Best Things to Power First During a Blackout
During a Power Outage, first start with the non-negotiables. Finally add comforts.
Just a heads up:
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🏠 Home Basics
- Refrigerator
- Cell phone chargers
- Freezer
- Wi-Fi router
- Living room lights / lamps
- Microwave / toaster oven
- Coffee maker (because obviously) ☕
- Garage door opener
- Heat
- Sump pump (for basements!)
- Well pump
🍼 Kid & Baby Essentials
- White noise machine / sound machine
- Bottle warmer / breast pump
- Baby monitor
- Fridge/freezer for milk or food
- Night light
- Air purifier / humidifier
💻 Work-from-Home Essentials
- Laptop
- Wi-Fi booster or mesh system
- Printer/scanner
- External monitor
- Modem/router battery backup (UPS)
🛠️ Tradesman or Business Tools
- Battery chargers for cordless tools
- Jobsite lights or floodlights
- Power tools (if needed during outage)
- Shop or utility heaters
- Small compressor
🐶 Pet Care (Don’t Forget These!)
- Fish tank pump/filter
- Reptile heat lamp
- Auto feeders or waterers
🌟 Nice-to-Haves (If You Have Room)
- TV or streaming stick
- Sound bar or Bluetooth speaker
- Instant Pot / slow cooker
- Fan or A/C unit (for summer comfort)
- Electric fireplace
- Decorative lights (keep the vibe cozy!)
⚡ Pro Tips:
- Use smart plugs to group items and control usage from your phone.
- Label what plugs into your generator before the outage hits.
- Make sure essential items are on different circuits if using a home standby generator.
- Remember you may not be able to run ALL your essentials at one time (ex-dishwasher, microwave, electric heaters and dryer) however, you can energize them all (depending on your generator).
When the power goes out, having a plan makes all the difference. By prioritizing the essentials first—like food storage, communication, and safety—you’ll stay in control instead of scrambling. Once the basics are covered, don’t forget the little comforts that help everyone stay calm (especially kids and pets). Whether you’re using a portable generator or a whole-home system, knowing what to power first keeps your household running smoothly until the lights come back on.
Check out my post on generators for suggestions on different types of generators!
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