Losing power in an apartment can be a frustrating experience. It can ruin food, leave you stranded and make it hard to live comfortably in your home.
The good news is that there are things you can do to fix the problem and get back to normal. The first step is to check your circuit breaker or fuse box.
1. Check Your Circuit Breaker or Fuse Box
If you’re experiencing a power outage in your apartment, there are some steps you can take to try and fix it. First, you’ll want to check your circuit breaker or fuse box to see if there’s a problem with it.
In many older homes and apartments, you’ll find a fuse box that contains anywhere from two to eight fuses. It will be metal and may be located in a stairwell, closet, basement, or garage.
Fuse boxes operate similarly to circuit breakers, with small cylindrical devices in a row instead of switches. However, the process to replace a blown fuse in a fuse box is different from the process for replacing a blown circuit breaker.
Once you’ve found your fuse box, open it up and look inside. There should be several fuses, each with a label that states which fuse it is and what circuits it controls.
If you have a fuse that has blown, make sure to replace it with one of the same type and amperage. Bad fuses can have charred glass or broken filament inside, which is evidence of a short circuit.
You can also try to reset the fuse. This involves unscrewing it from the socket in the fuse box. If you’re not familiar with the process, you can ask an electrician to help.
After you’ve reset the fuse, you should be able to use electricity again. But if you’re still not getting power, there could be another issue.
A common cause of power outages is overloading electrical systems. Unplug any lights or appliances that are consuming too much energy and call an electrician to have the system checked.
Then, if you are still having issues, you can also try to reset your outlet plates. These plates have a safety device called a GFCI that should restore power to the socket.
While it’s not a common occurrence, if you experience a power outage in your home, it’s important to know how to repair the problem and what to do next. Knowing how to fix a power outage can save you money, time, and frustration in the long run.
2. Check With Your Neighbors
If you’re living in an apartment, the first thing you should do when a power outage occurs is check with your neighbors. You may be able to get more information from them about what’s going on, and they might even know of some solutions that you didn’t think of.
Once you’ve checked with your neighbors, you should make a plan for how to handle the situation if the outage continues or worsens. This includes assembling a kit with the essentials, like water, food, blankets, flashlights and battery-powered equipment, in case you need to shelter down for an extended period of time.
Having these supplies in place will help you to feel more comfortable when the lights go out and keep you from having to worry about a potential disaster. It also allows you to focus on the task at hand, which is getting your power back up and running.
The first step in preparing for an outage is to make sure your apartment has a supply of emergency preparedness items, such as bottled water, blankets, non-perishable food and a good flashlight. It’s best to have enough of these to last you for at least seventy-two hours, so stock up on these items now, and make sure they’re stored in a safe place.
If you have any doubts about a specific neighbor, you can run a background check on them with a tool such as TruthFinder, which will give you information about their criminal history and any sex offender records. This will help you to feel safer around them, and can even be a great way to quell any suspicions you have about them.
You can also offer to be a helpful friend and assist your neighbors with their household needs, such as mowing grass or pulling weeds. These kinds of tasks are easy to do, and they’re sure to make your neighbors feel good.
Aside from putting a friendly note under the door, or posting it in the mailbox, another way to offer assistance is through mutual aid groups. These organizations match people who are in need of extra help with volunteers who can do tasks such as grocery delivery, cooking meals or dog walking. Aside from making your neighbor’s life easier, these helpers can also keep them from feeling isolated during a crisis.
3. Call the Power Company
As soon as you realize there’s a power outage, the first thing you need to do is call the power company. They’ll help you figure out what’s causing the outage, and they’ll be able to fix it quickly so that your apartment is safe again.
When you know the power is out, turn off all the electronics in your home to protect them from a potential surge that could damage them. It’s also a good idea to unplug any appliances with electronic controls, including space heaters and TVs.
After you unplug everything, check to see if the power is still out. If it’s not, you may have a broken circuit breaker or fuse box that needs to be repaired before the electricity can be restored to your apartment.
If you’re not sure where the breaker box is located in your building, ask the manager of the building or your landlord for assistance. They should be able to provide you with the contact information for the utility company.
Once you’ve found the breaker box, check to make sure there aren’t any switches that have been tripped. If there are, it’s possible that the power is out in the entire building.
Even if the outage is isolated to your apartment, it’s important that you report it to the power company as soon as you can so that they can dispatch crews to the area. It’s also a good idea for you to be prepared with a list of essential items that you can grab when the power goes out.
While you’re waiting for the power to be fixed, keep an eye on the weather and stay aware of any evacuation announcements that are coming up. If a major storm causes an outage, it’s a good idea to establish an evacuation plan with everyone living in your apartment and consider relocating somewhere else before the weather gets worse.
You can use your phone to monitor the power company’s alerts, so be sure to check in on them frequently. You can also call the number on your power bill and let them know that you’re experiencing a power outage. They will then send a service representative to your home to assess the problem and get it repaired as soon as possible.
4. Call Your Landlord
If you are experiencing a power outage in your apartment, there are a few steps that you can take to ensure the problem is resolved. First, check your circuit breaker or fuse box and make sure it isn’t tripped. Most modern circuit breakers will have a series of little windows — when a switch is tripped, you’ll see at least one window turn orange.
Once you’ve determined that the issue isn’t a problem with your wiring, call your landlord to report it and ask for help. Landlords typically have a duty to maintain the property and fix issues that arise.
Before you call your landlord, be sure to check with your neighbors to determine if there is a larger problem that could be causing the outage in your area. Sometimes, a widespread loss of power is caused by a storm or a damaged transformer.
When you call your landlord, be sure to tell them exactly what has happened and what needs to be done to fix the problem. This will allow them to take the necessary action to get the issue fixed as quickly as possible.
Your landlord is also likely to be more than happy to assist you in repairing the problem. He or she might even offer to pay for the work, as long as it is reasonable and does not create a health or safety hazard for you.
In addition to repairing the power outage, your landlord should be able to provide you with some helpful tips for staying safe while you wait for the issue to be resolved. This includes making sure you have enough food, water and other essentials to keep you hydrated and comfortable.
Additionally, be sure you have a supply of flashlights and candles on hand in your apartment to light up the place. These are a great first choice in light sources and will help you feel more secure while the power is out.
Lastly, be sure to follow evacuation plans if there is severe weather that causes the power to go out in your apartment. This will help you avoid further problems and keep your family safe.