How to Deal with a Rolling Blackout

With the massive heat waves that have been coming through the country, many areas have been experiencing unfortunate rolling blackouts. This can be pretty inconvenient as you’re trying to do your electrical work. If you see that a heat wave is coming in your area, you might be able to prepare by anticipating a blackout and making a few changes in the home that you’re working on. Here are a few ways to deal with rolling blackouts as an electrician and in your home.

Stock Up on Alternative Chargers

First of all, make sure that you are stocked up on alternative chargers that will still work even while you’re in the middle of a blackout and don’t have access to normal electricity. While this might seem like an obvious tip, you’d be surprised by the number of homeowners that neglect to have alternative chargers in the case of an emergency. Having alternative chargers during a blackout can help you to keep your equipment and power tools charged and ready to be used. It will also help you to keep your personal devices charged so that you can communicate with your clients about any delays in their electrical work. This is an important tip for you to keep in mind as an electrician, but it is also important for you to remind your clients as you’re working on their houses. There are many different types of alternative chargers that you can look into using. For example, there are pre-charged portable chargers, solar-powered chargers, wood fire chargers, battery-powered chargers, and more.

Be Careful With Generators

You might already be aware of this fact, but it is very important that you’re cautious with generators during a power outage. There are certain kinds of generators that can be helpful when powering or charging different equipment and appliances. However, there are some generators that might cause bigger issues for a homeowner. Make sure that you never run a generator inside your home or garage. Additionally, do not connect an external generator directly to a home’s electrical system, unless you have a licensed electrician install a generator transfer switch. This can be a dangerous and costly risk. If you must use a generator, use one that is a good distance away from the home. Again, make sure that your clients are familiar with these tips so they can protect themselves and their homes in a power outage.

Disconnect Appliances

If you’ve been watching weather patterns and are fairly certain that your area is going to be experiencing a rolling blackout in the near future, make sure to disconnect appliances in your home or the home that you’re working on. Leave the refrigerator and freezer plugged in since the cold temperatures inside can often keep food from spoiling. This could include kitchen appliances as well as technological appliances and equipment. Sometimes, during rolling blackouts, there are temporary power surges that can actually fry your appliances. So, to protect your equipment, especially your expensive computers, from getting damaged, make sure to unplug them until the electricity has returned to normal.

So, next time you’re anticipating a rolling blackout in your area, remember the tips found in this article to prevent any larger issues in your electrical work or home. Additionally, remember to take precautions to take care of yourself as you’re working near electrical units and equipment. Make sure that you wear protective clothing and gear and that you’re staying warm or cool enough during irregular temperatures. This will help you to maintain a successful electrical career even when irregular power outages do occur.

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