gas grill burner replacement How to Survive a Prolonged Power Outage

Consumer Reports have no financial relationship with advertisers on the site.When Hurricane Florence swept the coast of Carolina, no one could guess how much damage it would cause --Or how long the area will last without electricity.For those who may experience a long blackout, here are five steps recommended by Consumer Reporting experts to get you through the storm safely.1.Write down important information on paper during a power outage, your phone is your lifeline and in an emergency you may want to keep charging.Because you can't rely on your mobile phone indefinitely, write down the phone number and address you may need, such as a nearby hospital, a school that provides supplies, a local library or a bomb shelter, or other public places of power.Places you can go to charge your electronics and contact your loved ones.Then save the battery life of the phone by switching the phone to powerSave settings such as airplane mode on iPhone or economy mode on Android device.Maria Rerecich, director of electronic testing for CR, says it's a smart idea to bring a power strip when you go to a local shelter or library.This way, when you find the power supply, you can charge multiple devices at a timeOr share temporary charging stations with others.2.Cooking food using gas so that it can be safely cooked on a gas stove that loses power but has few other damaged homes.But you may need to light the burner with a match or lighter, because the electronic ignition on the stove will not work if there is a power failure.If you have a gas grill, cooking with it is another option.If you can properly store the grill in a dry place such as a garage before a storm, and notice that the grill or gas tank is not damaged by water, it should be safe to grill the food with it.However, what to cook is another problem.CR has a guide on foods you can make or eat that don't deteriorate quickly.The food in the refrigerator can keep the temperature safe.below 40° F—Average about 4 hours.Cook any perishable food (especially raw meat and soft cheese) during this time );Otherwise, throw away these items.Even after thatOne hour window, food can take an extra 2 hours above 40 degrees F before cooking becomes unsafe.A full refrigerator should remain cold for about 48 hours after a power outage;a half-The full fridge should stay cold within 24 hours.Anything you cook but don't eat, you need to throw it away after 2 hours because there is no way you can keep it cool enough to prevent it from spoiling.You can always share it with your neighbors.) It's nice to know: Many homeowners insurance policies will pay for the replacement of spoiled food, so it's really not worth taking the risk of consumption.If your house is flooded, always throw away any food that may be exposed to flooding during storms and hurricanes, the Department of Agriculture's food safety guidelines recommend.3.If you have a generator, using it safely if the carbon monoxide concentration is high enough to run a generator will kill you in 5 minutes.It happened: an average of 66 people die from generators every yearAccording to data from the Consumer Product Safety Committee, carbon monoxide poisoning is associated."Carbon monoxide is a colorless, tasteless gas, so you Don't even know you're inhaling it," said Don Huber, product safety director at CR ."."In any case, resist the urge to move a portable generator inside a house or garage."Operate the generator as far away as possible from the house --CR recommended at least 20 feet-And remove the exhaust from the doors and windows.If the switch is not installed, you can run the outdoor-The rated extension cord for the appropriate meter from the generator socket to each appliance, provided that the wire is rated correctly and you follow certain precautions.The extension line specifications required for the generator will be specified in the user manual.4.No Generator?Unplug the appliance.This includes anything with a circuit from the microwave to the refrigerator to the TV.There is no special order to follow, all you need to do is unplug from the socket to prevent potential electrical damage.Alternatively, you can turn off the main circuit breaker if you are comfortable doing so.John Galeotafiore, deputy director of CR product testing, said: "When the wire is damaged in the storm, there may be spikes or spikes in the line ."."When utilities restore power, unplugging your appliances can prevent damage to these appliances from surging power."If you see that a street light or other home on the block has successfully turned on the light, you will know that the power supply has been turned back on.5.If your family and family are safe and reliable, please check your neighborhood and communicate with your neighbors and family to let them know.Check if the elderly neighbor is able to navigate when the lights are not on-Or if they need your help.Design a system to update everyone if necessary.If the power outage does not appear to be over, the federal emergency response authority recommends finding an alternative location for electricity, heating or cooling --Let's say you can drive safely on the road.Bring your travel bag or medical travel bag and any other supplies you may need.Let your neighbors and family know where you plan to go.More information from Consumer Reports: The preferred tire price for 2016 best used cars is $25,000, the best mattress for less7 is independent, working side by side with consumers, A non-profit organization that creates a fairer, safer and healthier world.Products or services are not recognized by CR and advertisements are not accepted.All rights reserved©2018 Consumer Reporting Company