While in Flagstaff, we don’t often have tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions. We do experience forest fires and monsoon storms, which can cause major flooding. All of these can lead to a power outage and can really throw a wrench in your day’s plans! Power outages might be a nuisance in most cases; sometimes, they can be a real hassle and even life-threatening. In this article, we will dive into what to do in the even of a power outage and how to keep you and your loved ones safe during one!
Power Outages Causes
Power outages can start from a number of causes. Natural disasters and man-made issues are definitely the top contributors. Here are some causes of power outages in Northern Arizona:
Natural Disasters:
Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornados, all pose a risk to your city or town’s power grid. Things like high winds, heavy rains, and seismic activity can damage power lines and equipment, leading to outages. Although, in Flagstaff, we don’t need to worry too much about these types of natural disasters. We’re far more likely to get hit with the next major cause of power outages.
Severe Storms:
Severe storms with high winds and torrential downpours (like what happens during a monsoon storm) can leave you without power for hours. Monsoon storms not only cause trees to fall, lightning strikes, and even flooding can damage the electrical grid. This can cause a major disruption in power and take hours to resolve. Be sure to check out your electrical provider’s outage map to have a good idea of when the power is expected to come back on.
Lightning Strikes:
Like we just mentioned, lightning strikes can directly hit power lines, transformers, or substations, causing electrical surges and major damage to equipment. This sudden surge of energy can lead to equipment failures and widespread power outages. More often than not, this is the reason why we lose power during monsoon storms in Flagstaff.
Flooding:
Water and electricity don’t mix well and oftentimes create challenges to restoring power. Floodwaters can damage infrastructure and can lead to structural failures. In the event of flooding, do your best to stay out of the water and stay indoors.
Man-Made Factors:
Power outages also result from man-made issues, including equipment failures, overloaded power grids, and accidents caused by human error – like someone accidentally driving into a power pole. Depending on the situation, this can also take hours to resolve.
Equipment Failures:
Equipment failures, often due to aging or manufacturing defects, can lead to malfunctions in transformers, circuit breakers, and other critical components. This is more likely to happen in electrical systems in smaller towns in Northern Arizona that don’t have a lot of room in the budget to make major upgrades to the electrical system.
Overloaded Power Grids:
Overloaded power grids occur when demand surpasses the system’s capacity. During peak usage, automatic shutdowns or blackouts may happen to prevent widespread failures. Upgrading infrastructure and investing in solar panels can help prevent overloads for the whole city!
Accidents and Human Error:
Accidents happen! Construction snafus or faulty equipment in power facilities can lead to outages.
Staying Safe During Power Outages
Power outages can be challenging, but prioritizing safety measures is key in protecting yourself and your property from any harm. Here are some tips to help keep you safe until the power is restored:
Emergency Preparedness:
Have a power outage kit handy with essentials like flashlights, batteries, first aid supplies, and non-perishable food. It can also be helpful to have a communication plan to stay connected with family and friends during outages, especially in emergencies.
Home Safety Measures:
Having generators during a power outage can be helpful to keep your refrigerator cool to make sure you don’t lose the contents of your fridge. Be sure to follow proper safety guidelines when using generators to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Always have generators outdoors and far away from any open windows. Try to keep the refrigerator door shut and always have bottled water. This is especially important if you’re on a well system or water hual.
Electrical Safety Tips:
Unplug appliances during outages to prevent damage from power surges when electricity is restored. This is especially true for computers, TVs, and gaming systems. You can also use surge protectors to keep your electronic devices and appliances safe from any voltage fluctuations when power is restored.
If you see downed power lines, treat every line as if it were live and notify utility authorities immediately.
These minor emergency preparedness steps will keep you and your family safe in the event of a power outage.
Preventing Power Outages
Electricians go through years of schooling, have to maintain certain certifications and have to stay up to date on zoning code changes. When it comes to preventing power outages, here are a couple of things that the electricians here at NAZ Electric recommend:
Regular Maintenance Checks:
Regular inspections of your home can help identify potential issues before they arise. Being proactive reduces the risk of unexpected outages and keeps your home safe from things like electrical fires!
Upgrading Outdated Infrastructure:
We recommend upgrading systems to meet current standards, city codes, and accommodating for increased electrical demands. A good rule of thumb is if your electrical system is over 30 to 35 years old, it might be time for an upgrade. Give us a call if you have any questions about your electrical system!
Surge Protection:
Surge protectors keep your expensive electronic devices and appliances safe during voltage fluctuations. We recommend installing surge protectors at key points in the electrical system to prevent damage caused by power surges, ultimately reducing the likelihood of outages.
Zoning Code Compliance:
Compliance with local codes ensures that electrical installations meet safety standards and regulatory requirements. All of us at Northern Arizona Electrical Solutions stress the importance of keeping up to date with code changes to guarantee the reliability of electrical systems.
Installing Backup Generator
Installing a backup generator is a wise investment to safeguard your home from power outages. Just think, your neighborhood’s power is down, and you’re able to keep your fridge cool, stay warm, and turn on a couple of lights! That’s peace of mind that’s priceless.
When in Doubt, Call the Experts!
Homeowners facing electrical issues often wrestle with the uncertainty of whether the problem lies within their home or the surrounding area. A quick checklist can assist in determining the source of the problem:
Quick Checklist for Homeowners:
- Check circuit breakers for tripped switches.
- Inspect GFCI outlets for resets.
- Unplug appliances to avoid potential overloads.
- Check for damage to power cords or outlets.
- Check with neighbors to see if power is also out at their house.
If you need help, contact us!
We offer assistance in diagnosing and resolving your home’s electrical issues. Don’t hesitate to reach out – we’re here for you 24/7!
