What should one do when a power outage strikes? To survive a power outage one needs to learn about the survival tips. Whether it’s tornadoes, hurricanes, or even thunderstorms, you need to be prepared for the situation.
Follow the following tips to get started. You needn’t do them at once. Do the right things step by step, and you and your home will no longer be in danger.
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What to do After a Power Outage
If your home experiences a power outage, this means no light, electricity, warm food, or fun.
So, what do you do when there’s a power outage?
Things to do First
Your first port of call should be to contact the electricity network operators (the companies that manage and take care of the wires, cables, and substations that bring electricity to your area).
If your phone is not running out of battery, check if your local distribution network operator published information about scheduled maintenance or power cut.
Check the Fuse
Don’t rush to blame your local electricity distributor in advance, as the reason for appliances not working or lights going out may root in the blown fuses. Your fuse board may be able to withstand some pretty intense loads.
Still, stay-at-home homeowners during the hottest/coldest days might come into a situation when the whole neighborhood uses every electrical appliance at once.
Well, this is a problem you can easily handle on your own – with an open cover of the main fuse box in your home, simply turn the trip switches that are OFF (down) in position ON (up), so the electric waves can continue to flow through them.
If you notice any problems after a power outage, you should call licensed electricians to come and check it out.
Turn Off All Electrical Appliances
When there is a power cut, it’s always best to turn any electrical appliances and devices off (heating appliances, fans, ACs, etc.). This is particularly true for extended power outages. You might be out of the home when the power comes back on.
Leave a light switch ON if you don’t intend to leave your property, and you’ll quickly notice when the power is restored.
Install a Surge Protector
Power outages are not friendly to electrical appliances and devices. Be prepared for blackouts with a surge protector installed by an experienced electrician in an electric panel or, if you prefer, highly sensitive electronic devices plugged into surge-protected power strip outlets.
An expensive electrical appliance repair isn’t the only thing you must worry about when there’s a power outage. Fires are also a potential hazard if your home is left unattended when the power comes back.
Have Backup Light Source
Having a backup light source at home is a winning strategy during power outages. Lighting a few candles will provide comfort and warmth when it’s cold outside. Candles, though, are fire hazards, so the safest option is to use torches, which are easier and safer.
Get Camping Stoves
No power means no perishable food and electricity. Losing power for a day or so can seriously disrupt your cooking routine. For many people, camping stoves are the best available alternative to get food prepared and warm when modern electrical systems fail.
Avoid Using Unsafe Heating Sources
Don’t be tempted to use an unsafe heating source in colder seasons to stay warm. Not only do the latter pose fire hazards, but there is also a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. To catch the early signs of the invisible and odorless gas, have carbon monoxide alarms with battery back-ups installed in your home’s central locations and sleeping areas.
Use only a few electrical appliances to avoid tripping the switches
While you may not be able to prevent power outages from happening entirely, there’s a way to avoid tripped switches: try to use only one or two electrical appliances at a time. Remember, a single unused socket might be the difference between happy dinner moments and spooky tales with a torch under your chin. If this problem persists even after using only a few appliances, call an electrician to take a look.
Things to do If Security Alarm System Fails
Burglaries during power outages are common for a reason. Even a 30-minute lack of AC power can quickly turn your home into an attractive target for prying eyes.
The reason? Your security alarm may fail to protect you after a power failure.
Luckily, the time mechanism of your alarm system will give you a warning signal when there’s a power cut. Chances are at 98% that a “beep” will activate because of an exhausted backup battery.
But even if the battery’s not dead, it’s essential to reset your alarm system after a power outage, so your home security and safety can remain intact.
- First, acknowledge that you are aware of the mains power failure by pressing the “System status” button on the alarm keypad twice. To silence the chirping alarm sound, press the button in a rapid sequence. If the system still flashes a code, this checklist will help you stop the trouble beeps, depending on the manufacturer.
- Take the backup battery (if present) out of the keypad or the separate panel box to reset the system entirely after the power cut.
- To avoid electrical issues, unplug the transformer for the device from the wall outlet. Is your alarm system hard-wired? Then, all you have to do is to find the circuit breaker and switch it to the “OFF” position.
- If you suspect the battery is running out of juice, replace it with a brand-new one. Restoring the power after a wide-area outage may take hours, so a durable backup battery will let you set your security normally.
- Let the power stay off for at least 5 minutes for a complete reset. Then, power on! Reconnect the transformer and insert the battery back into the system. Alternatively, flip the circuit breaker switch to “ON” for hard-wired systems.
- Make your home secure once again when you punch in your unique code into the keypad, then press the “OFF” button. Repeat the step as needed. If the previous code doesn’t work, use the default code written in the user manual and follow the instructions to create a new one. If any electrical issues persist, you can always hire professional electricians to check and repair the issue promptly.
Conclusion
Power outages are never pleasant, so it pays to be prepared when they occur.
Now that you know more about what to do during such a moment, you will not only be able to protect your home and electrical equipment, but you will have a much easier time until the power is restored.
