What to Do During a Power Outage in the First 30 Minutes

Updated: 22 August 2026 la 17:37. Articolul a fost revizuit pentru a reflecta informațiile disponibile la această dată.

The lights go out, the router falls silent and, if you live in an apartment building, other problems can arise immediately: the intercom, lift or water pump may stop working. The question of what to do during a power outage becomes urgent especially in the evening, during a heatwave, in freezing weather, or when there are young children, people dependent on medical equipment or perishable food at home. The first decisions matter more than rushing to find a torch.

What to do during a power outage: checks in the first few minutes

First, find out whether the problem is limited to your home or affects the area. Look out of the window at the street lighting and, if possible, ask a neighbour. If the stairwell and surrounding buildings are also dark, it is most likely a fault or a planned interruption in the distribution network. If only your home has no electricity, check the electrical panel.

Do not repeatedly reset circuit breakers. A breaker that trips again may indicate a faulty appliance, a damaged cable or an overloaded circuit. Unplug high-consumption appliances that were running when the power went out — for example, an iron, electric radiator, oven, washing machine or fan heater — then try resetting the breaker once. If the problem persists, call a licensed electrician.

If there is smoke, a smell of overheated plastic, sparks or burn marks in the electrical panel, do not touch the installation or pour water on it. Switch off the main power supply only if you can do so without risk, leave the home and call 112 if there is a danger of fire or electrocution.

During the first 30 minutes, the useful order of actions is simple:

• keep the refrigerator and freezer closed;
• unplug sensitive electronics and large appliances;
• use battery-powered torches, not unattended candles;
• check your phone battery level and turn on power-saving mode;
• find out whether the electricity distributor has announced a fault or planned work.

How to find out how long the outage will last

In Romania, the electricity supplier and distributor are generally different companies. The supplier issues your bill and manages the commercial contract. The distributor operates the local network and is responsible for cables, transformer substations and faults. To report a power outage, you would usually contact the distribution operator in your area.

Check notices of planned outages published for your town or street, as well as any messages issued by local authorities. During storms, blizzards or heatwaves, the initial estimate may change: access for crews, fallen trees, damaged lines and a high number of reports can extend the response.

When reporting a fault, have your full address, town, apartment number where applicable, and the consumption point code from your bill ready. Clearly state whether you see a fallen wire, a transformer making unusual noises or a damaged pole. Do not approach cables on the ground, and do not allow children or animals near them. A cable that appears not to be live can become dangerous at any time.

Refrigerator, freezer and food: what can be kept

A power outage lasting a few dozen minutes is normally not a problem for food if the doors remain closed. A refrigerator keeps food cold for about four hours. A full freezer can keep food safe for around 48 hours, while a half-full freezer can do so for about 24 hours. These timeframes depend on the temperature in the kitchen, how often you open the door and the quality of the appliance.

Do not open the refrigerator “just to check”. Each time warm air enters, its ability to stay cold decreases. If the outage appears likely to last, move the most sensitive foods to a cool bag with cold packs, if you have one. Meat, fish, cooked food, dairy products and baby food are the first items to assess once the power returns.

After the power supply is restored, check whether frozen products still have ice crystals and are still very cold. Products that have completely thawed and have been kept too long at a high temperature should not be refrozen. If you are unsure about their smell, texture or the time spent without refrigeration, the safe option is to throw them away.

What to do if the boiler, water supply or lift stops

A gas heating boiler needs electricity for its controls, pump and ignition. During a power outage, it stops even if gas is available. Do not improvise with the boiler, and do not use the cooker or oven to heat a room. The risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning is real, especially in a poorly ventilated space.

In winter, dress in layers, close the doors to unused rooms and retain heat in a single room. If your home depends on an electric pump for water, fill several clean containers in advance when you learn of planned work. In an apartment building, water pressure may drop if the building’s system has pumps without backup power.

If you become trapped in a lift, press the alarm button and use the intercom or phone to notify the building manager, maintenance company or emergency services. Do not force the doors and do not attempt to get out by yourself between floors. During an extended outage, avoid using the lift until the power supply is stable.

Phones, working from home and essential equipment

Close power-hungry apps, reduce screen brightness and save your power bank for your phone rather than less necessary devices. Mobile data may work for a while, but networks can become congested and mobile antennas may be affected if the outage is widespread. Send short messages instead of repeatedly calling when the network is unstable.

When working from home, save documents as soon as you notice voltage fluctuations. A charged laptop may provide several hours of battery life, but the router and the internet operator’s equipment do not always work without power. A backup battery for the router may be useful, but it must be chosen according to the equipment’s voltage and power consumption. Do not connect improvised adapters.

If there is an oxygen concentrator, CPAP machine, home dialysis equipment or other electricity-dependent medical equipment in the home, a plan must be made before an emergency. Discuss battery life, the appropriate backup power source and the situations in which medical help should be sought with your doctor or equipment supplier. In such a situation, a power outage is not merely an inconvenience.

After power returns: avoid power surges and check the installation

When the power returns, do not switch on all appliances at once. Wait a few minutes, then reconnect important appliances gradually. The refrigerator, boiler and router can be switched on first; the washing machine, electric oven and other large appliances can wait. This reduces the risk of overloading the installation, especially in an apartment building where power is restored to many flats at the same time.

Check the time on the boiler, alarm system, programmable appliances and any error messages. If you noticed fluctuations before the outage and an appliance no longer starts after voltage is restored, do not keep plugging and unplugging it. Photograph any errors, keep a record of the outage details and request a technical assessment if you suspect a fault.

A small kit that can make a difference

You do not need a storehouse of equipment to get through an outage more easily. A good torch, spare batteries, a charged power bank, drinking water, some food that requires no preparation, a first-aid kit and copies of important phone numbers cover many situations. For homes with electric heating, a water pump or vulnerable people, the right solution may include a backup power source, but it must be selected and used correctly.

Do not run generators inside the home, in a garage, on an enclosed balcony or near windows. They produce dangerous gases and must be placed outdoors only, away from doors, windows and air intakes. Also, do not power your home’s electrical installation directly from a generator without a system installed by an electrician — you could endanger both the home and crews working on the network.

The most useful thing is not having every possible gadget, but knowing where the torch, circuit breakers, bill and the right fault-reporting number are before the home is left in darkness.