What to Do When the Power Goes Out in the Winter
Posted on October 25, 2013 by Oozle Media
Fall is upon us, and winter is fast approaching. With Utah’s unrelenting snow storms and unpredictable weather, there’s always a chance that the power will go out. Be prepared if this situation should arise, and know exactly how you are going to react.
First reaction
Before you start to overreact, make sure that you haven’t blown a circuit or a fuse. This is likely if the electricity in your home has been over exerted. You can ask around to your neighbors to see if their power is out too, or, if it is night, just look outside to see if the street lamps are still lit.
If it affects more than just your home, your only option will be to call the local utility company to report the outage. When it has happened to more than just a small group of houses, it is likely that they already know about the problem, and it may take a bit longer to fix.
Being prepared
No matter the season, you should be prepared to take on this problem. There are a few things that every homeowner needs to be aware of should this situation arise during the winter. This includes:
- Have a battery powered radio at your home. Switch it on to a news station to get information about the outage, and how long it is expected to last.
- Those with electric powered furnaces will feel the cold. Dress warm, and do all you can to keep your house above freezing if the outage lasts an extended period of time. If your stove is gas powered, use it to help heat the home. Light your fireplace and monitor it, while staying close to the heat.
- Unplug appliances such as the TV, toaster, computer, and others that you can’t use anyways. This will prevent a power surge from occurring once the power comes back on.
- If you have a backup generator for an occasion such as this, make sure that it is not connected to the power grid. Not paying attention to this will allow electricity to flow in both directions, endangering those working at the power company.
- Of course it is always best to be prepared with a lighting solution should the power go out. Candles and flashlights should be readily available for the night.
Dealing with a power outage can be stressful, but you can cut down on much of the trouble by being properly prepared for the situation. Don’t panic when you are faced with a power outage. If you are experiencing further troubles after the power has come back on, contact us at JP Electrical. We can get things situated for you, back even better than they were before.
Categories: Tips