You arrive home from work to find all the lights off. Strange, you think, but maybe nobody else is in. So you open up the door and flick a light switch… still nothing! Turns out the power has gone out.
It’s only when you have no access to electricity that you realize how much we rely on it. Did you know that almost a quarter of American homes has two or more refrigerators? And that’s just one appliance!
This might leave you wondering what to do during a power outage. There are a few things you can do to get through a power outage until the issue has been resolved.
Keep reading to find out some power outage tips!
Deal With the Essentials First
A power outage can bring a plethora of problems, from defrosted food to no hot water, but there are certain things you need to take care of first. This is especially true if you have children or elderly people in your house.
If you don’t have a solar generator, they’re certainly worth looking into as they could solve these issues quickly!
Ways to Get Warm
We are so used to turning up a thermostat or even pressing a button on our phones to warm our home, but when that luxury is removed it can become a worry. There are a few ways you can get warm and stay warm in a power outage;
- conserve heat by closing curtains, windows, and doors
- layer up!
- light a fire – if you don’t have an indoor one, a bonfire is ok as a temporary method
- more of a pre-emptive solution—keep a portable heater handy
Ways to Light the Darkness
Candles are the obvious option here, but thanks to technology there are a few other, less hazardous ways to light up a room without having to go through a whole matchbox to light all your candles;
- turn your phone torch on and put it in a glass
- rest a torch, or again your phone, against a bowl of water
These methods allow the light to refract and spread further through a room
What to Do With Food
Refrigerated and frozen food is another pressing issue when it comes to a power outage. Thankfully, food in the refrigerator should stay chilled for up to 4 hours, but don’t open it until you really have to.
If your freezer is full and kept closed, the food can stay frozen for up to 48 hours. Again, try not to open it if at all possible.
When it comes to cooking, grilling outside is obviously an option but is dependant on the weather.
Bear in mind the kinds of food you have – you should probably avoid meat just in case—stick to canned foods where possible, and a power outage is also a great excuse to eat sweet treats!
Now You Know What to Do During a Power Outage
It can be hard to know what to do during a power outage but using the advice we’ve given you in this article, you can at least have the essentials covered – you can be warm and fed, and able to find your way around until the issue is solved!
If you enjoyed this article, check out the home and garden section of the blog for more like it!
