What To Do… And Who To Call…When There Is A Power Outage In The Flathead Valley

Power outages are a fact of life; they are never fun, and every homeowner will experience one sooner or later.  Whether it is power outage due to severe weather or a fuse that has blown, your home will never be 100% untouchable from everyday wear and tear or a big storm.

How do I find out the source of the power outage? If the power has gone down and you want to find out the source of the outage follow these steps:

  1. Check the circuit breakers – All breakers should be on the “on” side, but if a breaker tripped, it would have moved to the “off” side. Make sure all breakers are in the same position. If all the breakers are in the “on” position, turn off the main breaker and then switch it back “on.”
  2. Check-In with your neighbors – If your power is still off, most likely, there was an outage in the neighborhood. Go outside and check. If you see other houses with no light, chances are, there was a power outage. If they do have power, an electric line may have gone down. If you see it, do not go near it. Call your local electric company if you see a downed line.
  3. Contact your electric company – If you don’t see a down line and your power is still out, call your local power company and let them know of the outage. Chances are, they already know, but either way, they can give you an update.
    • Flathead Electric has an outage map. If there’s already a verified outage listed in your area, click on the outage and sign up to receive updates. They will text you as soon as cause is determined and estimated time of restoration.
    • You can also call Flathead Electric 24/7 to verify or report an outage at: 406-751-4449 or 800-406-0762

CENTRAL’S TOP PRO TIPS:

  • Keep a variety of light sources available – Keep available in case of an outage: candles, propane or oil lamps, flashlights or headlamps (and extra fresh batteries) and even glow sticks can be used in a pinch if needed. Just practice safety with any light sources with flames.
  • If it’s cold out…stay warm – If it is cold out and you lose power, make sure to stay warm and keep yourself bundled up. Wear layers, a hat and gloves and cover up with blankets if need be. If you have a wood-burning stove or fireplace, and you have some wood stored, this would be the time to use it.
  • Save your refrigerated food – Try not to open the refrigerator. The more you expose your refrigerated food to room temperature, the faster it will spoil. You may want to consider placing perishable foods in a cooler with ice or even snow (if available) from outside to help preserve them. If you question the safety of your perishable food, follow the rule: “When in doubt, throw it out!”
  • Conserve your water – It’s important to have clean drinking water, so it would be prudent to keep bottled water stored for this type of emergency occasion. Also, you may want to fill up your bathtub and sinks with water in the event that outage last longer than expected. This saved water can be used for drinking or to flush the toilet.
  • Get unplugged – DO NOT UNPLUG THE REFRIGERATOR. However, unplug other appliances such as toaster oven, microwave and so on AND unplug all surge protectors with multiple electronics– especially those attached to TV’s or computers. When the power comes back on, a power surge could damage these items.
  • Don’t try to fix it yourself – If your power outage is due to an electrical issue within your home, do not try and fix it yourself (beyond the tips above). Electrical work needs to be done by skilled and licensed professional to protect from potential damage to your home or personal injury.

Luckily power outages are really not that common but taking the steps above will help assure the safety of you and your family until the power comes back on. *** If you DO determine the power outrage is due to an electrical issue within your home, don’t wait! Call the pros at CENTRAL as soon as possible at 406-756-6656.

At Central Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical your ‘COMFORT’ and SAFETY is always our CENTRAL concern! We are here for you 24/7!—- For all your heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical and drain cleaning needs.

***We service Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, Polson, Lakeside, Somers or anywhere in the surrounding Flathead.

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