A power outage can happen at any time of the year. However, during cooler months, it's an even more unwelcome inconvenience when a loss of power can mean no heat and other potentially serious situations. While we certainly hope you don't have a winter power outage, we want to help you be prepared just in case. We offer ten effective tips below so you'll be ready to manage an unexpected loss of power in the winter.
1. Get Your Home Winter Ready
When the power goes out, heat is no longer generated or circulated by your furnace. So, the first step to take to prepare for a possible outage is to help your home hold as much heat as possible. Winterization efforts you can take to achieve this goal include:
Replacing old, worn, or missing weather-stripping around doors and windows
Adding draft guards where air leakage is likely
Properly insulating your walls and attic
Updating older doors and windows with ones more energy efficient
2. Put Together an Emergency Kit
Avoid the tendency to panic when the power goes out in the winter and set aside an emergency kit. It can be as simple as a small box or bag with the main things you'll need until the power is restored. Typically, a power outage emergency kit includes:
Flashlights
A portable or hand-cranked radio
Extra batteries
A basic first-aid kit
3. Set Aside Some Warm Clothing
Put some easily accessible sweaters, hoodies, and other clothing that can be quickly grabbed and used for layering aside. You might do this by putting some of these things in a downstairs closet or a box in a designated location. Insulated long underwear, warm socks, gloves, and even coats and scarves can be equally welcome sources of warmth.
