Power outages aren’t usually top of mind but when the power fails, it’s more than an inconvenience. It can be downright dangerous for homeowners trying to cool their homes in summer heat or run essential devices like CPAP machines, as well as for emergency services that risk losing communication during critical situations.
Batteries Plus franchise owner Chris Shea is determined to help the Greater Boston area stay prepared with backup power solutions for when emergencies strike. His franchise in Woburn, Massachusetts has evolved into an essential hub for backup battery solutions for homeowners and business owners alike, keeping basements dry, hospitals powered, and safety communication systems online.
Keeping Boston’s Emergency Services Prepared
The majority of Shea’s top business partnerships rely on his services for backup battery power to support the systems built to protect people, property, and data. Shea finds himself powering even the most critical industries, including police and fire communications, as well as hospitals – some of which require as many as 20 industrial-scale generators to provide electricity during power outages.
“Battery power might be behind the scenes, but it’s critically necessary to be prepared with a backup option,” said Shea. “Power loss can happen in an instant and there’s no room for downtime when public safety is on the line. Our batteries are a silent partner in that equation.”
Shea points out hospitals are so reliant on backup power supply, many won’t even allow a surgery to move forward if there isn’t a properly operating backup generator in place due to the unpredictable nature of a power outage event. That critical need has led to his business being the go-to resource for solutions should an emergency issue arise, day or night.
Supporting the Healthcare Industry
Shea’s Batteries Plus store’s support of the healthcare industry extends even beyond hospitals. He’s especially proud of his work supplying backup solutions for local assisted living facilities. His commercial business services help provide battery and backup battery needs for medical mobility equipment, like electric wheelchairs. Particularly in an assisted living facility, electric wheelchairs are a lifeline for a resident’s mobility and sense of independence, and proper batteries to power essential medical devices can quite literally be lifesaving.
“Whether it’s for a wheelchair, a vital piece of equipment, or emergency lighting, the people in healthcare who rely on those batteries can’t afford any disruption. It’s one of the most meaningful parts of what we do,” said Shea.
Protecting the Home
As the North American Electric Reliability Corporation predicts the New England area is in an elevated risk of suffering blackouts during times of extreme heat this summer, the demand for power resilience isn’t limited to municipal and public services. Shea points out that every home has become its own micro-infrastructure hub – which has become inherently evident with the rise of remote work, smart homes, and complex car electronics.
For those who spend a majority of their workday at home, a failure of power without the proper backup system in place can mean a loss of invaluable data and disruption of important virtual meetings, not to mention the decrease in productivity. Backup batteries can mean the difference of having time to save your work before the computer shuts down rather than starting over and scrambling to meet a deadline. Backup solutions are essential when it comes to home office uninterruptable power supply (UPS) units, like surge protectors, as well as fiber-optic internet systems.
Another area of the home where a reliable backup system is crucial is the basement – where a sump pump backup battery can be the protection barrier a home needs to stop water seepage. This is where storm season is of particular concern as it seems to be the most common time a home experiences an outage. But as most sump pumps run on an electric system, if the power goes out, so does the pump that’s keeping rainwater from filling the basement.
Shea’s Batteries Plus business provides the backup batteries that professional waterproofing companies install in homes to keep basements dry. These systems not only give homeowners peace of mind that their basement is safe from water damage, but they’re also becoming a requirement by insurance companies.
“Between Boston’s home prices and aging housing stock, even minor water damage to a basement can significantly threaten property value,” continued Shea. “It’s why some insurance companies are now requiring homeowners to install battery backups on sump pumps. Meaning, if your basement floods and you didn’t have a backup battery installed, you could be denied a claim for flooding.”
Beyond basements, backup batteries are also essential for:
- Home security systems
- Smart home devices
- Garage doors
- Electric vehicle power sources
While the weather may be unpredictable, Shea’s mission remains steady: to provide his community with vital backup resources to stay prepared, powered, and protected.