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In the Dark
While it’s not possible to know ahead of time when a power outage might strike, you can still be prepared. Keep reading to find out what you need to do in the event your house loses power, so your goods—and family—stay safe.
Flip the Switch
Set all light switches in the off position except for one. Leaving one light on will let you know when electricity has been restored.
Manual Labor
All electronic or automatic garage doors have a bypass that allows you to open them manually. Make sure you know how to open your garage door by hand in the event of a power outage—or a lost remote.
Don't Play With Fire
If you choose to light up your darkness with candles instead of flashlights, place them on a solid, stable, noncombustible surface, and make sure to have a fire extinguisher handy. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
Have a Backup
Battery backups (like this one from Amazon) absorb high amounts of energy to protect your electronics, feature plenty of extra outlets, and can even display warnings and diagnostics. In the event of a surge or outage, these handy devices will keep your electronics running until you are able to shut them down safely.
Suppress Those Surges
Install surge protectors (like this option from Amazon) to help suppress surges and voltage fluctuations, which will protect equipment from damage during power disturbances.
When in Doubt…
. . . throw it out. After a power outage, never rely merely on smell or appearance to determine if food is safe to eat. According to foodsafety.gov, food should be safe if the power has been out for no more than four hours. Discard any perishable food, such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers, that has been above 40 degrees F for more than two hours.
Consider a Generator
Many homeowners install generators to ensure continuous power availability. If you think you might want to run your house (or a portion of it) on a generator, take the time to do some planning first.
Protect Your Data Line
Surges and spikes can travel over data lines as easily as they can over electrical lines, so be sure to connect Ethernet, telephone, and cable lines to devices capable of data line protection.