Do’s and Don’ts of Power Outages

We often forget just how much we rely on electricity until it’s gone. Many of our daily activities, such as watching TV, playing video games, and using our favorite appliances, rely on electricity to run.

When the convenience and luxury of today’s appliances are gone, it can make for an uncomfortable situation. However, following best practices can help keep your home safe and secure during the next power outage. Keep reading to learn more!

Do’s

Report the Outage

When you’re suddenly without power, the first thing you should investigate is whether or not your street has been affected as well. If your neighbors are without power, you’re part of a local outage. It’s always a good idea to report local outages as your electric company utilizes these reports to determine the size of the outage.

Use Lanterns for Light

While it may be tempting to light a few of your favorite scented candles for a dim glow, lit candles can be a fire hazard, which you’ll want to avoid at all costs during a power outage.

Candles emit little light compared to portable lanterns, so you’ll be able to navigate larger areas of your home with the help of a lantern. Don’t have portable lanterns on hand? Use a battery-powered or phone flashlight instead.

Unplug Electronics

Sensitive items like computers, televisions, and microwaves should be unplugged after a power outage occurs. Sudden power surges can destroy these items, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your appliances!

Put Perishable Food on Ice

If you’re without power and a generator, you’ll need to put your perishable items on ice to prevent spoilage. Pack your food into coolers with ice, or place bags of ice in the freezer directly. Taking the proper steps to protect your food can help prevent a costly grocery store trip once the outage is resolved.

Don’ts

Frequently Opening the Fridge

Once you’ve stocked your fridge or freezer with ice, keep that door closed to help protect your food. There’s most likely a limited amount of cool air left inside, so help preserve as much as possible by keeping the door shut.

Using a Generator Indoors

If you’ve prepped for future power outages with a generator, way to go! Just make sure to ONLY run it outside, as using a generator indoors will expose your household to toxic carbon monoxide fumes. Make sure to also keep it out of your garage, as the fumes could still sneak into the home.

Forgetting to Grab the Essentials

When the power’s out, you’ll need to grab some key essentials. Don’t forget to collect some batteries, flashlights for each member of the household, water, and some nonperishable food items. Power outages can be uncomfortable if proper steps are not taken to prepare, so make sure you always have these items on hand in the event of an outage.

Neglecting to Conserve Phone Battery

During a power outage, you’ll want to conserve as much energy as possible on your mobile device as a precautionary measure. While it may be tempting to scroll through social media and play mobile games, we urge you to save your battery for any potential calls you may need to make.

Professional Generator Services

Power outages can be challenging to navigate, but having a generator on hand can make weathering the storm easier. Keep your appliances running, your food chilled, and your home comfortable with our premier generator services. We offer both portable and standby units ready to support your family’s power needs. Hutton is Norfolk’s trusted provider for all things electrical services. Give us a ring today at 757-302-8770 or contact us on our website.