Before the ice storm: a winter electrical checklist for Grand Rapids homes

Why fall is the time

Winter storms in Grand Rapids bring ice on lines and blizzard-force gusts. A late December 2025 storm left more than 30,000 customers without power with wind gusts over 50 mph, and freezing rain that month put ice on lines across the region. Those are the outages that last long enough to test every weak spot in a house's electrical setup.

Checks done in October are calm; the same checks done by flashlight during an outage are not.

Backup power

Book standby generator service before the first cold snap: oil, filters, a battery load test and a real transfer test. Most no-start calls in the first storm trace to a weak battery or a missed service. If you use a portable generator, test-run it, check the fuel, and make sure it connects through an inlet and interlock or transfer switch. Consumers Energy warns never to run a generator in an attached garage or basement.

Write down the order in which to switch circuits on during an outage and tape it inside the panel door.

Sump pump and critical circuits

Test the sump pump by pouring water into the pit and watching it cycle. Make sure it is on a reliable circuit that will not be tripped by other loads, and that it is included in whatever backup power you have. A battery backup or high-water alarm is worth considering in finished basements.

Space heaters and overloaded circuits

Space heaters are the most common cause of winter breaker trips and overheated outlets. Plug them directly into a wall outlet, not an extension cord or power strip, and keep them off circuits already running other heavy loads. If a heater trips a breaker or makes an outlet warm, stop using that outlet and have the circuit checked; a dedicated circuit may be the answer.

Alarms, outdoor circuits and the panel

Test every smoke and CO alarm and check their dates; smoke alarms are replaced about every ten years. Outages bring candles, heaters and generators into use, which is exactly when these alarms matter. Outside, check that GFCI outlets reset and have in-use covers, especially those used for holiday lights and block heaters.

Finally, look at the panel door without removing the cover. Warm breakers, buzzing, scorch marks or a burning smell are reasons to call before winter, not after.

After an outage

When the power comes back, check that the furnace, sump pump and freezer restarted. Look for lights that are brighter or dimmer than normal, which can point to a damaged neutral. If the service mast or drop was damaged, stay clear and call both the utility and an electrician; see our storm damage repair page.