Most of the time when the power goes out it comes as a shock and we go into panic mode and start scurrying about trying to find out what the problem is. If the lights suddenly go out and the appliances stop working, you need to determine how widespread the blackout is. This is easy enough, if you look outside(this method works best at night) or check with a neighbor and the rest of the neighborhood is in the dark as well then contact the power company and prepare for the wait. If you are the only one affected then you may have a tripped circuit breaker. Unless there are electrical problems causing the power failure which would require a professional you can usually take care of this yourself.

A power failure in one or two rooms is often caused by an overloaded circuit. You might have too much plugged into one circuit. Turn off a few of the lights and appliances on that circuit and reset the circuit breaker, replace the fuse if you have an older home that still uses them. If the breaker trips again then you have a short circuit.

Turn off all the lights on the affected circuit and disconnect anything that is plugged in. Examine all electrical cords for loose connections, frayed sections or defective plugs(bent prongs for example) to see if this is causing the problem. If you find nothing leave, everything unplugged or off, reset the circuit breaker again. If it trips again then there is a short in the house wiring, call an electrician right away. If the house wiring is OK then plug in one thing at time, do the same with the lights, until you find the one that is causing the short, repair or replace it.

In the case of a full power failure, turn off all the lights and appliances in the house to avoid overloading the circuits when the power is restored. Leave one light or radio on so that you know when your service resumes. Open the refrigerator and freezer as little as possible during the blackout. Food should stay frozen for up to 48 hours in a closed, fully loaded freezer. After power is restored, wait 10 minutes and then turn on one thing at a time to avoid overloading the circuits.

If a blackout occurs during mild weather it is more of an inconvenience than anything, we don't need to worry so much about staying warm, we can cook outside so roughing it for a little while isn't too bad. If the weather is freezing you will need to be much better prepared for this situation. Having a portable generator is common in the area where I live, remember it must not be used in an enclosed space(carbon monoxide will build up which could be deadly.) Other steps to take would be to close off all but the most essential and best-insulated rooms(lucky you if you have a fireplace or wood stove).

If the power is going to be off for several days and you have municipal water, open all of the faucets a small amount and let the water run slowly to keep the pipes from freezing, if you have your own well this isn't possible because you need power to run the pump.

Make sure you have a supply of fresh drinking water, blankets, candles and a battery operated radio with extra batteries. Having a supply of board games and a deck of cards on hand helps to pass the time.....or you could just go to the local coffee shop and stay warm.

Learn more about this author, Beverley Francis.
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