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10 Ways to Prepare for a Winter Power Outage

A Winter Season Advisory for Home Owners in Jasper & Dubois County

A power outage is never a fun experience. But a winter power outage can be especially difficult to deal with.

Prolonged loss of heat and electricity during times of extreme cold can pose serious health risks – including hypothermia and electrocution, just to name two – and can cause water pipes to freeze and burst, among other things. The more prepared you are, the better equipped you will be to get your family through a minor (or major!) blackout as safely and comfortably as possible. Who knows, you might even find the silver lining in the situation and enjoy the extra time bonding with your family.

So here are 10 winter power outage survival tips that can help you stay warm and comfortable should the lights and the rest of your power go out

1. Have an emergency cold weather survival kit. It should include warm blankets, a battery powered radio so you can stay informed on the conditions, flashlights with back up batteries, candles, and matches. And don’t forget about bottled water and non-perishable food items, too.
2. If you own a portable generator, make sure you have enough gasoline to power it for a few days. During a blackout, you might be too snowed in to drive to a gas station, or nearby gas stations might also be without power as well.
3. If you have a land-line, keep a corded phone handy as cordless phones don’t work if the power is out. Also consider getting a car charger for your cell phone.
4. Dress in warm layers, including hats and gloves to keep your body from losing heat through your extremeties.
5. Unplug valuable electronics and appliances to keep them from surging once the power is restored. However, leave a lamp or light on so you know when the power is back on.
6. Let water drip slowly from a faucet. If temperatures dip below freezing, water pipes can freeze and burst, causing a flood of water to fill one or more areas within your home.
7. Keep your refrigerator and freezer closed to trap the cold in and preserve your food. If you take medication that requires refrigeration, place it in a small cooler in your fridge or garage. Avoid leaving it outside as it could freeze.
8. Learn how to operate the manual release on your automatic garage door to open and close it.
9. If you cannot get to a shelter for the night, have your family sleep in one room together with the door shut to concentrate body heat.
10. Don’t operate charcoal, propane, or gasoline powered equipment inside your home or garage. And make sure your carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.

At Messmer Mechanical, we’re on call 24/7 this and every winter to get your heat or hot water water working again, or to assist with any other heating or plumbing emergencies.  And if you haven’t already had your heating system tuned up and inspected for the season, give us a call and give yourself one less thing to worry about this winter.