By Greg Pahl
Don’t get left in the dark. Here’s what you need to know for emergency power
By Greg Pahl
Power failures can be a real pain—and downright dangerous—if you’re not prepared. At the very least,
blackouts disable heating and air-conditioning systems, freezers, refrigerators, water pumps and lighting. If the power outage lasts for any length of time, your home can become uncomfortable and possibly uninhabitable: Your water pipes may freeze and burst, the food in your freezer may thaw and spoil, or your sump pump may fail, flooding your basement. Any of these events can quickly become expensive. If a blizzard blocks roads and you’re snowed-in during subzero temperatures, grid failure can even be life-threatening.