At times we all take for granted the little things in our life that help keep your life just the way that we like it. Our homes, cars, grocery stores, electricity, water, and more all help to make our lives easier each and every day. When some of those things stop working properly we do not always know what to do. Today Peterkin Electric wants to give you some tips on what to do if your power goes out.

How to Prepare for Power Outage

One of the best things that you can do to help make having your power out easier is be prepared. Your home should have an emergency box filled with things that you may need to grab in case of an emergency. In that box you should flashlights, batteries, an emergency radio, and some food. You will want to periodically check your emergency kit to make sure that everything is still working. Your food will need to be changed out as well so that you do not end up with food that you cannot eat because it is expired. Many homeowners have generators on their property. If the power goes out you can use a back-up generator to provide power to your home until power is restored.

Power Outage in My Area

When your power goes out it can be overwhelming to know what you should do first. Having your emergency box will help you be able to complete the rest of the tasks on your list. The first thing that you should do is check and see if your neighbors also lost their power. Typically if the power outage is widespread you will be without power for a longer period of time. In addition to checking with your neighbors you will want to call the power company. Many times the power company will have a recording giving you information about large power outages.

Electrical Failure

Sometimes the power goes out and it is not a power outage anywhere but your house. This is a sign of electrical failure. If this happens to you make sure that you call Peterkin Electric right away. We can send a technician out immediately to help with your emergency electrical problems. Our goal is to help you get your power back on as quickly as possible.

How to Prepare for Long Term Power Outage

If the power outage is going to be longer you will want to take some precautions. Fill your tubs and sinks with water. Many times the water sanitation system will not function if the power outage is very extensive. You will be able to use the water in your tubs and sinks to drink and cook with until the power is restored. Next you will want to worry about your electronics. You should unplug all of your electronics including computers, laptops, gaming systems, and cell phones.

Battery Operated & Other Lights for Power Outages

Everyone in your family will feel more at ease in the dark if they have a light of some sort. Flashlights are the best option. You can also use glow sticks if you have them. Candles work to provide light but you do not want to walk around with them. If you have tea light candles or votive candles you will want to put them in jars or candle holders so prevent accidents.

How to Keep Food from Spoiling in a Power Outage

While you are waiting for your power to come back on try and keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. The food in the fridge will stay good for four hours without power and the food in the freezer will last up to 24 hours. If your power is out for longer than this amount you will want to start eating what you can so that it does not perish.

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Peterkin Electric hope that these tips help make your experience with a power outage much smoother. If you have a power outage that is specific to your home don’t forget to give us a call here at Peterkin Electric!