Some areas get a lot of blackouts, especially in rural areas. Whether you get a lot or a few, being suddenly and unexpectedly without power is annoying, especially at night when you are depending on it for light and heat. It’s a good thing to be prepared for power loss because it can happen at any time, not just in a storm.
Here are some tips to help you cope with a blackout.
Keep a torch in the same place all the time so you know where it is.
Phone an electrician if yours is the only house blacked out.
Have a supply of candles and matches, or some other means of lighting your night after the power goes out. Make sure everyone knows where they are.
When using candles, make sure they are stable and out of reach of children. Don’t place them under overhead cupboards or near curtains.
If it is really cold weather, layer up with clothes and add a coat or dressing gown over the top. You may also need a beanie and gloves, along with thick socks.
If it’s night time, just go to bed for warmth.
Close the doors and windows to keep the house warm.
In Australia, most electrical work must be done by a qualified and licensed electrician. It is not safe to do your own work, even if it may look simple. Electricity is a wonderful thing, but like many other modern conveniences it has a dark side; it can injure or kill if used wrongly. Often, we don’t even think of this as we go about our daily lives using the main source of power we’ve known since childhood. So when exactly do we need an electrician? The electrician should –
Repair all electrical appliances
Replace a light switch or a power point
Change the position of any electrical wiring
Replace old wiring or install new wiring
Change or mend a plug on the end of a power cord
I new lighting and power points in a renovation, shed or patio
Install ceiling fans
Check out the old wiring in your home
You may think it would be easy to simply look at the wiring, but there could be signs of wear and tear that you could see but not recognise for what they are, unless you’ve had a lot of experience or training. Plus, the electrician will have a good ladder and insurance if he happened to fall and be injured. It’s not even that easy to get into a manhole and its harder still to get out of it, so leave it to those who are used to doing it.
