We all love a rainy night – add some thunder and you have a perfect night to relax on the couch. You put a movie on, sit back, and then it happens. The power goes out. It’s pitch black, everything is off, and you have no idea what to do.
Don’t stress. This article will outline everything for you or if you can’t wait, call us now on 1300 478 573.
Find a torch
Ideally, you should have a few torches around your home as well as an emergency kit. An emergency kit should contain the following:
• Batteries
• Water (especially if your house runs on a water pump)
• First aid kit
• Lantern
• Matches and candles
The Queensland Government recommends a lot more items but these are the basic essentials.
Investigate what caused the power outage
Sometimes the cause of the power outage is obvious. If there’s a storm, sometimes a lightning strike can send a power surge down the line and it trips your switchboard.
Other times, it can be as simple as multiple appliances drawing a lot of energy at the same time and your safety switch will trip.
If you see that your house is the only one affected, chances are it’s a local issue with your home. If the neighbourhood has lost power, this can be an issue with power lines (fallen trees) or transformers (blown).
If your neighbourhood has lost power, it’s best to call Ergon or your energy provider. If you see a fallen power line, stay clear and call Ergon. A power socket in your home has 240 volts running to it, a fallen power line often has 11,000. That’s a big difference and a big danger so keep yourself safe.
When your home is the fault, check your switchboard.
Has the safety switch tripped?
Has a switch for a room tripped?
Has the air conditioner tripped?
If this is the case, it’s best to call 1300 478 573 and chat with us. We can guide you through what to do next. Often times we can diagnose over the phone but it always pays to be safe.
Turn off all electronics
Turn everything off and unplug it. This means your fridge, freezer, toaster, phone chargers, computers, and any other appliance plugged in.
Turn all but one light off. Leave one light on so you can tell power has come back on.
If you have solar panels, please read the shutdown procedure on your inverter.
Wait for an electrician
Once you’ve called us, sit back and relax. Our 24 hour electricians are already on their way. In the meantime, try to avoid opening the fridge. You want to keep the precious cold air inside to avoid food spoiling.
Check your neighbours
If it’s a neighbourhood wide outage, check on your neighbours or family members, especially the elderly. Sometimes lending a torch, unplugging appliances, or simply reassuring them help is coming is enough. It’s always nice to help those in need and build relationships with our neighbours.
There’s never a good time for a power outage. Knowing what to do can be a lifesaver or at least a time saver. If in doubt, give Pulse Electrical a call by clicking here.