Life After a Power Outage: The Guide for Dummies

After spending a few days in the dark — both figuratively and literally — you emerge from your basement like a caveman into the industrial revolution 2.0. Your house has power again and your options seem endless: hot food or cold food, a movie or a TV show, air conditioning or — well, who wouldn’t want air conditioning? You can now pass the time in a million ways that do not involve toys from the Stone Age, like books. However, the sudden surge of power after a period of electrical isolation can leave you unsure of what to do next. Luckily, this step-by-step guide will show you the light and help you readjust to life with power.

Step 1: Spam all means of mass communication. Now that you are reconnected with the outside world, you must announce your return publicly. I’m talking Twitter, Facebook, text messaging, e-mail, personal blogs, and whatever it takes to let loved ones and semi-strangers alike know that you are okay. If you don’t exist virtually, you don’t exist at all. So tell everyone about the hardships you endured these past few days — maybe even post a status about how dreadful life was without your favorite gaming app.

Step 2: Shop for some better candles — online, of course. Now that you’ve lived life on the dark side, you can fully appreciate the purpose of candles. You usually use candles to fill your house with a warm apple pie scent or to decorate your living room because souvenir candles are so adorable. But when the power goes out and you are clutching the tail end of a lopsided dolphin candle from Hawaii that produces a fingernail of light, you begin to regret your priorities. Browse online for practical candles that will make it through the next technological apocalypse — before Flipper sets your curtains on fire.

Step 3: Revert to your screen-dependent tendencies. Even the most fruitful bee must go home to the hive. You’ve spent enough time dabbling in life’s simple pleasures, from paintings to puzzles. Now it’s time to fire up your laptop and go back to where you belong. The whir of your laptop startup is practically saying, “Welcome home.” So kick back, watch your favorite episode of How I Met Your Mother until your eyes bleed, and abuse your right to electricity as it was intended.

When dealing with something as important as home improvement projects, you want to make sure you’re working with the right people.  This includes the realm of electricians – the wiring of your house should only be dealt with by reputable, honest professionals.  So how can you know you are making the right decision when choosing a company?  This doesn’t have to be stressful; here are some tips below on how to choose an electrician for any household repairs or projects.

1.  Check the Paperwork

The first thing you should check for in electric companies is if they are licensed and insured.  Each branch of home improvement has a specific license, so you want to make sure your company has one dedicated to electricity.  Checking out the insurance is a good idea as well, for a company without proper insurance could cost you a fortune in the case of an accident.  If either of these two pieces is missing, do not be afraid to walk away.  There are many great companies to choose from with the proper credentials.

2.  Search the History

A basic question is to ask how many years an electrician has been in business.  While a newer company may be perfectly capable of meeting your needs, there is a certain sense of security you can feel with a company who has been operating for a longer time.  These electricians can show you more of their work and potentially offer you better deals through connections in the industry.  Whether old or new, however, always make sure to check some references before agreeing to do business with an electrician.  These could be friends and neighbors who have used the company or a list of previous clients provided by the electrician himself.  Actual customers can give you the best description of how a company works because they most likely have the same interests in mind as you.

3.  Consider the Deal

At this point you should talk with your chosen electrician about the project you want done.  Find out what kind of guarantees the company will put on their work.  Many companies will give a warranty on both labor and equipment, so don’t settle for a one-and-done offer.  Check if the electrician is willing to come back for assistance if something goes wrong.  It is also a good idea to ask for a quote of services and products before starting any projects. You do not want to end up paying more than you originally intended.

While these steps may seem obvious at first, it is easy to make hasty decisions when you encounter problems in home improvement.  However, take the time to consider each of these things with a company and never enter into a business deal if you feel uneasy.

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