communities like Grambling, Choudrant, Dubach, Farmerville, Calhoun, Arcadia, Jonesboro, Minden, and Bernice since 1982, and we carry 24/7 emergency service specifically because storms don’t wait for business hours. Our licensed and insured electricians can evaluate your panel, wiring, and outdoor equipment and give you a clear picture of what your home needs, with no guesswork about pricing until we’ve seen the job.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can lightning damage my home even if it doesn’t strike the house directly?

Yes. A strike to a nearby tree, power line, or even the ground can send a surge through the electrical grid and into your home’s wiring. This is exactly why whole-house surge protection matters, since it doesn’t rely on a direct hit to your roof to do damage.

Is it safe to run my air conditioner during a thunderstorm?

Generally yes, but if lightning is close or frequent, many electricians recommend switching your AC off at the thermostat during the worst of a storm to reduce the chance of surge damage to the compressor and control board, especially if you don’t yet have surge protection installed.

How do I know if my generator setup is safe for my home?

If you’re using a portable generator, it should always run outdoors, away from windows, and should never be plugged directly into a wall outlet. For a safer, more convenient setup, a standby generator with a transfer switch, installed by a licensed electrician, removes most of the guesswork.

What should I check on my electrical panel before storm season starts?

Look for a panel that’s properly grounded, breakers that trip reliably (not ones that are stuck or won’t reset), and whether you already have surge protection installed. If you’re not sure how to check any of this yourself, our electrical team can do a quick panel evaluation before the summer storm pattern picks up.

At Albritton Service, we see it every year: the North Louisiana heat rolls in, air conditioners run nonstop, and homeowners start looking for small ways to take some of the load off their cooling system. A handful of summer electrical upgrades — ceiling fans, smart switches, a few added outlets — can make your home feel noticeably more comfortable without a major renovation.

None of these projects require you to overhaul your whole electrical system. Most are quick add-ons that work alongside the air conditioning you already have, helping air move better, giving you more control over lighting and temperature, and protecting the electronics that keep your household running through storm season. Here’s where to start.

Ceiling Fans: The Easiest Summer Upgrade

If you only make one change this summer, make it this one. A ceiling fan doesn’t lower the temperature of a room, but it does create a wind-chill effect on your skin that can make a space feel several degrees cooler. That means you can nudge your thermostat up a notch and still feel comfortable — which takes real strain off your AC during the hottest part of the day.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Fans should spin counterclockwise in summer (viewed from below) to push cool air down.
• Bedrooms, living rooms, and covered porches are the best candidates.
• Rooms without existing wiring may need a dedicated electrical box rated to support a fan’s weight — this is not a job for a standard light fixture box.

If your home has ceiling boxes leftover from an old light fixture, an electrician can confirm whether they’re fan-rated before you hang anything overhead.

Smart Switches and Smart Thermostats

Smart switches and smart thermostats give you control over your home’s cooling and lighting from your phone, which matters most in summer when small adjustments add up. A smart thermostat can automatically ease off cooling while you’re at work and bring the house back down to a comfortable temperature before you walk in the door. Smart switches let you schedule fans, outdoor lighting, or window units without leaving them running all day out of habit.

The install itself is usually straightforward, but a couple of details matter:

• Some smart switches need a neutral wire in the switch box — many older North Louisiana homes don’t have one, which is a common surprise during DIY installs.
• Smart thermostats need to be compatible with your specific HVAC system, especially if you have a heat pump.

If you’re planning smart upgrades throughout the house, it’s worth having an electrician look at your panel and wiring first, rather than troubleshooting compatibility issues room by room.

Adding Outlets Where You Actually Need Them

Summer means more devices plugged in at once — window fans, portable AC units, pool equipment, outdoor string lights for evening cookouts. If you’re relying on extension cords running across a room or out a window, that’s a sign it’s time to add outlets rather than keep working around a shortage.

Common summer additions include:

• Outdoor GFCI outlets on patios and porches for fans, lighting, and equipment.
• Extra outlets in bedrooms and living areas to retire extension cords.
• Dedicated outlets for window AC units, which draw more power than a typical household circuit is built to share.

Extension cords aren’t meant for long-term, everyday use — they’re a temporary fix, not a wiring solution. If you’ve had one running for more than a season, that’s usually the clearest sign an outlet upgrade is overdue.

Whole-House Fans and Attic Ventilation

A whole-house fan pulls cooler evening air in through open windows and pushes hot attic air out, which is especially useful during North Louisiana’s long stretch of warm evenings before the deepest summer heat sets in. It won’t replace your air conditioner on a 95-degree afternoon, but it can cut down on how much your AC has to work overnight and in the shoulder months of early summer and early fall.

These fans need proper attic ventilation and a dedicated circuit sized correctly for the unit, so this is one upgrade best planned with an electrician from the start rather than added as an afterthought.

Surge Protection for Storm Season

Summer in North Central Louisiana means afternoon thunderstorms and hurricane season running through November. Power surges from lightning strikes or grid fluctuations can damage air conditioners, refrigerators, TVs, and other electronics in an instant. A whole-house surge protector installed at your electrical panel is one of the most practical summer electrical upgrades because it protects everything downstream at once, rather than relying on individual power strips at each outlet.

It’s a quiet upgrade — you won’t notice it day to day — but it’s the kind of protection that matters most the one time a storm rolls through and you’re glad it’s there.

When to Call an Electrician

Some of these upgrades — like plugging in a smart plug or swapping a light bulb — are fine to handle yourself. Others involve your home’s wiring, panel capacity, or dedicated circuits, and that’s where it’s worth calling a professional. Reach out to Albritton Service if you’re dealing with:

• A ceiling box that isn’t rated to support a fan
• Smart switches that need neutral wiring your home doesn’t currently have
• Frequent tripped breakers when running summer appliances
• Any project that involves your electrical panel

Our electrical services cover everything from fan and outlet installs to panel upgrades and whole-house surge protection, for homeowners across Ruston, Monroe, West Monroe, and the rest of our North Central Louisiana service area. If you’re not sure whether a project is DIY-friendly, give us a call at 318-251-0885 and we’ll walk you through it.

And if these electrical upgrades are part of a bigger push to get your home ready for summer, it’s also a good time to make sure your air conditioning system is running efficiently — the two go hand in hand when it comes to staying comfortable through a Louisiana summer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a ceiling fan actually lower my cooling bill?

A ceiling fan doesn’t cool the air itself, but it makes a room feel cooler, so you can often raise your thermostat a degree or two and still feel comfortable. That takes some of the load off your air conditioner during the hottest hours of the day.

Do I need an electrician to install a smart thermostat?

Not always, but it depends on your home’s wiring and your HVAC system. Some smart thermostats need a neutral wire that older homes don’t have, and compatibility varies by system type. If you’re unsure, it’s worth a quick call before you buy one.

How do I know if I need more outlets in my home?

If you’re regularly using extension cords for fans, window AC units, or outdoor lighting, that’s a good sign you need additional outlets. Extension cords are meant for temporary use, not as a permanent wiring solution.

Is whole-house surge protection worth it for summer storms?

Yes. North Louisiana’s summer thunderstorms and hurricane season bring real risk of power surges that can damage air conditioners, appliances, and electronics. A surge protector at your panel protects your whole home at once instead of relying on individual outlet strips.

If you’ve lived in North Louisiana for more than a summer or two, you already know the drill: the sky turns green, the wind picks up, and the power goes out for hours—sometimes days. That’s why the question of standby vs portable generators in Louisiana comes up so often at Albritton Service. Homeowners want to know which option actually keeps their family comfortable and safe when a storm rolls through Ruston, Monroe, or West Monroe.

Both types of generators can get you through an outage, but they work very differently, and the right choice depends on your budget, your home, and how much backup power you actually need. In this guide, we’ll break down coverage, fuel, installation, convenience, and safety so you can make a confident decision before hurricane season peaks.

How Standby Generators Work

A standby generator (also called a home standby or whole-home generator) is permanently installed outside your house, much like an outdoor AC unit. It’s wired directly into your home’s electrical panel and connected to a dedicated fuel line—usually natural gas or a propane tank. When utility power drops, an automatic transfer switch senses the outage and starts the generator within seconds, often before you even notice the lights flickered.

Because standby units are sized to run continuously, they can power your entire home: central air conditioning, your electric or gas furnace, well pump, refrigerator, and every outlet in the house. For families in North Louisiana who rely on air conditioning to stay safe during a summer power outage, that whole-home coverage is a big deal.

How Portable Generators Work

A portable generator is exactly what it sounds like—a wheeled or handheld unit you store in the garage and roll out when you need it. Most run on gasoline, though some models use propane. You start it manually, run heavy-duty extension cords to specific appliances, or connect it to a manual transfer switch if one has been installed ahead of time.

Portable units are far more limited in output. Instead of powering the whole house, they’re typically used to keep a few essentials running: the refrigerator, a window unit or fans, phone chargers, and maybe a sump pump. They won’t run central HVAC equipment or an entire electrical panel at once.

Coverage: Whole-Home vs. Essentials Only

This is usually the deciding factor for our customers. If keeping your central air conditioning running through a summer outage is non-negotiable—which it often is with North Louisiana heat and humidity—a standby generator is the only option that reliably delivers that. Portable generators simply don’t have the capacity to run a central AC compressor alongside everything else in your home.

On the other hand, if you mainly need to keep the fridge cold, charge devices, and run a fan or two during shorter outages, a portable unit may cover what you need without the bigger investment of a permanent system.

Fuel Source and Runtime

Standby generators connect to natural gas or a propane tank, which means they can run for as long as the outage lasts without you having to refuel. That matters a lot during a multi-day outage after a tropical storm or hurricane, when gas stations may be out of fuel or without power themselves.

Portable generators run on gasoline (or propane, for some models), and that fuel supply is limited to whatever you have stored or can find. During major storm events, gas station lines can stretch for hours, and running out of fuel in the middle of the night is a real risk. You’ll also need to store extra fuel safely, which comes with its own precautions.

Installation and Convenience

Standby generators require professional installation: an electrician and gas or propane setup, permitting, and a permanent placement outside your home. It’s a bigger project up front, but once it’s in place, it’s essentially hands-off. The automatic transfer switch does the work, so you don’t have to be home, awake, or physically able to start a machine in the middle of a storm.

Portable generators are more affordable to buy but less convenient in practice. You have to store them, maintain them, haul them out, add fuel, and start them manually—often in the rain, at night, during the exact moment you’d rather be somewhere else. If you’re traveling when a storm hits, a portable unit does you no good at all.

Safety Considerations

Safety is where the two options diverge the most. Standby generators are installed by professionals with proper clearances, dedicated wiring, and a transfer switch that prevents dangerous backfeed into the utility grid—a real hazard for utility workers restoring power.

Portable generators carry more risk if they’re not used correctly. They produce carbon monoxide and must run outdoors, well away from windows and doors, never in a garage or enclosed space. They should always be connected through a proper manual transfer switch or heavy-duty cords rated for the load—never by backfeeding through a wall outlet, which is illegal and dangerous. If you go the portable route, our electrical team can help you install a compliant transfer switch so you’re not tempted to take shortcuts during a storm.

Cost Considerations

We won’t throw out numbers here because every home’s electrical setup, fuel access, and power needs are different. In general, standby systems represent a larger upfront investment since they involve a permanent unit, an automatic transfer switch, and professional installation, while portable generators cost less initially but come with ongoing fuel costs and less overall protection. The best way to know what makes sense for your home and budget is a free, no-pressure estimate from our team, who can walk your property and talk through your specific needs.

When to Call Albritton Service

At Albritton Service, we’ve helped North Louisiana homeowners prepare for hurricane season for decades, and we know that the right generator setup depends on your specific home, budget, and how much you rely on backup power. If you’re weighing standby vs portable generators in Louisiana and want an honest recommendation—not a sales pitch—give us a call at 318-251-0885. We serve Ruston, Monroe, West Monroe, and surrounding North Central Louisiana communities, and we’re available 24/7 for emergency service when the power goes out and you need help fast.

Explore our generator installation services to see how a standby system could keep your air conditioning and home’s electrical system running through the next outage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a portable generator run my central air conditioner?

Generally, no. Central AC compressors draw a large amount of power to start up, and most portable generators aren’t sized to handle that load alongside other essentials. A standby generator sized for your home is the more reliable way to keep central air running during an outage.

Do I need a transfer switch for a portable generator?

Yes. Connecting a portable generator directly to your home’s wiring without a proper transfer switch can create a backfeed hazard for utility line workers and violates electrical code. Our electrical team can install a compliant manual transfer switch so your portable generator can be used safely.

How long can a standby generator run during a hurricane-related outage?

As long as your fuel supply—natural gas or a full propane tank—holds out, a standby generator can run continuously. That’s one of the biggest advantages over portable units, which depend on gasoline you have to store or find during the storm.

Is it safe to run a portable generator in my garage during a storm?

No. Portable generators produce carbon monoxide and must be run outdoors in a well-ventilated area, away from windows, doors, and vents. Never run one in a garage, carport, or other enclosed space, even with the door open.

At Albritton Service, we see it every year: the first stretch of 90-degree Ruston days hits, every air conditioner kicks into high gear, and a homeowner’s lights start flickering every time the compressor cycles on. That’s the electrical panel and summer AC demand colliding — and it’s not something to ignore. Your panel is the traffic cop for every amp your home draws, and central air is one of the biggest single loads it manages.

Below, we’ll cover how summer cooling load stresses your panel, the warning signs of an overloaded or outdated panel, when an upgrade actually makes sense, and why this is a safety issue, not just an inconvenience.

Why Summer AC Demand Pushes Your Panel Harder

Your electrical panel distributes power from the utility line to every circuit in your house through breakers — switches that trip (shut off) when a circuit draws more current than it’s rated to handle safely. Central air conditioning is typically one of the largest loads on that panel, especially at startup, when the compressor motor pulls a brief surge of current well above its normal running amperage.

In North Louisiana, summer isn’t a mild ask on the system. High heat and humidity mean your AC runs longer cycles and starts more often, for months on end. Add a pool pump or a home office full of electronics, and a panel that handled everything fine in April can start showing its age by July. Older homes in Ruston, Monroe, and West Monroe were often built with panels sized for a lighter load than modern households, and modern AC systems, actually need.

Warning Signs of an Overloaded or Outdated Panel

Most panel problems don’t happen suddenly — they show up as small, repeatable annoyances first. Watch for these during peak cooling season:

• Flickering or dimming lights when the AC kicks on. A brief dip is normal, but a noticeable, repeated flicker every time the compressor starts suggests the circuit — or the panel itself — is straining to deliver enough current.
• Breakers that feel warm to the touch. Breakers are designed to stay cool under normal load. Warmth at the panel, especially around the AC breaker, is a sign of excess resistance or overloading and should be looked at promptly.
• Frequent tripping, especially on hot afternoons. If your AC breaker trips once and never again, that could be a fluke. If it trips repeatedly during the hottest part of the day, your system is telling you it can’t reliably deliver what the AC needs.
• A burning smell or discoloration near the panel. This is not a “wait and see” sign. Any burnt odor, soot, or scorch marks at the panel mean it’s time to shut off what you can and call a licensed electrician right away.
• Buzzing or humming from the panel. Panels should be essentially silent. A steady buzz or hum can point to loose connections, an overloaded bus bar, or a failing breaker.
• A panel that’s still using fuses, or a breaker panel more than 25–30 years old. Older panels weren’t built with today’s AC systems, appliances, and electronics in mind, and some older brands have documented reliability issues.

Any one of these is worth a call. Two or more together, especially in peak summer heat, means your panel and cooling system are working against each other.

What’s Actually Happening Inside the Panel

When a circuit carries more current than it’s rated for, the wiring and connections heat up. Breakers are designed to trip before that heat becomes dangerous — but an aging breaker, or one paired with loose or corroded connections, may not respond the way it should. Flickering lights are really a voltage drop: the AC’s startup surge pulls enough current that there isn’t quite enough left over for the rest of the circuit to run at full, steady voltage.

This matters more in summer because the load isn’t a one-time event — it’s hours of compressor cycling, day after day, for weeks. A panel that only shows stress under sustained load is exactly the kind of problem that surfaces in June and July and seems to “go away” once the weather cools, until next summer, when it’s often worse.

When a Panel Upgrade Is Actually Needed

Not every flicker means you need a new panel. But a few situations point clearly toward an upgrade rather than a repair:

Your panel is undersized for your current AC system

If you’ve upgraded to a larger AC system, added a second unit, or installed a heat pump, your panel’s total capacity (measured in amps) may no longer match your home’s actual demand. Many older Ruston and Monroe-area homes were built with 100-amp service; modern homes with central air, electric appliances, and added circuits often need more.

You’re relying on double-tapped or shared breakers

Some panels get modified over the years with breakers doing more than they were designed for. This is a common source of overheating and nuisance tripping, and it’s worth a professional evaluation rather than a guess.

The panel brand or age has known reliability concerns

Some older panel brands and designs are known to have breakers that don’t trip reliably when they should. If you’re not sure what’s in your panel, that’s worth having checked before, not during, a heat wave.

Cost for a panel upgrade varies by home, panel size, and scope of work, so we don’t quote numbers here — but we’re happy to walk your specific situation and give you a straightforward, no-obligation estimate.

Safety First: What Not to Ignore

A hot breaker, a burning smell, sparking, or a breaker that won’t stay reset are not “keep an eye on it” situations. Turn off the affected circuit at the panel if you can safely do so, avoid using it, and call a licensed electrician. Electrical panel issues are one of the few home maintenance items where waiting genuinely raises the risk of fire, not just inconvenience.

When to Call Albritton

If your lights flicker every time the AC cycles on, your breakers run warm, or your panel is older than your roof, don’t wait for the hottest week of the year to find out the hard way. Albritton Service has served Ruston, Monroe, West Monroe, and North Central Louisiana since 1982, and our licensed electricians can evaluate your panel and recommend the right fix — no guesswork, no upsell. We’re licensed, insured, and available 24/7 for anything that can’t wait. Call 318-251-0885 and let’s make sure your panel can handle the summer ahead. Learn more about our electrical services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal for lights to flicker a little when the AC turns on?

A very brief, barely noticeable dip can happen in any home due to the AC’s startup surge. A repeated, obvious flicker every cycle isn’t something to shrug off, though — it usually means the circuit or panel is under more strain than it should handle. If it’s happening consistently, have a licensed electrician take a look.

How do I know if my electrical panel is too small for my AC system?

Signs include frequent breaker trips during hot weather, warm breakers, flickering lights, or a panel that predates your current air conditioning system. An electrician can check your panel’s rated capacity against your home’s actual load and tell you definitively whether an upgrade is needed.

Can an overloaded panel actually damage my AC unit?

Yes. Inconsistent voltage from an overtaxed panel can strain your AC’s compressor and other components over time, potentially shortening its life. If your unit is also struggling to keep up, have both your panel and your air conditioning system inspected together.

What should I do if a breaker trips every afternoon during hot weather?

Don’t just keep resetting it. A breaker that trips repeatedly, especially at predictable times tied to AC cycling, is doing its job — but it’s also telling you something needs attention. Turn off nonessential items on that circuit if possible and call a licensed electrician to diagnose the cause.

Do I need a whole new panel, or can specific breakers be replaced?

It depends on the cause. Sometimes a single faulty breaker or loose connection is the culprit and can be repaired without replacing the whole panel. Other times, especially with older or undersized panels, a full upgrade is the safer long-term fix. An in-person evaluation is the only reliable way to know which situation you’re in.

Your standby generator is your safety net when Louisiana weather knocks out the power. But a generator that hasn’t been maintained is a generator that might not start when you need it most. With storm season approaching, now is the time to make sure your backup power system is ready.

At Albritton Service, we’ve been installing and servicing generators across Ruston, Monroe, and Northern Louisiana for over 40 years. Here’s what every generator owner should know about pre-season maintenance.

Why Spring Maintenance Matters

Your generator runs a brief self-test every week, but that automatic cycle doesn’t replace real maintenance. Self-tests run at a fraction of full load and don’t catch problems like degraded oil, weak batteries, corroded connections, or clogged fuel filters. A generator that passes its weekly test can still fail under the full load of an actual power outage.

Louisiana’s storm season runs from June through November. Getting maintenance done in spring means your system is verified and ready before the first threat, not scrambling for service when a tropical storm is already in the Gulf.

The Essential Generator Maintenance Checklist

Oil and Filter Change

Generator oil breaks down over time even with minimal run hours. Annual oil and filter changes keep the engine lubricated and running clean. Generac recommends annual oil service regardless of how often the generator has run.

Battery Inspection and Testing

The battery is what starts your generator when the power goes out. A weak or dead battery is the number one reason generators fail to start during an outage. We test battery voltage, clean terminals, check connections, and replace the battery if it’s showing signs of age — typically every 3-4 years.

Air Filter Replacement

A clogged air filter restricts airflow to the engine, reducing performance and potentially causing overheating under load. This is especially important in Louisiana where pollen, dust, and humidity can foul filters faster than in drier climates.

Spark Plug Inspection

Worn or fouled spark plugs cause hard starts, rough running, and reduced power output. We inspect and replace plugs as needed during annual service.

Transfer Switch Testing

The automatic transfer switch is what detects a power outage and tells your generator to start. If the transfer switch fails, your generator won’t activate — even if the engine is in perfect condition. We test the full transfer sequence to confirm everything communicates correctly.

Full Load Test

The most important test. We run your generator at full rated load to verify it can actually power your home’s circuits under real-world conditions. This catches issues that weekly self-tests at partial load will miss — overheating, voltage regulation problems, and capacity shortfalls.

How Often Should You Service Your Generator?

Both Generac and Kohler recommend professional maintenance at least once per year. If your generator runs frequently due to power outages, or if it’s older than 5 years, twice-yearly service is worth considering — once in spring before storm season and once in fall.

Between professional services, homeowners should:

• Visually inspect the unit monthly for leaks, corrosion, or pest intrusion
• Keep the area around the generator clear of debris and vegetation
• Listen during weekly self-tests for unusual sounds
• Check that the generator’s display shows no error codes

Don’t Wait for the First Storm Warning

Every year, we get a flood of calls the week a tropical storm enters the Gulf — and by then, scheduling is tight and parts may need to be ordered. Getting your maintenance done now means peace of mind all season long.

Albritton Service has been the trusted generator service provider for Ruston, Monroe, West Monroe, and Northern Louisiana since 1982. Whether you have a Generac, Kohler, or another brand, our technicians know these systems inside and out. Contact us today to schedule your pre-season generator maintenance.

Louisiana is no stranger to severe weather. From spring thunderstorms to summer hurricanes, power surges are a real and frequent threat to homes across Ruston, Monroe, West Monroe, and Northern Louisiana. A single surge can destroy electronics, damage appliances, and even create fire hazards — and most homeowners don’t realize they’re at risk until it’s too late.

At Albritton Service, our licensed electricians have been protecting Louisiana homes for over 40 years. Here are five warning signs that your home needs a whole-house surge protector.

1. You Experience Frequent Power Flickering During Storms

If your lights flicker or dim every time a storm rolls through, your home is absorbing voltage fluctuations from the grid. These fluctuations don’t just affect your lights — they silently degrade the circuits in your refrigerator, washer, dryer, HVAC system, and every other plugged-in device. A whole-house surge protector installed at your breaker panel intercepts these surges before they reach your home’s wiring.

2. Your Electrical Panel Is Over 20 Years Old

Older electrical panels weren’t designed for today’s electrical loads or today’s sensitive electronics. If your home still has a 100-amp panel, Federal Pacific or Zinsco breakers, or a fuse box, you’re especially vulnerable to surge damage.

In many cases, a panel box upgrade paired with a whole-house surge protector is the smartest investment you can make. Modern 200-amp panels with integrated surge protection handle today’s demands safely and efficiently.

3. You Have Expensive Electronics or Smart Home Systems

Today’s homes are filled with surge-sensitive technology:

• Smart TVs and gaming systems — $500 to $2,000+ each
• Computers and home office equipment — critical for remote workers
• Smart thermostats and home automation — connected 24/7
• HVAC control boards — a single surge can destroy a $300-$800 circuit board

Power strip surge protectors help, but they only protect what’s plugged into them. Your HVAC system, water heater, garage door opener, and hardwired appliances have no protection at all without a whole-house unit.

4. Your Breakers Trip More Often Than They Should

Breakers that trip frequently could indicate your electrical system is already struggling with voltage irregularities. While there can be many causes — overloaded circuits, faulty wiring, or a failing breaker — repeated tripping during storms is a strong signal that surges are reaching your panel.

Our electricians can diagnose whether the issue is a breaker and fuse problem, a wiring issue, or a sign that surge protection should be part of the solution.

5. You Don’t Currently Have Any Surge Protection

This one might sound obvious, but most homeowners assume they’re protected when they’re not. The reality is that the majority of homes in Northern Louisiana have zero whole-house surge protection. The small power strips in your living room only protect a handful of devices from minor surges — they won’t stop a major lightning-induced surge from traveling through your home’s wiring.

What Does a Whole-House Surge Protector Cost?

A professionally installed whole-house surge protector typically costs between $300 and $600 including installation — a fraction of what it costs to replace a fried HVAC control board, a dead refrigerator, or a house full of damaged electronics. Most units last 5-10 years and protect every circuit in your home automatically.

Protect Your Home Before Storm Season

Spring is the ideal time to install surge protection — before Louisiana’s severe weather season kicks into high gear. Albritton Service has been the trusted electrical contractor for Ruston, Monroe, West Monroe, and the surrounding communities since 1982. Our licensed electricians can assess your panel, recommend the right protection level, and install it quickly. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.