Heat waves can be a bad thing. Added to the unbearable heat, you may have to deal with a power outage. When temperatures hit 90 degrees there’s a surge in the use of air conditioners. This overloads the power grid and inevitably a power outage. A power outage during a heat wave is very uncomfortable, inconvenient and can be dangerous. The danger increases especially for children and the elderly. Most people do not have the worry about illnesses related to a power outage, but they will need to worry about how to keep their food from spoiling, their home cool and their electronics safe.

How Long Does Food Last in the Fridge when the Power Goes Out?

• A full fridge or freezer saves your food better than one that is half full or empty. if it stays closed and is full, it can keep food frozen for up to two days. Food will last about a day if it’s half full and unopened.
• Do not open the fridge. Your fridge/freezer will stay cold longer if it stays closed. Check the pantry for snacks that don’t need to be refrigerated or know exactly what you need before you open the fridge.
• Make sure the fridge doesn’t go below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer is kept at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for safety reasons. Use a thermometer to make sure these temperatures are maintained.

How to Keep House Cooler without Electricity

• The best way to keep the house cool is to keep all the windows and doors closed. This will prevent the outside air from getting in. If you must, do it quickly!
• Keep the sun out by keeping window coverings closed. This will prevent the house from heating up. You can even put blankets up to add to the heat prevention.
• A cool shower or bath can make you more comfortable. Let yourself drip dry and keep your hair wet to stay cool as long as possible.

Do Power Outages Damage Electronics? Do Surge Protectors Help?

• Always back files up. This is the best way to prevent a loss of important information. You should do this anyway and definitely when conditions are ripe for a power outage.
• Use surge protectors. These are easy to get and are a great way to protect your electronics. They work by keeping your electronics from frying when the power gets turned off and when the power comes back on.
• You can also have a whole house surge suppressor installed. These work by protecting the homes entire electrical system from any surges in power.

Electrical Inspections & More in Delray Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter & Boca Raton & Palm Beach County Florida

With many things in life, prevention can go a long way to prevent problems. When the forecast calls for excessive heat and/or summer storms, take steps to prepare. Fill the freezer with ice, pack the fridge and back up all your files. Portable generators are also a good thing to have. Having a generator ensures you will not be affected by a power outage. There are automatic whole house generators that will turn on automatically when the power goes out but generators must be installed correctly. If so, all the appliances in your home will continue to work and you won’t need to worry about a thing! Contact Simon Electric for installation of a mechanical transfer switch with power inlet to allow you to plug in your portable generator safely or if you’re having any electrical issues before, during or after a power outage, or any time!