10 Effective Tips to Prepare During a Winter Power Outage | Kitchener ON

Losing power is not a pleasant thing to deal with at any time of the year. It can be even more disruptive in the winter when a loss of power can mean no heat. While we certainly hope you don’t have any serious power outages during the winter months, it never hurts to be prepared just in case. Use the ten tips presented below as a guide should you experience a winter power disruption.

1. Make Sure Your Home Is Sufficiently Winterized

If power is out, heat can quickly be lost in your home. Minimize the potential for significant heat loss by making sure your home is winterized as much as possible. This is a goal you can accomplish with steps that include:

• Replacing weather-stripping around doors and windows if it’s worn or missing.
• Using draft guards around doors.
• Considering cost-effective improvements or upgrades – e.g., more efficient doors, insulating an uninsulated attic, etc.

2. Stock Up On Food and Water

If a power outage lasts for a while, food in your fridge may no longer be safe to eat. For this reason, another way to prepare during a winter power outage is to stock up on food, water, and other edible essentials. Focus on shelf-stable foods that can be safely stored for longer periods of time.

3. Gather Other Handy Items

As long as we’re on the topic of gathering things you might need, pay attention to some other essentials that can come in handy. Flashlights or lanterns, for instance, should be set aside if the power goes out when there are no other sources of light. Other items to keep handy or in a convenient box include:

• Extra batteries.
• A first-aid kit.
• A battery-operated radio.

4. Set Aside Some Warmer Clothing

When it’s starting to get cold fairly quickly in your home, you’ll appreciate having a thick sweater and some warm socks in an easily accessible location. You can also keep these things in a box or even a downstairs closet for easy access.

5. Know What Needs Unplugged

When power comes back, the surge in electricity could damage some of the things in your home or contribute to serious safety risks. Protect your home and valuable devices by unplugging TVs, laptops, and other electronic devices. Don’t forget about “smart” things that may have computing components like your fridge or washing machine.

6. Consider Investing in a Generator

Now, a generator won’t give you enough juice to power everything in your home if the electricity goes out. However, a correctly sized and properly maintained generator can give you enough power boost to plug in your fridge, phone chargers, and other essentials.

7. Get Everyone Together in One Area

Pick a single area of your home where everyone can gather during a winter power outage. Ideally, it should be a smaller room or space that can be closed off fairly well to minimize heat loss.

8. Watch How Often Outside Doors Are Opened

Another way to keep heat loss to a minimum is to be careful with opening exterior doors. If you or anyone else in your home needs to go outside, make sure it’s done quickly. Also, make sure any doors opened are fully closed again.

9. Block Draft Sources

If you notice drafts coming in under doors or around windows during a power outage, make an effort to seal things up quickly. This is something you can do with rolled-up towels and other quick and easy DIY methods. Also, note any air leaks noticed during the outage and take care of them permanently later on.

10. Know What to Do When Power Is Restored

First, don’t plug everything back in until you’re sure the power is permanently back on. It’s not unusual for there to be little sputters or off/on moments as connections are restored. Also, check your food supplies and look for any damage to your pipes, water heater, and HVAC system.

Call Us Today

As briefly mentioned above, a winter power outage can also affect your HVAC system. This is why we also recommend giving TDI Air Conditioning a call to schedule a routine inspection following a lengthy power outage. We can also help you out with routine maintenance throughout the year to ensure your comfort system is in tip-top shape. Contact our comfort pros today to learn more about our services and products.