Any time the power goes out is an inconvenient time, but losing power in the winter can be particularly dangerous and you should always have an emergency plan in case you are faced with a loss of power in these upcoming winter months.

If your power goes out don’t panic. Often, it is just a simple fix like a fuse - so you’ll want to check your fuse box first and if a fuse is the cause of your outage, it’s quick and easy to repair.

Try to contact your neighbors to figure out if the power is out only in your house, or if the entire block has lost power as well. Sometimes a downed power line can affect just one house, and other times it can affect entire streets or blocks.

Regardless of the situation, you need to act quickly to retain residual heat. Heat escapes quickly through gaps in windows or doors, so placing rolled up towels or blankets near the bottoms of doors and windows can help hold in the heat a little longer while you’re waiting for the power to be restored.

If possible, avoid using candles and instead opt for flashlights to prevent fire hazards. Protect your home against harmful power surges by unplugging major appliances until power is restored. Conserve your food and try to keep from opening the refrigerator and freezer doors unless absolutely necessary.

For these and other winter electric safety tips, contact the professionals at John’s Electric today.