What to Do During a Power Outage at Home

First published: 4 January 2021 @ 3:00 pm

A common cause of a power outage is a blown fuse or circuit breaker.

Here are some steps you can take to check for blown fuses and circuit breakers:

Remove the Fuse

Remove the fuse or trip the circuit breaker at the main power panel. Wait 15 to 20 seconds, then plug in a lamp or other small device to see if you manage to restore the power.

If the power is back on, the fuse or circuit breaker you tripped was the problem, and you should replace it. Sometimes the fuse or circuit breaker was not the problem, so you should check the main power panel.

Check the Switch and Lights

If you do not find a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker in the main power panel of your home, check the switches and lights in your home to ensure that the switch is on.

If the light switch suddenly turns off, it can cause a complete blackout. You might think that your circuit breaker or fuse panel is not working, so go to your basement and verify that it is working properly.

What to Do During a Power Outage at Home
Photo by Viktor Mogilat on Unsplash.

Call an Electrian

If a circuit breaker or a fuse blows, you should call a qualified electrician to replace it.

Check the main service panel if the circuit breaker or fuse panel is not the problem.

Keep Calm

If you are home when a power outage occurs, the best thing to do is to stay cool and avoid becoming overheated.

Try to find a place that is well ventilated and not too hot. Once the power has been restored, try to locate any electronic devices that the outage has affected.

Our blog, HandyWork, covers a variety of topics on home maintenance. If you have questions about any of the topics we cover, please contact us.

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