If you’re going about your day and suddenly experience a power outage, that can really put a wrench in your plans and can be a frustrating experience where you might start to wonder why the power is not working throughout your house. Having power go to all our appliances and devices is something that we’ve grown accustomed to having on hand whenever we need it, and losing it is a big deal. So why might the power in your home be out, and what can you do about it? Let’s look at the most common reasons for power outages in your home.
Finding the Cause of Your Power Outage
If your power is out you’re generally looking at a power outage that is affecting people on your grid due to powerline damage. This can be caused by weather, car accidents, or even an unfortunate rodent chewing in the wrong spot. If your power is out but your neighbours is still on it likely means that they’re on a different grid than you. If you have no power and are wondering about time frames & the cause of the outage, you can check for updates on BC Hydro’s website. Or you can report your outage at 1 800 BCHYDRO (1 800 224 9376) or *HYDRO (*49376) on your mobile or report it online.
When your home is the only place without electricity in the whole neighbourhood, alert BC Hydro and find out if it’s something on their end. If it’s not, check your electrical box to see if circuit breakers or fuses are tripped. If they are, this is indicative of damage to your electrical systems, or potentially a result of too many power draining devices turned on at the same time. Try redistributing the power draw by unplugging or rearranging your devices plugged in. If you try flipping the breaker only for it to shut down again, then it’s time to call an electrician as there is likely damage to your electrical system which could be putting you & your family in danger.
How To Prepare for a Power Outage
Power outages are no fun, and can leave you with thawed food and no entertainment if it goes on for too long. We are entering into storm season, so now might be a good time to invest in a backup generator. They range in price from a few hundred, to several thousand dollars. Finding the generator that’s right for you is important, and if you can only afford a small one that can run a few outlets, that’s often better than nothing.
If you’re thinking about installing a generator, or you’re having trouble with electrical outages in your home, get in touch with us at AJ’s Electrical and request a free quote today.
