Power outages can occur at any time of the year, but they are particularly common during periods of severe weather. In New England, we’re familiar with the risks posed by ice and snowstorms in winter, as well as summer thunderstorms that can disrupt power. Whether it’s due to lightning or fallen power lines, losing electricity can be a challenge. If you don’t have a generator on hand, knowing how to manage the situation during and after a power outage is essential. While it’s advisable to have a residential electrician inspect your home after the outage (which we strongly recommend), there are several measures you can take immediately.
Here’s what you should do to protect your home during and after a power outage.
Verify the Extent of the Outage
Before taking any further steps, confirm whether the power outage is just affecting your home or the entire area. It’s important to stay safe—don’t go outside during hazardous weather to check. Instead, use your phone to contact neighbors and see if they’re also experiencing the outage. If it’s only your home, report the issue to your utility provider and consider contacting a residential electrician.
Inspect and Reset Your Circuit Breakers
Next, check your circuit breaker panel to see if any breakers have tripped. If you find one that has, reset it, and keep an eye on it when the power comes back. To protect your appliances and lights, turn off wall switches, but leave a few energy-efficient lamps on so you can tell when power is restored.
Protect Electronics and Appliances from Power Surges
When electricity is restored, power surges can damage sensitive electronics like computers and televisions. To prevent this, unplug these devices or switch off the power strips they’re connected to. Once the power is stable, plug them back in one by one to avoid overloading your circuits.
Chamberlin Electric | Experienced Electricians Serving NH & MA
With more than three decades of experience, Chamberlin Electric provides reliable residential and commercial electrical services across New Hampshire and Massachusetts. If you’re worried about potential damage following a power outage, we can assess your home’s electrical system. As a licensed Generac dealer, we can also install a backup generator to keep your home powered during future outages.
