Problems a Power Outage Can Cause in Your Home

6/13/2022 (Permalink)

When storms hit, manual fixes are usually the only option, and that takes time. A line worker repairs a wire after a power outage.

One thing we often take for granted is the electricity that powers everything in our home. But, when an extreme weather event occurs, you have to be prepared for power outages. A power outage can cause a myriad of problems in your home.

When a storm hits, it may cause trees to fall down, unusual wind, or other damage to your home. But most people don’t think about power outage problems that can occur when the electricity goes out and stays out for a long period‌.

When the power goes out, it can cause serious problems not just during the outage but when the power comes back on. For example, the food in the fridge may go bad. You will have no heat, no lights, and no way to cook meals. While this is inconvenient, when the power comes back on, you may have an even bigger problem than you’re prepared for. Here are a few reasons why.

Here are a couple of power outage problems that you might not expect.

A flooded basement

Aside from issues with your fridge, stove, and other electrical appliances not working during an outage, another important thing that doesn’t work during a power outage is your basement’s sump pump.

Sump pumps run on electricity. While your power is out, they stop working. This is not a big deal in short outages, but if it rains heavily and your sump pump isn’t working, you could end up with a lot of water in your basement. This can cause serious damage to your home. Any items that are stored in your basement may be destroyed, and the moisture can cause mold to grow even after the water has been cleaned up.

Unfortunately, sump pumps are one of those things that are easy to forget about. When you’re in the middle of a power outage, it may not even occur to check your basement for flooding. In addition to that, many people choose to stay in a hotel if their power stays out for more than a few hours. And, when they come back home they may come home to a big mess they weren’t prepared for.

Water pipes may freeze or burst

Burst pipes are an unfortunate problem during the winter months here in Michigan, and they can cause a lot of water damage to your home. This is especially true if a pipe bursts while you’re not home. When it’s cold, the heat from your home helps to keep your pipes from freezing. However, during a power outage, you lose heat, which can cause frozen pipes or a pipe that bursts.

A great preventative measure to keep them from freezing is to have a trickle of water running through the pipes. This will keep water slowly circulating through your pipes and keep them from freezing. You should also open cabinet doors to allow heat to circulate and prevent pipes from freezing.

What should you do if there is water damage after a power outage?

The first thing to do is to clean up as much of the water as you can by mopping and wiping up as much of the water as you. Move any items from your basement to a dry location if possible and then call for help.

Call SERVPRO of South and Northwest Grand Rapids today at (616) 662-9700. At SERVPRO of South and Northwest Grand Rapids, we can help you after a disaster strikes. Whether it's water damage or storm damage, we can get to your home quickly. If you do notice mold, we can help with that too. We are specialists at mold and mildew remediation and much more.