How To Prepare For A Power Outage in Winter
New year, new power outages. Here’s how to be ready with Arlo.
New year, new power outages. Here’s how to be ready with Arlo.
Winter’s cold weather can freeze or damage power lines and stations. The season brings cold air, winter storms, and snow, which can overwhelm many electrical systems. Sometimes, this results in short power outages, spanning from minutes to hours. However, long-term power outages are also possible, and could inconvenience you, your loved ones, and your home.
Luckily, while the electrical system may not be prepared for winter, you can be. Being ready for power outages—or any other emergency—is always a good idea. Here’s how to prepare yourself and stay safe until power is restored.
So, how can you prepare your home for a power outage in winter? You should keep an emergency kit, non-perishable food, bottled water, a non-electric heater, and a fully charged battery. Plus, don’t forget to buy a generator so you can keep essential appliances, heat, and medical devices running even if the power goes out.
To be ready for the unexpected, here’s how to prepare your home for winter power outages.
An essential during power outages or any other emergency, an emergency kit should be a part of every household. The American Red Cross recommends certain key items, such as a supply of water and non-perishable food, a flashlight, a multi-tool, and a first-aid kit. For a more thorough breakdown of an emergency kit, check this page.
In the old days, every house had a landline, which could work even when there was no electricity. Those days are gone, and mobile phones are our main way of contact. Nowadays, they also double as cameras, radios, and flashlights. The thing is, if they run out of battery, they turn into nothing more than a pretty paperweight.
Consider investing in a couple of battery-powered chargers, like a power bank to keep your cell phone charged. Plus, they can be used in many other ways, as many useful gadgets now come with a USB power connector. For example, by plugging a USB light into a power bank, you’ll get a flexible, long-lasting flashlight. If you’re expecting weather that may cause a power outage, preempt the need for a power bank and charge your cell phone ahead of the storm.
During long-term emergencies, water should be a priority. For human consumption, the American Red Cross recommends keeping a two-week water supply with one gallon per person, per day. Preferably, you should stock up on bottled water.
For other uses, and if you know there’s a power outage coming, you can also fill a bathtub with water. You can use this extra water to flush your toilet, provide drinking water to your pets, or even clean your house. For obvious reasons, you should not drink water from your bathtub unless it is deemed safe.
There are great battery-powered security cameras for your home, like the Arlo 2nd Gen Essential Security Camera or the Arlo Ultra 2 Camera. However, they rely on your Wi-Fi network, which depends on electrical power.
With this in mind, consider installing an LTE enabled security camera, like the Arlo Go 2. With a long-lasting battery life and 4G connectivity, this camera will let you keep an eye on your home from wherever you are. You can even plug it to a Solar Panel Charger to charge it during long-term power outages. (Here’s a breakdown of how solar powered cameras work.)
When the power goes out in winter, it gets cold. Staying warm will be essential. Consider investing in a non-electric heater to keep your house heated. In case you’re using gas, you’ll want to also have a carbon monoxide alarm. Options like the Arlo Home Security System feature All-in-One Sensors, which can monitor this and seven other threats. For instance, temperature changes, open doors and windows, smoke alarms, and more.
Also, get as many blankets as you can. With the cold winter air, you and your family will appreciate them. Also, try to keep doors and windows closed, especially in unused rooms. This way, you’ll keep heat inside. With an alarm system like the Arlo Home Security System, you can monitor open doors and windows.
Set your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest settings. When the power goes out, refrigerated food will be kept cold longer. Also, try to keep the fridge door closed. According to the FDA, the refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if unopened, while a full freezer will maintain the temperature for approximately 48 hours.
During a power outage, your house gets colder, resulting in potential frozen pipes. With an alarm system, like the Arlo Home Security System, you can monitor temperature changes. Install its All-in-One Sensors to receive an alert in the case of a pipe freezing. Then, when the power gets restored, your house could be prone to water leaks or floods. Luckily, the Arlo Home Security System can also monitor water leaks. Pro tip: Remember to unplug major appliances immediately to protect from power surges when power is restored.
The best part is that the Arlo Home Security System can keep protecting your house when power or WiFi is down. With the Arlo Secure subscription plan, you’ll get cellular and battery backup. Plus, your house will be secure with 24/7 Professional Monitoring and One Tap Emergency Response.
There are other important things to consider before a power outage. For instance, you should always have cash with you and try to keep your car’s gas tank filled. In the case evacuation is needed, you and your family will be good to go. And with Arlo battery-powered cameras, LTE-enabled Go 2 Security Camera, and home security system, your home will be protected no matter how long the power is out.
