No one expects their power to go out. However, a power outage can happen at any time — and it can be more than an inconvenience if you aren’t prepared. We rely on electricity for many services in our day-to-day lives, so a lot of problems can arise when it’s no longer working. This fact is felt more in the summer months when there’s hot weather, as it becomes much more challenging to stay comfortable when we can’t use electricity to keep cool.
Thankfully, there are things you can do to ensure your family stays safe during a power outage in the summer. Taking the right steps to protect yourself and prepare your home now can save you time, money, and stress later down the line. To learn more about what to do when the power goes out during the summertime, follow these seven helpful tips.
Make Preparations
If the power goes out, you must be able to maintain safety in your residence. Ideally, if you’ve prepared for power outages before, you know the importance of having batteries and flashlights available. However, candles shouldn’t be used during a summer power outage because they’re a potential fire hazard. Having a first aid kit on hand is also a good idea in case someone gets hurt.
Take Into Account What Will No Longer Work
After the power goes out in your home, it’s important to consider which appliances won’t function. Without electricity, certain services will be unavailable until electricity is restored to your power grid. For example, the food in your refrigerator will spoil unless you take steps to keep it cool. Before anything spoils or melts, get some ice and fill the fridge with bowls to keep perishables as cold as possible. Having frozen ice packs ready ahead of time is a good idea, as will keeping the fridge doors closed to prevent any cool air from escaping.
Communication is essential for calling ambulances, electrical services, and other important things. If the power went out, then home phones and WiFi will be unavailable. Ensuring that your cell phones and other similar devices are charged beforehand will let you use them longer.
Keep Electronic Devices Unplugged
If the power went out in your house, make sure your electronic devices are unplugged. When the power comes back on, you may experience a surge which can damage electronic appliances that are plugged in. Televisions, computers, and other similar devices are at risk of damage, so be sure to unplug all of the electronics in your home.
What to Do When Power Goes Out During the Day
There are different things that can be done depending on the time that your power went out. For example, if your power goes out during the day, open the curtains to let at least a little light in. Doing so will help you illuminate the indoor rooms in your home so you and your family can see where you’re going.
It’s also much hotter during the day, meaning that it’s important to find ways to remain cool. Turning on battery-powered fans will create a source of cool air, so long as the batteries are charged. However, because dehydration can lead to dangerous health problems, the most important thing you must remember is to drink plenty of water. To ensure you have enough water for everyone in your family, keep some filled bottles and containers on hand.
What to Do When Power Goes Out At Night
If the power goes out at night, keep a few windows open enough to let cooler air inside. Additionally, to prevent any injuries, it’s best to make sure everyone has a flashlight so they can see where they’re going in the dark.
Determine Why the Power Went Out
It is important to identify why the power went out in the first place. A passing storm may have caused an outage for the neighborhood if multiple homes don’t have power. Contact the electric company any time you lose power in your home.
If Your Power Went Out, Call A-1 Electric Today
By taking the right steps, you can keep everyone in your home safe when the power goes out. However, not everyone is ready when summer heat and storm season kicks in, so saving the number for A-1 Electric in your phone is a good idea. Our team can perform emergency electrical service in Bucks County and the surrounding areas. Plus, they can come out on an as-needed basis for other electrical issues you may face.
A-1 Electric is an independent team of commercial electrical contractors in Philadelphia, PA standing by to provide you with fast, reliable electrical services. In emergency situations when you need an expert on hand as soon as possible, our 24-hour electricians in Philadelphia are ready to help. Give our team a call today to learn more or to schedule your appointment.
