5 Essential Steps to Take After a Power Interruption

Power disruptions are a frequent phenomenon across the United States, especially during severe storms and challenging weather conditions such as extreme cold or heat.

Your family’s safety is paramount during a blackout, but safeguarding your home’s contents from potential harm is also crucial.

Discover these key actions to consider if your home experiences an unexpected power outage.

Ensure Your Appliances Are Shielded

When the lights go out, the first task is to unplug your appliances. A power surge could harm your devices when electricity is rapidly channeled through the dormant electrical wires. Once power is reinstated, wait briefly before reconnecting everything.

For your electronic gadgets, opt for power strips equipped with surge protection. Look for strips boasting a substantial energy rating, a minimum of 600 joules. Prioritize those with the Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) certification for superior quality.

Before a storm hits, ensure all your gadgets are fully charged. This strategy ensures you’re equipped to handle any unforeseen emergencies. Plus, harness your mobile phone’s capabilities to stay updated on your loved ones’ well-being.

Check Your Fuse and Circuit Breaker System

A tripped circuit breaker might be responsible for the power loss. Try resetting it to ascertain if electricity is restored. The procedure involves toggling the switch off and on. Don’t be alarmed by a few beeps upon power’s return; this is normal.

Exercise caution while adjusting the breakers, refraining from using tools or touching the electric meter. If power remains elusive, consulting a professional might be wise. Cross-reference your neighbors’ situation to determine if the outage is localized.

Guard against overloading circuits to prevent future blown fuses. Plugging in excessive lights or devices can trigger this problem. Regularly inspect your electrical wiring and outlets for any signs of damage.

Moisture accumulation can lead to circuit breaker malfunctions, particularly after heavy rainfall. Prioritize drying out any sections of your dwelling affected by such weather conditions.

Safeguarding Your Refrigeration

Prioritize sealing your fridge and freezer doors to preserve your food’s freshness. In the interim, consider utilizing coolers and ice packs for temporary storage. Before consuming refrigerated items, ensure their safety. Keep in mind that a refrigerator maintains cold temperatures for approximately four hours, while a freezer sustains freezing conditions for 48 hours.

Elevate your peace of mind with a food thermometer, ensuring optimal cooking temperatures, such as 160°F for ground beef.

Construct an emergency kit as a preemptive measure for future power disruptions. Stock it with nonperishable items and bottled water.

Battling Basement Dampness

Intense storms, characterized by heavy rainfall, frequently trigger power outages. Regularly inspect your basement for potential flooding, as excessive moisture encourages mold growth. Utilize a gasoline-powered pump to eliminate any water accumulation.

Shield your basement’s external walls from potential water damage by identifying and promptly sealing any cracks. Fortify drainage efficiency by employing window well covers, preventing clogs and overflows.

Garage Door Empowerment

In the event of basement flooding, manual evacuation may be necessary. For this purpose, ensure your garage door is in the down position. Engage the emergency release cord, and effortlessly raise the door.

Post-storm evaluation of your garage door’s condition is vital. Engage professional assistance for water damage repairs to avoid electrical hazards. Confronting flooding and power disruptions demands expertise in electrical intricacies.

Safeguarding Your Plumbing System

When a power outage strikes, your home’s heating system may falter, leading to potential pipe freezing and bursting during chilly spells. To avert such a scenario, activate all your faucets, allowing a slight trickle of water. This simple measure encourages continuous fluid movement within your pipes.

Bolster your pipe protection by shutting your garage door to thwart drafts that might impact your plumbing. Additionally, open cabinet doors in your kitchen and bathroom to facilitate warm air circulation. For a lasting solution, consider enhancing insulation in your attic and basement.

Fortifying Your Abode Against Power Disruptions

Though the initial moments of a power outage might induce unease, maintaining composure is paramount. Equip yourself with these guidelines to ensure the safety of your family and home during such events.

Remember, tackling significant post-outage concerns demands professional expertise. Repairs involving flooding, electricity, and plumbing entail risks for inexperienced homeowners and are best entrusted to licensed and adept professionals.

Explore Renovated for an array of home improvement insights tailored to both homeowners and contractors. Embrace Houston Restore Pros for comprehensive home protection and restoration solutions.

 

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4.9 60 reviews
kendell clark Avatar
kendell clark
4/14/2025
After our house flooded on Christmas we called Houston Restore Pros and they took time from their holiday to come out and assist us and walk us through the next steps. From mitigation to reconstruction the process was seamless and the experience was great. The office worked side by side with our insurance and got all the tough questions answered for us and handled everything on that end. They were able to restore my home to even better than they found it. We’re very happy we choose Houston Restore Pros.
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Carol Smith Avatar
Carol Smith
4/14/2025
Houston Restore Pros worked well with our insurance. Joe and crew were compassionate and highly efficient at the moisture mitigation. Joel was great at coordinating the different phases and letting us know what to expect. Dennis and team Manuel, Daniel, and Alex went above and beyond expectations! Joe and Kirk and their crews carefully moved the furniture out and back. I would hire this group again!
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Derek Pruitt Avatar
Derek Pruitt
4/05/2025
Ben was prompt with communication and they did nice work
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JOEY Avatar
JOEY
4/05/2025
Ben and his team completed this project for us as sewer water backed up into the home. They did the demo which consisted of removing the base boards, tile/wood flooring, sheet rock, shower, etc. They put back the home in a timely and professional manner!
They installed sheet rock, tape and float, installed base boards, painted walls and trim, built a new vanity and painted, installed new plumbing fixtures, completed the tile shower with pan, tile in bath areas, and wood in bedrooms and living areas. Very reasonable pricing and completed a few small extras without hassling for additional monies.
I highly recommend Houston Restore Pro to complete any project you may have at your home or office!
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Van Ho Avatar
Van Ho
4/05/2025
Houston Restore did an amazing job on my property. Got Water damage and they arrived in 3 hours to dry out everything. Then Ben took care the restoration . He finish entire house in 2 months and my house turn out so beautiful .
I would recommend Houston restore to everyone
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Maria Lopez Avatar
Maria Lopez
4/05/2025
These guys are lifesavers. They are available 24/7. They provided excellent, professional service and did not leave until the job was done.Thanks to Joe, Jose, Josue, Joyce, and Joel.
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Danielle Beckcom Avatar
Danielle Beckcom
3/05/2025
Ben and his team at Houston Restore Pros were absolutely fantastic! From start to finish, they demonstrated professionalism, efficiency, and outstanding attention to detail. They went above and beyond to ensure everything was handled with care, and their expertise was evident in the quality of their work. Communication was seamless, and they were always available to answer any questions along the way. If you’re looking for a reliable and skilled restoration team, look no further—Houston Restore Pros is the best in the business. Highly recommend!
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stephen cunada Avatar
stephen cunada
2/05/2025
We had a little flooding inside our house back in July 2024 and when we informed our insurance company, they have suggested Houston Restore Pros as one of the cleanup company. In a matter of few hours, Joe was at the house supervising the mitigation process which they did meticulously. We were satisfied with the results that we decided to let them finish the restoration and reconstruction of the entire first floor under the able watch of Ben who was very responsive to all our questions and making sure that he corrected everything that needed to be addressed promptly. I would highly recommend Houston Restore Pros to anyone who would be in the same predicament. Thanks again Joe, Ben and the entire crew.
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B B Avatar
B B
2/05/2025
Our house flooded in May and needed to be restored from 2 feet up down to the concrete foundation. Houston Restore Pros had us back in our house in December and it looks better than it did before the flood. Ben was very helpful during the process and whenever we needed a repair fixed or changed he was easy to get ahold of and was quick to send out someone to fix it. You can tell that he really cares about his customers. I've added some photos of the demo and the finished home. It really is beautiful.
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Lee Tilley Avatar
Lee Tilley
2/05/2025
Slow water leak ruined my life! These guys put it back together from start to finish. Ben & his team were great to work with. He was always available, this man needs a promotion.
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Cat Ferguson Avatar
Cat Ferguson
2/05/2025
I would like to take a moment to commend Ben Sos, Project Manager at Houston Restore Pros, for his exceptional professionalism and courteous demeanor throughout our project. Ben consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to effectively manage tasks and ensure that the right team members were assigned to meet our needs.

His patience and understanding were particularly noteworthy; he was always available to address my concerns, even during moments of distress, and handled each situation with grace and empathy. Ben truly goes above and beyond for his clients, and his commitment to delivering outstanding service is evident in every interaction.

I wholeheartedly recommend Ben Sos for any project, as I am confident that his dedication and expertise will lead to successful outcomes.
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Jenny Ryan Avatar
Jenny Ryan
1/05/2025
Houston Restore Pros Joe Contreras and his team expertly handled the water mitigation in my home after my attic leaked, and Ben Sosa and his team beautifully restored my floors and the ceiling and sheetrock damage. They respond promptly to communication and guide their customers through each step of the process. Their care for their customers shows in all aspects of the company. I would recommend Houston Restore Pros to anyone.
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Rasheed Bangee Avatar
Rasheed Bangee
11/05/2024
Mr. Ben Sosa stayed on the top till the job is complete. Joe, Isaac Escobar and all are excellent along with Ben.
Worry free for one. They took care of all including contacting insurance company. Pictures are before and after.
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Helen Castillo Avatar
Helen Castillo
11/05/2024
Ben did a fantastic job him and his crew. They did repairs to my house and also painted it great job Ben
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Satish Mani Avatar
Satish Mani
10/05/2024
HRP were awesome. They came, understood our challenges and resolved each and every one of them. Ben their Project Manager especially understood our concerns and went way beyond to resolve our issues. Highly recommend HRP for any House restoration issues.
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