What to Do When Your Home Loses Power Suddenly
Losing power unexpectedly can be alarming and inconvenient. Being prepared and knowing the right steps to take is essential. When Your Home Loses Power Suddenly Here’s a guide on what you should do if your home suddenly loses power.
Stay Calm and Assess the Situation
First of all, it is very important to remain focused and not to panic as doing so will serve to aggravate the situation. The first thing that you may want to do is assess if it is just a power cut in your house or if there is a power outage in the entire neighborhood. Check out the window and find whether power was also cut off to other houses.
Check Your Circuit Breaker
There are times when a power outage may be caused by a tripped circuit breaker. For instance, make your way to the circuit breaker panel and check if any of the switches have been leaned back. If you observe such, turn it off and turn it back on. If this returns power to the system, you may have just fixed the issue.
Contact Your Utility Company
If turning the breaker back on doesn’t work, then try contacting your utility company. Lots of companies have POS systems where they update the customers regarding the power failure. Always inform the problem if you do not get any updated information on the issue.
Unplug Electronics to Avoid Damage
Following the abrupt interruption of power supply, the end-user’s electronic devices tend to be vulnerable to the sudden influx of electricity, which is restored after the blackout. One way to safeguard your devices is to ‘unplug’ the appliances, computers, and television sets from the socket. It is safe to use them only after the power is back on.
Use Battery-Powered Lights
Rather than using candles, which can create an open flame hazard, use battery-operated charging lights or lamps instead. Store these items in certain places, throughout the house, where they will be easy to locate even during an emergency.
Preserve Food in Your Refrigerator
If there are electrical outages, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed for as long as possible. A refrigerator can keep food cool for approximately 4 hours. A freezer can do this for 24-48 hours. To be more prudent, use a cooler to store ice packs and keep your perishables from getting spoiled.
Stay Informed About the Outage
To verify the recent news on any outage, use your mobile phone. Some utility companies have a text or email notification system to let you know when you can expect the power to be back. Always follow the local news to keep in touch with emergency happenings.
Be Cautious with Generators
When generating power using a generator, observe safety precautions. Use the generator outside and in an area with plenty of fresh air because carbon monoxide gas poses a danger to health. There is no reason why you should operate a generator inside your house or garage. Observe any safety measures that the manufacturer recommends.
Prepare for Extreme Weather Conditions
During such times of the year when electricity can go out due to extreme weather conditions, have additional supplies such as blankets and warm clothing for cold situations. If it’s during hot weather, remember to keep drinking water and hence cool and go to lower levels of the home or use battery-operated fans to cool off.
Plan for Future Outages
When the power goes out, realistically you will wish to be able to sustain yourself for the next occurrence. Therefore, ensure that you have enough reservoir water or bottled water, canned food, lamps and batteries, and first aid kits. You may also want to buy a few extra options for backup power such as a portable generator.
In conclusion
You must always be aware of what measures to take when your home experiences a power outage to avoid panicking. If you heed these suggestions, you will handle the power cuts better so that you and your household remain safe.