3/14

Let Your Phone Die

When you can’t watch TV and have barely enough light to read a book, playing on your phone or iPad for hours might seem like the only appealing option. But you should put it down to preserve the battery, says Ed Lounsbury, a licensed electrician with T. Webber Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric.

“Save your phone until you need it,” he says. “If the power goes out for a few days you might need it for emergency services.” If you can’t resist opening apps, make sure you juice up a portable phone charger in case your lifeline runs out of battery.

Plus, make sure you know how to extend the life of your phone charger.

4/14

Keep Electronics Plugged In

You should really unplug electronics before the storm hits, because a lightning strike creates a massive surge and could damage your equipment. But if you didn’t see the power outage coming, taking plugs out around the house could still offer protection against the electrical surge of the power coming back.

“It’s always smart to unplug them, but there are ways to prevent them from being damaged,” says Lounsbury. Install a surge protector in an electric panel, or plug sensitive electronics into a surge-protected power strip, he suggests. Get the whole scoop on surge protectors and how to protect your house from a voltage spike.