What to Do During a Power Outage

Power Outage in Kirkland, WA

Without proper measures in place, a power outage could lead to costly repairs. It could damage major appliances. Additionally, it can also pose a huge risk for you and your family.

One of the leading causes of a power outage is storms. During storms, strong winds might cause trees to fall. If they fall on power lines, they could interrupt your power supply.

Also, power outages could be a result of floods, bushfires, lightning, and heatwaves. Digging near an underground pool could also trigger a power outage. Animals and car accidents may also cause power interruptions.

The best way to survive the effects of the power outage is to take precautions before it happens. Some of these measures may include having a charged phone, a torch, and a battery-operated radio on standby.

Read through the following tips to help you understand what to do in a power outage.

Unplug All Appliances

As the power companies work to solve the power issues, the entire grid usually becomes unstable. The instability in the power grid results in power surges, which could destroy your home appliances.

It is, therefore, recommended that you unplug all electronics and turn off everything when the power is out. You can also choose to turn off your home’s main power breaker.

You may want to leave one light switched on so that if the power comes back on you’ll be able to know it. Alternatively, you may turn off everything and wait to see lights from other households within your block.

Connect a Generator

As you wait for the grid power to be restored, you can connect a generator to light up your home. However, be sure to properly connect your generator before you switch it on. An improperly connected generator could lead to severe issues, including death.

Additionally, running generators generate carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide can be deadly when inhaled. Make sure you run your generator from a safe distance from your house. Carbon monoxide is usually an odorless and colorless gas, so you don’t even realize when you’re inhaling it. At no time should you run your generator from inside your house.

Remember to use the correct extension cord to connect your home appliance with the generator. Look for the right extension cord for your generator from the user manual.

Use Solar Lights

Use the solar lights from your landscaping to light your house during a power outage. While solar lights provide low-level lighting, they will help you spare the flashlight batteries for the situation that necessitates more light. One advantage of solar lights is that they are safe lighting modes. Remember to set the solar light to recharge during the day.

Protect the Data Line

The same way power spikes travel over the electrical lines, they can also travel through your data lines. Therefore, you must have your cable lines, ethernet, and telephone lines connected to a protective device.

Use Carbon Monoxide Detectors

As mentioned earlier, carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas, so it’s not easy to tell whether you are inhaling it. Therefore, your carbon monoxide detector must be functional during a power outage. You can try to replace the batteries if necessary.

Keep Your Freezer Closed

Freezers usually let out cold air whenever you open the freezer door. During a power outage, your freezer won’t be able to restore the desired freezing levels as the fridge operates on power. A closed fridge can keep food cooled for about four hours, so keep your freezer closed.

Fill Your Bathtub

With power outages, the municipal water may as well stop flowing. To ensure that you don’t run out of water during a power outage, make sure you fill your sinks, buckets, and bathtubs right away. That way, you will have some water to use with your household chores before power is restored.

Prepare for Freezing

During the cold season, your plumbing system may burst due to freezing. It is, therefore, recommended to make sure that you drain your plumbing system. You can turn off your main supply valves and keep your lowest valve open. Also, allow air into your system by opening other faucets as the pipes drain.

Plunge sinks, bath drains, and toilets to clean the taps. Finally, plunging these drains will help you prevent the rising sewer gases from getting into your house.

Heating Your Home With a Water Heater

While your house furnace won’t be functional during a power outage, a gas mode water heater can work. You will have to fill your tubs and sinks with warm water and release them when the water attains room temperatures. Although this could not offer you the best comfort, it may make your home temperatures bearable.

Use Mirrors to Amplify Light

Although mirrors don’t generate any light, you can use them to reflect it. Additionally, while most mirrors won’t give you 100% reflection, they might help you bounce light, increasing the house brightness during a blackout.

Use Candles to Light Your House

While this method poses a greater risk, it is an alternative to help you light your house during a power outage. Light up the candle and allow it to melt, and use the candle wax to stick it on a stable surface. With this method, you will be able to light up your house at a lower cost.

Use Alternative Methods to Charge Your Phone

During a power outage, cell phones are of great importance as they help you remain informed and connected. Nowadays, phones come with helpful tools, including a compass and a flashlight to help you navigate a power outage.

To conserve the power of your cellphone, make sure that you close the unused applications. One way to charge your phone during a power outage is through backup chargers. Additionally, you may use your laptop to charge your phone as it might not be helpful without the internet.

Use a Flashlight

Most of the time we hardly use the flashlight. However, you’ll likely need one in case of a power outage. A rechargeable LED flashlight can be of great use. Don’t forget to recharge it once the grid power is back.

Do Not Take Chances

Take extra care during a power outage as the situation poses many dangers for you and your family. Bear in mind that it might be challenging to get back to emergency care during a power outage.

Be sure to reduce movements, especially during the night, to avoid falling and other accidents that might happen. In addition, power outages affect your home’s cooling and heating systems. To help you manage such a situation, be sure to contact Black Lion Heating & Air Conditioning right away. We offer a full range of cooling and heating services, including installation to maintenance.

At Black Lion Heating & Air Conditioning, we have highly qualified and licensed technicians to help you fix all your HVAC systems issues around Seattle and the surrounding areas. We also provide assessments, repairs, new wiring, and inspection services to our clients.
For more information about our services, call us today.