Power Outages, Safety Tips & Utility Bill

1. Insulate walls, ceilings and windows where you can
2. Choose the right lights: Using LED 60 watt bulbs 
3. Switch to ENERGY STAR appliances: They use up to 40 percent less energy than conventional models sold before 2001
4. Unplug electronics and turn off electronics when not in use, if device absolutely needs to be plugged into an outlet.
5. Use programmable thermostats to lower the temperature when you're asleep or away: A 6-9 degree adjustment can save up to 10 percent a year on your heating and cooling bills. 
6. Think before you wash and dry clothes. Dry only full loads of laundry and use the cold water setting on the washer
7. Clean the dryer vent regularly
8. Drop the temperature on your water heater. Set it to 120 degrees to save energy and prevent burns
9. During the cold weather, limit the use of space heaters
10. Change furnace filters. Change every month to save on energy costs and extend the life of your equipment

Before the Storm

• Place working flashlights throughout the house and be sure all family members know where they are
• Have a battery-operated radio on hand for storm information 
• Have extra flashlight and radio batteries ready
• Keep extra drinkling water, a manual can opener and a supply of canned and dried foods on hand in case an outage lasts more than a few days

During the Storm

• If your power does go out, first check to see if your neighbors have power or if you have power in other parts of your home. (You may have simply blown or fuse or tripped a circuit breaker.) If your home is the only one without power, Call Us at (518) 396-8743 immediately for FAST SERVICE
• Turn off any appliances that were on before the outage; unplug sensitive appliances such as computers, TV's, stereos and microwaves
• Leave a light switch on to alert you when the power is back on
• Never burn charcoal indoors or use a gas range for heating. Both could give off toxic fumes
• If it appears your house may be without heat for an extended period and the outside temperature is below freezing, drain your water pipes
• Never touch any fallen lines or anything touching fallen wires. Report all fallen wires to your local utility company

After the Storm

• If service has been restored to your neighborhood and your home is still without power and your service entrance lines are ripped off your home, Call Us at (518) 396-8743 immediately for FAST SERVICE to restore your service
• If your home has flooded, Call Us at (518) 396-8743 immediately before turning anything on
• Gradually reconnect your appliances to avoid overloading circuits when the power is restored
• Replenish any supplies used during the storm

Protecting against momentary interruptions 

• When purchasing a programmable appliance, make sure it has a battery-operated backup system that prevents power disruption
• When working with a home computer, store information into permanent memory periodically throughout the day

Protecting against power surges

• Small plug-in surge protectors can be bought at most electrical equipment suppliers and will provide protection from voltage spikes
• Plug sensitive equipment into outlets as far away as possible from main breaker panels or fuse boxes. Such equipment should not be plugged into the same circuit as major appliances such as air conditioners, pumps, refrigerators or washing machines
• Unplug sensitive equipment such as digital video recorders, game consoles, stereos, digital cable convertors, and computers whenever there is the threat of a severe electrical storm. Also unplug phone lines to sensitive equipment or purchase phone line surge protectors

• Always consult and have a licensed or qualified electrician install your generator,    Call Us at (518) 396-8743 for consultation and installation of your Generator
• Make sure the generator has enough capacity to meet your needs (Call Us for a Consultation)
• When operating the generator, the main circuit breaker must be in the "OFF" position
• Ensure that your generator has a transfer switch
• Never plug a generator directly into a wall outlet
• Generators should only be operated outdoors to ensure proper ventilation of carbon monoxide exhaust
• Never operate a generator indoors regardless of the ventilation