What to Do When the Lights Go Out at Home

It is unexpected and unpleasant when the lights go out in your home. This can happen during severe storms, power outages, or even when you forget to pay your electricity bill. Regardless of the cause, experiencing a sudden power outage can be unnerving and leave you in the dark, quite literally. Therefore, it’s essential to know what to do when the lights go out. This blog post will discuss the first steps to take when power goes out.

Check Your Circuit Breaker

When the lights go out, the first thing you should do is check your circuit breaker. The circuit breaker panel is usually located in your garage or a utility closet. Check to see if all the switches are on and reset any that have tripped. This could be all you need to do to restore power to your home. If the breaker keeps tripping, this could be an indication of a larger issue and you should contact professional electricians.

Turn Off Appliances

If you have already checked your circuit breaker, and it seems in good condition, then it’s time to turn off all your electrical appliances. This protects your devices from damage when the power comes back on. It is also important to note that when power goes out, there could be surges when the power comes back on, which could damage your electrical appliances.  Therefore, switching them off is best until the power has been fully restored. Once the power is back, you can turn your devices back on one at a time.

Notify Your Electricity Provider

It’s important to call your electricity provider and inform them when the lights go out in your home. This could be due to storms or maintenance work, and they could give you an estimate of how long it would take for them to restore power. You can also inquire about any other issues that could have caused the power outage or if there are any other areas affected by the outage.

Stay Safe

Ensure that you have a flashlight handy when dealing with a power loss. Examine the perimeter of your home using the flashlight and ensure that all doors and windows are locked and secured. You should also avoid using candles to minimize the risk of fire. If you have a portable generator, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use it in a well-ventilated area to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

Be Patient

The most significant advice to remember is to stay patient. Power outages could last for a few hours. However, it could also take longer for your power to be restored, depending on the problem. If the lights go out in your home for an extended period, consider seeking temporary accommodation or planning for alternative power sources such as inverters, generators, or battery backup systems.

Power outages are an unwelcome surprise, but there are some steps you can take to restore power or stay safe during a power loss. If the lights go out in your home, you must check your circuit breaker, turn off your appliances, notify your electricity provider, stay safe, and be patient while waiting for the power to return. Taking these steps will help you stay safe during the outage, protect your appliances from damage, and ensure that you are ready when the power gets restored.