Power Outages
How to Prepare for When the Power Cuts Off
Power outages are frustrating because they cut us off from the comforts of modern life while also being completely uncontrollable. While nothing can prevent a power outage from happening, being prepared for one can help you stay well-situated in an emergency.
Why Do Power Outages Happen?
Power outages are rare in the United States and typically happen because of severe weather. When heavy rain or wind affects a power company’s equipment, thousands of people might be left without electricity until that company remedies the issues. In some cases, a power company might only need to repair a power line, a repair that can only take hours. In other instances, they can have catastrophic failures that take days to fix.
Steps to Take for Power Outages
- Watch the Forecast
While most storms don’t guarantee a power outage, knowing when a big one is coming will help you be prepared. Severe storms knock trees into power lines or cause other disruptions to power systems.
- Have an Emergency Kit
Stock your home with supplies that will help you get through a power outage. Make sure all flashlights have good batteries, have an emergency radio ready to receive updates, and store plenty of water. Additionally, make sure that you have plenty of non-perishable foods that are edible without cooking or preparation. Finally, make sure your home is stocked with blankets as power outages could mean facing freezing weather with no heating source.
- Have a Backup Plan
In most cases, power is restored within hours of failure. However, some situations might cause the power to be lost for days. For these instances, speak with friends or relatives about the possibility of staying with them as power is restored to your home.
Generators: The Ultimate Insurance Against Power Outages
If you have health complications and need a medical device to have power constantly, it’s important to have a backup generator installed in your home. Backup generators are also great options for families who don’t like the idea of facing a significant storm unprepared for the worst.
At Mister Sparky®, we offer a range of backup generators and have a team of electricians who are ready to provide professional installation. We’ll come to your home, examine its needs, and consider your preferences and budget to suggest a generator to you. Then, we’ll install it according to manufacturer specifications. Best of all, we back our work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee! Ever Mister Sparky® is locally owned and operated so you can be certain that someone familiar with the needs of your area will be helping you make a generator decision.
Call our team of generator repair and installation experts today at (804) 207-4342. Our electricians take calls 24/7 for emergency service.