Power outages are an unfortunate fact of life, especially during thunderstorm season in Texas. Sometimes, the power just flickers out for a second or two, but other times, the outage lasts for hours or more. What should you do when the power goes out? Start by following these five steps.
Check to see if your neighbors have power.
First, you must determine if there is an actual power outage or just something wrong with the electrical connection to your home by asking your neighbors if they have power. If the problem is isolated to your house and you're up-to-date on your Frontier bill, then call an electrician to take a look at your home's system.
Unplug vulnerable appliances.
Most modern appliances are equipped with capacitors to protect them from power surges. However, older appliances may not have such capacitors, and many washers, dryers, microwaves, and dishwashers lack such technology. If you're not confident that an appliance is equipped with a surge protector, unplug it. This could prevent damage if there is a power surge as the electricity kicks back on.
Call your utility provider.
Call your utility provider, such as CenterPoint (not your utility retailer) as they may be able to tell you when you can expect service to be restored so you know how to plan for the days ahead. If the power will be restored in an hour or two, you can just sit tight. If service won't be restored for days, you may want to move forward with your plan B.
Protect your food.
Leave the fridge and freezer doors closed to keep the food cold. If the power is expected to be out for more than 24 hours, you'll either need to connect your freezer to a generator or keep food in a cooler with blocks of ice to keep it frozen.
Rent a generator.
If you already have a generator, then you're all set! If you do not have one, you may want to rent one if:
- You have someone old or young in your family as they are more at-risk to overheating without air conditioning.
- Someone in your family requires electricity to power medical equipment.
- You have several freezers and refrigerators full of food to keep cold.
Need a reliable electricity provider? Give us a call today: 877-437-7442. For more tips, check out our previous post "2018 Hurricane Season: Are You Prepared?"