Submitted by Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing
Black Friday is almost here, and as one of the biggest shopping events of the year, it brings deals, crowds, and the excitement of finding the best bargain. But amidst all the chaos, there’s another looming challenge that’s often overlooked: winter weather and power outages. Whether it’s high winds, heavy snow, or an unexpected surge in power demand, a blackout can disrupt not just your holiday plans but your entire household.
If you’ve ever experienced a power outage, you know how disruptive it can be. A sudden blackout can result in lost food from refrigerators and freezers, heating or cooling systems shutting down, loss of hot or clean water, home security systems failing, and more. If the outage lasts for more than a few hours, the inconvenience is multiplied, leading to frustration, financial losses, and potential dangers, especially in extreme weather events.
The average number of annual weather-related power outages has increased by nearly 80% since 2011, and according to the Energy Information Administration, the average home will go without power for seven hours per year (energy.gov). To protect yourself during a winter outage, ready.gov and weather.com suggest taking a few precautions:
- Plan for batteries or other alternative power sources for essentials that rely on electricity and ensure you have working flashlights for every member of your household.
- Stock your pantry with nonperishable food and keep your freezer and refrigerator closed as much as possible. A fridge will keep food cold for about four hours, while a full freezer will maintain temperature for about 48 hours. Use coolers with ice if necessary, but when in doubt, throw it out! Cold food should not be consumed if its temperature reaches 40 degrees or higher.
- Have your wood fireplace/chimney cleaned and secondary heat sources serviced (such as gas or pellet stoves) to ensure sure they’re in good, working condition. Firelight by Barron and Barron Heating & Air Conditioning provide both of these services!
- Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup on every level of your home. Never use a gas stovetop or oven to heat your home, and ALWAYS use portable generators, camp stoves, and charcoal grills outside and at least 20 feet away from doors and windows.
- Wrap any exposed pipes with insulation and let faucets drip if freezing temperatures are a concern.
- Close the doors of unused rooms and place towels under the doors to retain heat. At night, cover windows with shades, extra blankets or sheets.
- If your water supply and quality could be affected (i.e. you have a well-water system), pre-fill your bathtub for hygiene needs and pre-fill spare containers or purchase enough drinking water for the whole family.
- Turn off or disconnect appliances and electronics. Sudden electrical surges when power returns can cause potential damage to your equipment.
- Establish alternate plans for refrigerated medicines or power-dependent medical devices and ask specific guidance on any that are critical.
Whatever unique needs you and your family may have, the impact of a power outage can be drastic. And while we all should be prepared for emergencies, an automatic WholeHome™ generator can solve a number of these worries. As the name suggests, a WholeHome generator doesn’t just power a few appliances—it can restore power to your entire home in a matter of seconds. That means no more fumbling with your portable unit in the pouring down rain. No more choosing to power your refrigerator over your lights, or freezer over your heat. And imagine coming home from holiday travel to a cold, dark home with frozen pipes. With a WholeHome generator, your power will seamlessly remain on, whether you’re home or not.
Black Friday typically coincides with black, stormy nights, which can bring heavy snow, freezing rain, and high winds. But no matter what the weather brings, a WholeHome generator will give you the peace of mind that your home will remain safe, warm, and comfortable. This season, we encourage you to consider one of the best investments you can make for your home—an automatic WholeHome generator from the experts at Barron Electrical. For a limited time, you’ll save $500 on an on-demand style system, to keep on your lights, heat, and even internet without interruption (allowing to keep at that Black Friday shopping!). As your Pacific Northwest home and building performance experts since 1972, we stand by Our Mission: Improving Lives.
