Important Things To Do During A Power Outage

Important Things To Do During A Power Outage

According to reports, each household in Australia suffers at least 200 minutes of outages per year, whether planned or unplanned.

Power outages can occur due to a surge in demand and supply, severe weather conditions, bushfires, technical faults or tree branches that hit your powerlines. 

Thus, it is important to be prepared for a blackout with an emergency backup plan to save water, electricity and food. You can install a generator to ensure that you still have electricity even in a blackout, but only a licensed electrician in Australia should connect it. Besides this, there are many steps you should follow to survive a power outage, such as:

What Causes Power Outages

Power outages in Australia can occur due to the following reasons:

• Trees that interfere with the power lines
• Severe weather conditions like floods, heatwaves, lightning and storms
• Technical faults
• Bushfires
• Maintenance work
• A surge in demand and supply during peak times

Thus, it is important first to determine the cause of the outage and then act accordingly. If you are still determining the cause, you can report the outage to a distributor in Australia, who will check the main supply line and determine what caused the blackout. Once you have contacted your distributor, they will start working on restoring your power, but till then, you can take the following steps to survive:

What To Do During A Power Outage

1. Switch Off All Appliances

The first and foremost thing you must do in a power outage is to switch off all your electronic equipment and appliances. If your heat is on, you should turn your thermostat to the minimum so that when the power is restored, your heater won’t experience a surge. If your appliances and electronics are turned off, it can help restore power quickly due to a lighter load.

You can also look at these electrical safety tips in case of an emergency to stay safe.

2. Keep Emergency Lights

You must use flashlights and LED lights that run on batteries to stay safe and turn off all the lights inside your home. You can leave one light on in your sitting room to know when the power gets restored. Also, it is important to use a power bank to charge your phone battery to have it in an emergency.

Tip: 

If you do not have a power bank or it has run out of charge, you can use your car battery to charge your mobile phone.

3. Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

If you are using charcoal stoves or heaters, you should keep them outside and at least 20 feet away so that you are not exposed to carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an odourless but powerful gas that can prove life-threatening with high exposure. It is a good idea to stay warm using blankets and sheets rather than turning on Your heat or stove.

4. Use A Generator Carefully

A home generator is a blessing when you have a power outage, but you should let a certified electrician in Australia install it.

• You should also keep your generator and fuel at least 20 feet away from your doors, windows and garages so that no toxic fumes enter your home.
• It is a good idea to install battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors in your home to help you monitor your carbon monoxide levels while running your generator.
• Also, you should connect your lights and equipment directly to your generator. If you use a power cord, ensure it is of good quality and certified.

Besides this, here are some electrical safety tips for your home and workplace to keep you safe.

5. Preserve Your Food

If your power outage lasts for several days, you must preserve your food in the fridge and freezer. Ensure you do not open your fridge and freezer for as long as possible, so the cool air stays insulated. Your freezer can stay cool for up to 48 hours if it is empty and for 24 hours if it is half-full. You should also keep your fridge temperature below 4o degrees Celsius to preserve your food for at least 4 hours. If your food has gone bad, throw it away and eat canned food and soup instead.

6. Save Your Water Pipes

You should also prevent your pipes from freezing by letting the taps drip slowly. If the temperature is below freezing, turn off the main water supply and valve and drain your taps. You can also wrap your pipes with sheets and plastic to keep them warm.

After The Power Outage

• Once your power is restored, you should call an expert electrician to check your power lines and circuit breakers to ensure it is safe.
• You can also ask your electrician to check if your house needs any rewiring after the power surge.
• You should turn on your main water line and drain valve and restock your fridge and pantry.
• It is also a good idea to use this as a precaution for the future and keep an emergency kit with water bottles, canned food, medicines, power banks, a first-aid kit, a battery-powered flashlight and a radio.

Conclusion

A power outage can create many problems if you are unprepared, but following the above steps can help you stay safe even during a blackout. As a general precaution, let an electrician in Australia install surge protectors to protect your home from a power surge so that your power supply does not stop due to a rise in demand. These surge protectors will also protect all your equipment from any damage when the power comes back on.