ANSWERS: 1
  • <h4 class="dechead">On One Hand: Electrical Safety

    When electrical service is restored after a storm outage, current can fluctuate quite a bit. Flipping your circuit breakers to the off position while the power is out will help prevent damage to any delicate electronics, such as computers or televisions. In addition, this reduces the demand on the power grid when it comes back online, which can help prevent brownouts and damaging current spikes.

    On the Other: Difficulties in the Dark

    Shutting your circuit breakers off when the power goes out can make it difficult to determine when service is restored, as you'll have no visual cues to tell you the current is flowing again. In addition, it can be a chore finding the electrical panel in the dark to switch everything off.

    Bottom Line

    It's generally a good idea to switch off as much of your home's electrical system as possible during an outage. Consider leaving the lights in one room connected, as well as exterior lights to help repair crews identify when your neighborhood's power has been properly restored.

    Source:

    King County Public Health: What to Do During Power Outages

Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC

Answerbag | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy