Molly Ayala
Power outages can be stressful and dangerous, but there are several steps you can take to stay safe and reduce interruptions. Firstly, determine the cause of the outage. Check your fuse box for any tripped switches or blown fuses, and reset them if necessary. If the problem persists, contact an electrician. Next, protect your appliances and electronics by unplugging them to prevent damage from power surges. Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed to prevent food spoilage, and use a generator or coolers with ice to maintain food safety. Conserve your phone battery and stay connected with walkie-talkies and battery-operated radios. Be cautious when using alternative heat sources, and always use generators and fuel outdoors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Finally, prepare for power outages by keeping your vehicle's fuel tank at least half full, stocking non-perishable food and water, and signing up for priority services if you need extra support during outages.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| If electricity goes out | Confirm what is happening. Check your main electric panel to see if a breaker tripped. |
| What to do if electricity is gone | Unplug your appliances. Turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment, or electronics. |
| Protect your perishable food. Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed. | |
| Conserve your phone's battery. | |
| Keep yourself warm. | |
| Keep your vehicles' fuel tank at least half full. | |
| Make sure any essential medical equipment has a battery backup. | |
| If you have a gas tank or tankless water heater, it will still need the main power to switch the pilot light on and heat the water. | |
| Contact your electricity provider or visit their website for real-time updates on outages and estimated restoration times. | |
| If there's an immediate risk, like a fire, electrical hazard, or someone in medical distress during a power cut, call 999 immediately. |
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What You'll Learn
Unplug appliances to prevent damage from power surges
When the electricity goes out, it is important to take steps to protect your appliances and electronics from potential damage caused by power surges when the power returns. Power surges can occur when power is restored, and while they are rare, they can damage your appliances and electronics.
To prevent this, it is recommended to unplug all appliances and electronics as soon as the power goes out. This is because power surges can damage sensitive equipment, such as TVs, computers, and tablets, as well as large appliances when the power returns. Unplugging these devices will help to protect them from potential damage.
Additionally, it is important to be mindful of safety hazards. For example, it is easy to forget about appliances that were in use before the power outage, such as the stove or iron. If you are not home when the power returns, these appliances could pose a safety risk. Therefore, it is advisable to unplug them or turn them off before leaving the house.
Furthermore, if you have a backup electric generator, it is crucial to follow safety guidelines. Generators should always be used outdoors and away from windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. They should also be kept dry to avoid electrical shock, and properly cooled before refueling to prevent fires.
By taking these precautions, you can help protect your appliances and electronics from potential damage caused by power surges during a power outage.
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Conserve your phone battery
Conserving your phone battery is crucial when the electricity is out, as your phone is a vital source of information and communication during a power outage. Here are some ways to ensure your phone battery lasts longer in such situations:
Before a Power Outage
Planning ahead is essential to ensure your phone stays charged during a power outage. Firstly, keep your phone plugged in and charged as much as possible when a storm or power outage is expected. Additionally, charge other devices like laptops and tablets, which can then be used as backup charging stations for your phone. It is also a good idea to invest in portable chargers or power banks and ensure they are fully charged and ready to use when needed.
During a Power Outage
Once the power goes out, there are several measures you can take to conserve your phone battery. Adjust the display settings by lowering the brightness and turning down the screen to the lowest comfortable level. This simple step can significantly extend your battery life. Additionally, disable features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and location services, as they draw power even when not in direct use. If possible, avoid charging your phone while performing other tasks such as gaming, as this can cause heating and put a strain on the battery and system.
Optimise Phone Usage
Optimising your phone usage can also help prolong your battery life. Opt for texting over calling, as phone calls can quickly drain your battery. Avoid using your phone for entertainment, such as playing music or podcasts, during a power outage. Instead, only access apps when necessary, and close any unused apps running in the background. Voice assistants like Siri and Google Assistant can also be disabled, as they may constantly run in the background, waiting for commands and consuming power.
Charging Techniques
Understanding some charging techniques can help you make the most of your phone's battery. It is recommended to keep your phone's charge between 20% and 80% to conserve the battery cycle and slow down battery health depletion. Using a battery case or portable charger, turn on the case when your phone reaches 20% battery, and turn it off once it reaches 80%. This technique helps optimise charging efficiency and reduces the strain on your phone's battery.
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Keep fridges and freezers closed
Keeping fridges and freezers closed is one of the most important things to do when the electricity goes out. According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), a refrigerator will keep food safe for up to four hours during a power outage, but only if the door is kept closed. The FSA also advises that a full freezer will maintain a safe temperature for about 48 hours if the door remains closed, but this duration is reduced to 24 hours for a half-full freezer.
It is important to note that if the power is out for longer than four hours, perishable food in the fridge should be discarded. Food in the freezer should be safe for up to a day, depending on its fullness. If the power outage persists, consider using coolers with ice to keep refrigerated items below 40°F. Throw away any food exposed to temperatures of 40°F or higher for two hours or more, or if it develops an unusual odour, colour, or texture.
During a power outage, it is crucial to protect your appliances and electronics from potential damage. Power surges can occur when electricity is restored, harming sensitive equipment such as TVs, computers, and tablets. Unplug or turn off all appliances and electronics to prevent electrical hazards and potential safety risks, especially if you are not at home when the power returns.
Additionally, it is recommended to have a backup electric generator to power critical appliances during a power outage. Portable generators are smaller and more affordable options, but they should always be used outdoors due to carbon monoxide emissions. Whole house and standby generators are larger units that automatically turn on during blackouts and can power most equipment in your home.
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Use a generator outdoors and away from windows
If you're experiencing a power outage and want to use a generator, it's important to take precautions for your safety. Here are some detailed instructions for using a generator outdoors and away from windows:
Firstly, always use a generator outdoors and never inside an enclosed space, such as a garage or crawl space. Keep the generator at least 20 feet away from windows, doors, and attached garages. This is crucial because generators release carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless, odorless, and deadly gas. To ensure your safety, install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup on every level of your home.
When setting up the generator, choose a dry and well-ventilated area away from any sources of heat or flame, such as fireplaces or heaters. Make sure the generator is on level ground and that there are no cords plugged into the unit. For gasoline-powered generators, ensure you understand the fueling process before adding fuel for the first time. Always store fuel separately from the generator, and never refuel the generator while it's still hot. Allow it to cool down first to avoid the risk of ignition.
When connecting appliances, use heavy-duty extension cords designed for generators. If using a portable generator, follow the manufacturer's instructions for connecting devices. Some generators may require you to start with the highest-power-drawing appliances, such as refrigerators, and then gradually add others. Do not attempt to draw more power from the generator than it is rated to supply, as this can lead to overheating and fire hazards.
Remember to disconnect appliances before starting the generator to prevent power surges when the power returns. Additionally, never connect the generator directly to your home's electrical system unless you have a transfer switch installed by a qualified electrician. This setup allows for a safe connection to your home's power supply.
By following these instructions, you can safely use a generator outdoors during a power outage while minimising risks to yourself and your property.
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Check your fuse box and call an electrician if needed
If the electricity is out, you should check your fuse box to see if a breaker has tripped. Fuses prevent circuits from overheating, which can cause fires or damage devices. If you have tripped a circuit breaker, first disconnect anything on that circuit, then flip the breaker back on. If you are frequently tripping the same circuit breaker, call an electrician.
If you have an older home, you may have glass fuses that look like light bulbs. When these blow, they need to be replaced. Newer homes are more likely to have circuit breakers, which can simply be flipped and reset.
To check your fuses, first, turn off the power and unplug any appliances on the blown circuit. Look for a large switch at the top of the panel and toggle it from "On" to "Off". If there is no switch, look for a large block at the top of the panel. Pull it out and check for "On" and "Off" labels. If it is labelled, reinsert it with the "Off" side facing up.
Next, check the fuses for charred glass or broken filaments. If there is a diagram or labels on the inside of the panel door, you can use this to locate the fuse that corresponds to the room where the power went out. Twist this fuse counterclockwise, pull it out from the socket, and look inside the glass for black marks or a broken filament wire. If your fuse box is unlabelled, check each fuse individually for charred marks or broken filaments. Once you've found the blown fuse, label it.
When replacing the fuse, make sure to use one with the same power rating. Look for a number on the fuse, which indicates its amp rating. Write this number down or take the blown fuse with you to the hardware store to get an identical match.
Once you've plugged in the new fuse, check that you have disconnected all of your electrical devices from the broken circuit. Then, flip the main fuse switch or reinsert the main block to restore power to your home. If your electronics still don't work after replacing the fuse, shut down the main power and check that the fuse is tightly connected. If the fuse blows again, you may be using more electrical devices than the circuit can handle, so try unplugging some devices or turning off non-essential appliances. If you still can't identify the problem, call an experienced electrician.
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Frequently asked questions
First, check your fuse box or circuit panel for any switches in the 'off' position or that have flipped downwards. Resetting a tripped breaker is straightforward: flip the switch back to the 'on' position. If the breaker won't stay on, unplug appliances from that circuit and try resetting it again. If this doesn't work, call an electrician.
Turn off or unplug all appliances to prevent power surges from damaging sensitive equipment and large appliances when the power returns.
Keep the doors closed to prevent food spoilage. A refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours, while a full freezer will keep food frozen for about 48 hours. If the power is out for longer, use ice to keep food cold.
Conserve your phone battery and use walkie-talkies to communicate with family and neighbours. A battery-operated or wind-up radio can provide news updates.
Unplug electrical devices that could pose a danger when the power returns, such as ovens, irons, and heaters. Keep a first aid kit handy and leave one light on to indicate when the power is back.
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