How to Deal with a Power Outage in Geelong – Essential Tips

16Dec
by Nayanajith Gamage  
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Have you ever faced a power outage in Geelong? Then you would know how inconvenient it is to be in such a situation. Especially if you are in the middle of your favourite TV show or while cooking.

You will have to put a hold on the work you are doing if there is a power outage at night. However, you should not panic during Geelong power outages. You should be prepared to face these unexpected power drops from time to time.

This article will guide you in dealing with power outages in Geelong by identifying what caused the power outage.

What causes a power outage in Geelong?

Let’s face it; power outages can be really frustrating. Before finding a remedy for the power outage, you should know what caused the power outage. Accordingly, power outages can occur due to controllable and uncontrollable reasons.

You can prevent controllable situations with proper care and due diligence. These controllable situations can be:

Power overload

You might lose power when you overload your electrical system. This generally occurs when you plug too many appliances into the system.

When your electrical system cannot handle the load, it will shut down, causing a power outage. Power overloads can even lead to a house fire.

There are a couple of signs that forewarn you about a possible power overload. These signs are:

  • Flickering lights.
  • Buzzing in power points.
  • Burning smells in power points.
  • Burn marks or discoloration on power outlets.
  • The trip switch goes off often.

Watch out for these signs to detect a power overload beforehand and avoid any adverse outcomes.

Tripping switches

Trip switches will disconnect the power supply to the circuit when an abnormal amount of current passes through. As a result, a power outage will occur when the trip switch goes off.

A trip switch might go off due to several reasons. Some of these reasons are:

Damage to power lines

You might experience a power outage if there is damage to the power lines in your area. These damages can occur due to natural causes such as lightning, storms, and floods.

Further, the power lines can also be damaged due to man-made incidents like vehicles crashing to electric poles, etc. The bottom line is that these situations can cause a power outage but you cannot control or prevent them.

Intentional repairs and maintenance

Sometimes your energy retailers may shut down the supply for maintenance and repairs. These situations are temporary, and you can easily determine when the power will be restored.

You cannot control these situations, but the retailer would inform you beforehand when there is maintenance or repair.

Now you can see that some of the situations that lead to power outages in Geelong can be prevented or controlled. Therefore you should clearly find out the reason behind the power outage to seek a suitable action.

How should you act in a power outage in Geelong?

You could follow a couple of steps when there are power outages in Geelong. These steps are:

1. Check your switch box or circuit breakers

When there is a power outage, you must first check your switch box or the circuit breakers. You have to check whether any of the breakers have switched off.

If a particular area of the house is not receiving any power, then the breaker switch connecting that area must have been switched off. However, if there is a power outage in the entire property, the trip switch must have gone off.

As we said before, these breakers and the trip switch could go off for various reasons. If they go off once you plug an appliance, unplug them before turning the breaker or the trip switch back on.

If the breaker or trip switch goes off suddenly, unplug several appliances and turn the breakers back on. In such situations, it is always better to seek the advice of a licensed electrician to confirm whether there is any faulty wiring, defective switches, power overload, etc.

2. Check with your neighbour

If a breaker or the trip switch is off, the power outage is mostly due to an internal issue. However, if these switches are not off at the time of the Geelong power outage, check with the neighbours and confirm whether they have power.

If they also don’t have power, the power outage is more likely to be due to an external or uncontrollable issue.

3. Call your energy retailer

Once you find a power outage is due to an external issue, you should contact your energy retailer. Inform them of the location of the Geelong power outage, when it occurred in Geelong, and inquire about the reason for the outage.

They will let you know the reason for the power break and tell you when the power will be restored back.

4. Unplug the appliances

When there is a power outage, always unplug your appliances. If there is a power overload once restored, the overload could damage the appliances. That is why unplugging the equipment is crucial during a power break.

Go around the house and double-check whether you have unplugged the expensive appliances such as TV, air-conditioners, etc. However, make sure to leave a couple of lights on to find out when the power is restored.

5. Prepare and conserve

Once there is a power outage you should prepare to conserve the remaining energy and food. If there is a power outage during winter, you should take steps to preserve the heat inside the house. Go around the house and close all the curtains so that minimum heat will escape from the house.

Further, don’t open the refrigerator unnecessarily. It will lose the cold and spoil the perishable food inside.

You should also consider shifting the battery save mode on your mobile if it runs low on battery within the next couple of hours.

These actions are crucial to stay comfortable until the power is restored.

How should you prepare for a power outage in Geelong?

Preparations before a power outage in geelong
Now you know what causes a Geelong power outage and what you should do in a power outage. Let’s find out how you should prepare for a power outage in Geelong.

1. Have a rechargeable hazard light

Rechargeable hazard lights are handy at night during a power outage. Keep them recharged, and on standby so you can light them up during a power outage. Make sure to keep them close so that you can find them easily. It is better if the light automatically turns on once the power goes out.

2. Have a candle nearby

Keep a candle and a matchbox nearby. Especially in the kitchen, bedroom, and living area. However, be careful when lighting candles, and don’t leave them unattended. Be careful with fire, there are about 3000 house firesin Victoria annually.

3. Keep your power bank on a full charge

If you have a power bank at home, keep it fully charged so you can charge the phone when there is no power.

4. Buy a generator

There are various generators in the market. If you want a better solution for the power outages in Geelong, get a standby generator.

5. Install solar panels

If you have solar panels, then you don’t have to worry about power outages. You can use the stored energy from solar inverters when there is a Geelong power outage.

Wrapping up

Power outages in Geelong can be really frustrating and inconvenient. However, you should know what caused the power outage to find a suitable solution.

If it is due to an uncontrollable external force, there’s not much you can do to prevent it. The only thing you can do in these situations is to prepare yourself accordingly and face the power outage.

However, if the power goes out due to an internal issue, you should seek out what is wrong with your electrical system. If you lose power due to a defective appliance, then don’t plug it in. However, if you lose power due to another internal reason, then you should seek help from a qualified electrician.

If you are looking for a qualified electrician in Geelong, don’t hesitate to contact Mr. Electric. Our 24/7 emergency service is available if you are facing a power outage in Geelong due to a defect in your electrical system. We have served the Geelong community for many decades and have helped ensure their electrical safety.