Winter is coming, so it’s time to start thinking about how you will prepare your home for the season. North Dakota is a state known for its harsh winters. The state has seen several snow storms that have resulted in power outages for homes and businesses across the state.
While staying warm during these times can be challenging, there are several ways you can prepare your home for an outage.
Have a Plan in Place
The first step to preparing for a winter power outage is ensuring your family has a plan. This can be anything from having an emergency kit with food, water, and other essential supplies at their homes to having multiple backup generators available.
If possible, you should also designate an area in your home where everyone will go during this time (such as the basement). This way, if there is no electricity for more than two hours—and it’s cold outside—everyone will know what they must do so that no one gets sick or hurt due to lack of heat.
Know How to Shut off the Power in Your Home
As a homeowner, you should know how to shut off the power in your home. You can do this easily by checking your circuit breaker panel and turning off the primary circuit. You’ll also want to ensure that any fuse boxes have been reset and any outlets that may have been tripped or overloaded.
It is also vital when working with electricity that proper safety precautions are always taken while in this line of work. We recommend wearing protective equipment such as gloves and goggles when handling live wires so that no one gets hurt from being shocked by them accidentally (or intentionally).
Use a Generator Safely
Use generators only in well-ventilated areas where they will not create a fire hazard. Never use generators near water or fuel because they can easily ignite, creating an explosion and causing serious injury or death.
You should also use generators outside and away from windows and doors, as well as far away from propane tanks and other sources of fuel (e.g., charcoal grills).
Prevent Freezing Pipes
If you have a water heater, ensure it’s set at a comfortable temperature. If your home is not well insulated, the pipes will freeze and burst if left unattended for long periods.
- Insulate pipes with insulation tape or foam (available at hardware stores). This may help keep them from freezing in cold weather.
- Use pipe wrap strips to cover exposed sections of copper pipe before they freeze over during winter; these wraps can be purchased online or at home improvement stores such as Home Depot or Lowe’s (call ahead).
Keep Your Family Healthy and Hydrated During a Winter Outage
It’s essential to stay hydrated when you’re stuck in the cold. Your body needs water to keep itself warm and regulate its temperature, so it can quickly become dangerous if you don’t have access to any.
If you have access to safe drinking water but are unable or unwilling to use it (due to power outages), ensure containers are properly sealed and safely stored until conditions improve.
Know Where to Go if You Need Help
If you have a power outage, there are several things you can do to ensure your safety.
- Call 911: If there is an emergency, call 911 immediately and inform them about the outage. They’ll find out what’s happening and send help as soon as possible.
- Contact your utility company. If you have a large-scale outage that affects multiple areas in North Dakota (or across state lines), contact the utility provider so they can figure out how many customers are affected by this incident and send crews out immediately with equipment like snow blowers or de-icing machines so everyone can get back into their homes safely—and quickly!
Call JDP Electric for all your Power Issues
If you’re unsure if your home is ready for winter’s increased electrical needs, call JDP Electric at 701-232-1991 to inspect and make sure you and your family stay safe and warm!
Our team is available 24/7 and can help with any electrical problem that may be occurring in your home or business.