How to Practice Electric Safety During the Winter
Arctic temperatures, freezing rain, and snowstorms can cause everything from the inconvenience of missing work or school to life-threatening accidents. It can also wreak havoc on power lines and strain our electric systems. Read on for some electric safety tips for the winter months.
Power Outages
Inevitably, bad weather can bring power outages with it. The type of winter weather most likely to cause damage is freezing rain, but any type of rain, snow, or strong winds can cause damage.
Prepare before you experience an outage. Make sure you have a working flashlight and backup batteries, a first aid kit, non-perishable food, water bottles, battery powered phone chargers, warm clothes, and blankets.
When an outage happens, check to see if others in your area have power. You can do this by visiting kremc.com/outage-center and looking at the Outage Map there. If they do, check your fuse box at home to see if you can find a cause. If the whole area is out, or if you can't find a cause at your home, report the outage by calling 574-267-6331 and pressing 1. KREMC has a lineman on call 24/7 to investigate outages. It can take time to locate the source of a power outage and get the necessary equipment and manpower out to deal with it. We work to get power back up as fast as possible, but sometimes it can take some time.
Downed Power Lines
If you see downed power lines, or if you are in a car accident and hit an electric pole, always assume power lines are active. Do not approach downed lines, and if you are in a car accident, remain in the car until help arrives. Getting out of your car and walking into a live power line is a recipe for disaster.
Space Heaters
Space heaters can be a huge fire hazard during winter months. Make sure your space heater is clear of blankets, clothing and furniture. In addition to this, avoid using extension cords with your space heaters. If you do use an extension cord, pay close attention to the amps it can handle. The average space heater uses 12-13 amps of power. A cheap extension cord may only be able to handle 10 amps. When it gets overloaded, it begins to heat up, melting the protective insulation around it, and eventually catching fire. Never run a space heater while you are not home to keep an eye on it.
Generators
If you are installing a generator, be careful not to place it in a garage or near an open window, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. To prep your generator for winter, replace old fuel, and switch to lower viscosity oil that can handle low temperatures. Test the battery, clean it, and replace filters as needed. Once you are done, test run your generator to make sure everything functions smoothly. Generators are ideal especially if you have necessary medical equipment or refrigerated medication which relies on electricity.
Extension Cords & Power Strips
As the winter months get cold and we plug in more lights, heaters, and entertainment units, it is important to not overload extension cords or power strips. If the amount of amps running through the cord or power strip are too high for it to handle, it could overheat, melt, and cause a house fire. Be aware of the amps these devices can handle.
Smoke & Monoxide Detectors
With increased risk of monoxide poisoning and fire, winter is the perfect season to check on your smoke and monoxide detectors. Test them to see if they are in working order, double check that you have enough of them throughout the house, and replace or add any as needed.
Follow these recommendations to help keep you and your family safe during the cold, dark winter months. If you have any questions, concerns, or outages to report, contact us here at KREMC for assistance.