Living in South Florida has made us very aware of the heavy storms that come and go with each passing day. It doesn’t matter if it’s the middle of Hurricane Season or deep in Winter, we’re bound to be hit by torrential downpours and the crack of thunder every five minutes. We tend to plan in the off chance that we lose power, but there’s no knowing when it’s going to happen. We’ll search for a local electrician to come and install a generator or ensure that our electrical system is up to par, or even stock up on supplies in the event that the power goes out. Unfortunately, we’re incapable of knowing exactly when a storm is going to come. In one quick moment, we go from enjoying a quiet night of eating dinner and watching tv on the couch to sitting in complete and utter darkness. Rather than panic, it’s important to know what to do in the event that your house loses power completely.

• Unplug Electrical Devices
• Keep The Refrigerator Closed
• Don’t Use Gas Stoves or Generators Indoors
• Remain Calm

Unplug Electrical Devices

When the power goes out, it’s very possible that your electronics can be damaged due to a power surge. While very quick, these power surges can overload and damage expensive electronics like televisions, computers, gaming systems, and more. While you can keep them plugged in with a surge protector, you still run the risk of the surge overloading the protector and damaging your devices. While a worst-case scenario, some surges can be so powerful that they can cause house fires. It’s best to just unplug all expensive items and avoid having to rebuy anything.

Keep The Refrigerator Closed

When the power stops working, so does your air conditioner. Your home can become incredibly stuffy and uncomfortable. It’s impossible to sleep as beads of sweat begin to drip down your forehead. There are only two places left in the house where it’s cold: the freezer and refrigerator. You may be tempted to open them both and enjoy the few minutes of icy air that escapes from them, but it’s important to restrain yourself. The refrigerator and freezer should be kept closed at all times and opened for very brief periods if necessary. Your food can stay cold for four hours within a disconnected refrigerator, and 48 hours inside a freezer. Keeping these two household appliances closed and disconnected can be the difference between saving your food and keeping it fresh.

Don’t Use Gas Stoves or Generators Indoors

With all your cooking appliances turned off and the rain pouring outside, it’s a bit difficult to cook anything. You can wait out the storm and hope it’s over soon, or find a way to cook. We strongly advise against using a gas stove or generator indoors during the storm. Gas grills and generators release large amounts of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas which is poisonous to humans. By using a generator or grill indoors, you put yourself and everyone else inside the building at risk. Contact your local electrician and ask them for the best strategies for using a generator when there’s a storm outside.  

Remain Calm

Losing power inside your house can be a very stressful situation especially as the heat, boredom, and hunger begin to set in. Everyone in the house needs to remain calm in case of an emergency. Make sure you have enough entertainment to keep your mind off the situation at hand. Play board games and card games with everyone else in the house, or read a book.

You don’t have to go through losing power alone anymore thanks to Rack Electrician, the number one residential generator installation company and local electrician in Boca Raton. We’re able to check your home’s entire electrical system and ensure that everything is up to par. We also install home generators. We offer a full range of standby generators, which are ideal when your main generator shuts down during a big storm. Contact Rack Electric today to have your home checked or get a generator installed by calling us at (561) 391-3550.