Winter power outages can be dangerous if you’re not prepared. It certainly won’t be pleasant, whether a few hours or a few days. Read through these tips to prepare for a winter power outage to make your time “off grid” as comfortable and safe as possible.

Emergency Checklist

It’s important to make an emergency preparedness checklist specific to your home. Following are some of the items you may include:

• Account for the whereabouts of everyone in your household.
• Everyone should have a flashlight or glow stick.
• Turn off the HVAC system at the thermostat and gas valve if applicable.
• Locate your emergency preparedness kit.
• Make sure your home is secure.

Emergency Kit

Keep your emergency kit in a place where everyone can gain access. Your emergency kit should include a first-aid kit, flashlights, batteries, glow sticks, a fire extinguisher and a battery-operated radio.

Purchase a Backup Generator

A backup generator can make an extraordinary difference in your emergency preparedness. You’ll be able to use lighting, portable heaters, a portable refrigerator and more. Generators can also run your sump system to help prevent your basement from flooding during a storm.

Store Food and Water

Store plenty of non-perishable food and water. Canned foods practically last forever. You can use containers to store water and ice in your refrigerator. The cool water and ice will also help perishables in your refrigerator last longer. Make sure you have plenty of disposable plates, cups and utensils.

Food Preparation

How will you cook your food? A gas grill will work great and so will a camper’s stove. If you have plenty of wood stored away, you may build a campfire outside. However, don’t use any fuel-burning heating or cooking appliances inside your home.

Medications

If you or someone in your home needs medication that must be refrigerated, have an alternative means to keep your medications cool. This could be a small portable refrigerator connected to your generator, or simply packed in ice until you find another location to stay.

If you have questions about power outage preparedness, contact the experts at Powers Heating & Air today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040.

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