Whether they occur during the day or at night, power outages can be a hassle. They temporarily remove one’s access to many of the modern comforts that depend on electricity to work. You won’t be able to use your electrical appliances for cooking food or relaxing in a cool space. It can also be challenging to see what you’re doing without a candle or portable light source.
Unfortunately, you can’t predict when power outages will happen or how long they will last. If you’re lucky, you’ll only experience a brownout for an hour or so. But depending on the situation, some power outages can extend beyond 12 hours. Stocking up on the right supplies and appliances can help you prepare your home and ensure that you remain comfortable and able to get certain tasks done even when you don’t have electricity. Here are 6 items you should have in your home:
Cooking Equipment
Power outages are one reason why some people prefer to buy gas ranges over electric stoves. This type of appliance ensures that they can still cook and heat up their meals even if the power is out. However, some households have little choice in the matter. Some condominiums or apartments don’t have provisions for a gas-powered stove or impose restrictions on its usage.
If this applies to your living arrangements, you can opt to stock up on canned heat or alcohol-based cooking fuel instead. These alternative heat sources come in cans and can burn for around two hours. Alcohol-based burners are popularly used for keeping food warm in chafing dishes during buffet-style meals, while canned fires are used by campers to cook food. Both can get hot enough to heat up and cook simple meals while you wait for power to return.
When using canned heat to cook indoors, place it in a fondue pot or portable grill to reduce fire risks. Also, don’t touch the burning can because it can get very hot and may hurt you. If you need to extinguish the flame, carefully put the lid back on.
Flashlights
Flashlights are very important during power outages, especially at night. These portable light sources will make it easier to move around without stumbling in the dark and accidentally hurting yourself. While many flashlights are available as handheld devices, you can also find headlamps. These can be worn around the head to provide hands-free solutions.
Make sure to place your flashlights in easy-access places like your nightstand, in the kitchen, and by the entryway. Also, make sure to put a flashlight in every room in your home, so your entire household is prepared in case of power outages.
Extra Batteries
Aside from keeping flashlights for emergencies, make sure you have suitable batteries to power them up. Keep a bunch of extra batteries stored for your flashlights and other battery-powered devices, so you can continue to use them even in the event of an extended power outage.
Additionally, replace the batteries in your flashlight every few months if it hasn’t been used for a long time. Doing this prevents the battery from leaking and ensures your flashlights have fresh, working batteries when needed.
Rechargeable Fans and Lamps
Rechargeable fans and lamps are another must-have when preparing your home for power outages. These emergency-use appliances are more convenient than fanning yourself and holding onto a flashlight all the time. Since the fan and lamp are rechargeable, you also don’t have to worry about replacing batteries. Make sure to recharge the internal batteries by plugging the device into an electrical socket once your power resumes.
For convenience, you can get a two-in-one device that features both a fan and an LED light. Although it may not be as powerful as your normal fan appliance, the fan on this type of device will be very useful for keeping you cool and comfortable for a few hours. Rechargeable devices will have different operating times depending on your usage, so make sure to check the expected output from the device you own and be smart about how you use it.
Portable Power Stations
If you’re working from home or taking online classes, you’ll need to power up your devices as well as the modem for your internet connection. To avoid interruptions, consider getting a portable power station. This appliance is an alternate power supply that allows you to connect several small electrical appliances at the same time. Typically, you’ll find portable power stations in different capacities, but a 60,000mAh model should have enough juice to charge your laptop, phone, and plug-in modem—everything you need to stay on top of your work or school duties.
Power Banks
Many people regularly bring a power bank with them whenever they leave home. This pocket-sized appliance can be used to charge mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, so you never have to worry about running out of battery power while you’re out and about. These gadgets are also useful to have during power outages, as you’ll need your devices to keep track of updates and contact others in case of emergencies. Typically, a 10,000-mAh-capacity power bank is sufficient. But if you want to be certain you have backup power for all your mobile devices, a robust 20,000 mAh battery is a good choice.
Power outages can be unpredictable, and even scheduled interruptions are generally considered unwelcome events. As such, it’s better to stay prepared than to be caught off guard without alternatives that can allow you to go about your normal activities. Be sure to cover all your essentials when planning safeguards and getting new appliances. Power outages may not be fun, but there’s a lot that you can do to keep yourself comfortable and productive until the electricity turns back on.
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