TIPS TO HANDLE A POWER OUTAGE
Power outages are simply unavoidable, and you don’t know when a power outage is about to hit. There is never a good time to experience a power failure. If you find yourself amid a power outage, here are a few tips on how to make the situation as comfortable as possible.
Locate the source of the problem
There are various reasons for a power outage in your home, so the first thing you need to do in the event of a power failure is to check if the problem is inside your home, such as a defective device or broken light bulb that could have blown a fuse or disconnected the supply. You can find this by checking your trip switches or fuses to see if there is a defect with your wiring or equipment. If the trip switch is turned to the off position or the fuses have blown, it can be assumed that you have a faulty device or are having issues with your wiring. If you don’t feel confident addressing the problem, then it’s appropriate to call an electrician. However, if this is not the cause and your neighbourhoods are also experiencing a power failure, you need to make suitable preparations for the duration of the cut.
Switch Off Your Appliances
During a power failure, you should switch off all devices but keep one light on to indicate when the power comes back on. While most of your equipment will be good without electricity, your fridge and freezer might start to melt, so it’s essential to keep the doors closed, so the ingredients stay cool for as long as possible. Once the power comes back on again, ensure any frozen food has not been defrosted, or any refrigerated food hasn’t been ruined.
During a power failure, provisional lighting methods such as a fireplace or gas oven are frequently used to heat or as a substitute for lighting, causing carbon monoxide levels to rise. Therefore, it’s very important to install detectors at all levels of the home to keep track of carbon monoxide levels. In addition, it’s also essential to make sure that any heaters and cooking devices that use electricity are also disconnected.
Preparation Is Important
You might have taken all the necessary measures to make your home more energy efficient, but you wouldn’t have thought about how your household would cope with no electricity. So you need to plan in advance by ensuring you have other alternatives, such as torch lights fitted with new batteries, candles and matches, battery-powered heaters, etc.
Another excellent way to combat a power outage is by installing a standby generator, which will automatically switch on seconds after a power failure. Installing a generator at your home or your business place brings enormous value, peace of mind for starters, and living life without any interruptions.
Conclusion:
A power outage can make us realise how much we rely on electricity in our everyday lives. But when you follow the tips mentioned above and prepare yourself for a power outage, you can make the situation as painless as possible.