Five things to NOT do if you have a power outage situation

You know that feeling: The lights flicker, then go off. You are in the dark, no power, no Internet. You jump up, ready to do … something. But there are things you should never do in a power outage situation.

If you are in a power outage situation, it’s easy to panic and just want things to go back to normal as quickly as possible. But that’s not a reason to make a mistake that could lead to more disruption in your life.

Here are five things to NEVER do in a power outage situation. Read on:

Assume everyone lost power

Sometimes, a quick check to make sure you are in an actual power outage situation – and not just that your home for whatever reason lost power – is the best course of action. Maybe your circuit breaker was overloaded. Maybe there is an issue with wiring. Call or text your neighbor to ask if they are out, or check for outages on the power company’s website on your cell phone.

Open your refrigerator

We get it, it’s a habit. Open and close your refrigerator to get a snack or a drink. But if you are out of power, keeping your refrigerator and freezer closed will keep the temperature stable, meaning your food will stay colder longer – possibly up to a day or two!

Go near downed power lines or standing water

If your power is out due to a storm, the last thing you need to do is go near a downed power line or investigate where there is standing water (like in your basement). You can get a bad shock and possibly be killed or seriously injured. Wait for the experts to handle it.

Run down your phone battery

Let’s face it: It’s tempting during a power outage to scroll social media or text with friends but you’ll use up your phone battery and then what will you do if you need to make an emergency call? Trust us: Put the phone down and wait.

Light candles

Candles might seem like a great idea but if you have kids and pets – or if you are not in the habit of using caution around open flames – they are a bad idea. Stock up on the flameless ones and have some sturdy flashlights (and plenty of batteries) accessible.

Quality Electric

If you have questions about power outages, we’d love to chat. Contact us today and let one of our expert electricians come out and do an inspection.