What to do if your home suffers a power outage

Is your household dealing with a power outage? Here’s what you can do to stay safe and manage the situation.

Don’t panic

Power cuts can be scary, especially for the younger members of your family – and especially if you’re plunged into darkness during the evening hours!

But don’t worry; just take a moment to consider your surroundings and try to identify any hazards (such as furniture or objects on the floor) which you might trip over or bump into while in the dark.

If you have a phone or a tablet with you, most modern devices will have a built-in torch you can switch on; and if not, you can still use the light of the device’s screen to find your way.

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Switch off hazardous appliances

Power cuts are distracting. Once the power comes back, it’s easy to forget what you were doing in the first place.

Unfortunately, if you were in the middle of cooking dinner, ironing clothes, or a spot of DIY with power tools, those appliances can quickly become dangerous if left unattended. Out of the frying pan, into the fire…

Remember to switch off hazardous appliances (including ovens, hobs, irons, electric heaters, power tools and hair straighteners) when a power outage strikes.

Oh, and don’t forget to leave a safe appliance (such as a room light) switched on – so you can tell when the power is back!

Check on your neighbours

It’s always a good idea to make sure your neighbours are alright. We’ve already mentioned the risks of slips, trips and falls in the darkness; these become a lot more serious for elderly and vulnerable residents.

Checking up on them also gives you an opportunity to quickly check whether the power cut is affecting other homes in your area, or just your own.

If the problem only seems to be affecting your home, your next step is to…

Check your fusebox

A power surge might have caused your fuse box to ‘trip’ – automatically switching off the power as a safety precaution.

If that’s the case, you can switch the power back on by first switching off or unplugging all your appliances, and then flipping the main trip switch (and any other tripped switches for each individual circuit) back up into the ON position.

Of course, if the power keeps tripping, it’s probably a sign that something is wrong. You can usually pinpoint the source of the issue by paying attention to which switches on your fuse box keep tripping.

For example, if the switch that controls your downstairs power sockets keeps tripping, the culprit might be an overloaded extension cable in your lounge or a faulty appliance in your kitchen.

If you can’t seem to determine the cause of a tripping fuse box yourself, your best bet is to call out an expert electrician.

Call 105

Of course, if the power cut is affecting your neighbours too, your own fusebox won’t be much help. But there’s still something you can do.

105 is the free nationwide power cut helpline. It enables homeowners to reach their electricity distribution network operator; either to report a power cut or to get updates and information on their current outage situation.

Keep in mind that your local network operator and your energy supplier are two different entities. Your supplier has no control over your local electricity infrastructure.

105 also provides a way to report emergencies related to your power cut; such as fallen power cables, for example.

Keep cozy

Even gas heaters stop working in a power outage; so your home can become very chilly very quickly.

Be sure to keep yourself warm. Pop on a jumper, make sure your doors and windows are closed, and tuck in under a blanket til the power comes back on.

Keep the fridge and freezer closed

In a power outage, chilled foods need all the help they can get to stay fresh.

Don’t be tempted to raid your fridge/freezer during your power cut. Keep the doors closed until the power comes back. (Placing a blanket over your fridge/freezer can also help to keep its contents cool.)

Food in a closed fridge will remain safe for around 4 to 6 hours without power. A half-stocked freezer will last up to 24 hours, while a well-stocked freezer can last up to 48 hours.

That said, if any food has thawed by the time the power returns, or if you have any doubts about the safety of your food, it’s best to throw it out.

More than just a London based electrician

With JC Electrical (UK) Ltd, electrical contractors in London you can expect a professional service tailored to your individual needs. Not only do we offer Testing Maintenance, & Certification and test and inspection. We also provide commercial Emergency callouts.

We can supply, install, test and repair everything from safety and security systems to smart lighting, specialist Lighting and emergency lighting , air conditioning and bespoke commercial solutions including network cabling, fire alarms and door entry & access control installers.

Our professional NICEIC-approved electricians can install modern, reliable EV charger (Electric vehicle charging) points across West London and the rest of the capital.

Our services for homeowners include
Audio Visual, Burglar Alarm / Home security installations, home Smart Lighting and Solar Panel Installation.

Additional reading
Our site also includes some really great articles and answers some faqs.

For more details, or for a free quote, call JC Electrical (UK) Ltd on 0208 839 9561 today or get in touch via our contact form.