After a power outage or hurricane: food safety and restarting appliances
By the technicians at Maximum Appliance Repair. Updated
Hurricane season in Florida and planned power shutoffs in California both leave homes without power for hours or days. Here's how to protect your food and your appliances, and how to tell when something was damaged.
Before the power goes out
Turn the refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings a day ahead. Freeze containers of water to fill empty space, and keep a thermometer in each. Know where your water shutoff and breakers are. Unplug electronics-heavy appliances if you expect surges.
Keep the doors closed
According to the USDA, a refrigerator keeps food safe for about 4 hours if the door stays closed. A full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours, and a half-full freezer for about 24 hours.
What to throw out
The USDA advises discarding perishable food, like meat, poultry, seafood, milk, eggs and leftovers, that has been above 40°F for 2 hours or more. Frozen food that still has ice crystals or reads 40°F or below can be refrozen. When in doubt, throw it out.
Never run a generator indoors
Generators belong outside, well away from doors and windows, because of carbon monoxide. Plug appliances into the generator with a properly rated cord, or use a transfer switch installed by an electrician. Don't back-feed the house through an outlet.
Restarting appliances
When power returns, turn appliances back on one at a time. Give the refrigerator up to 24 hours to get fully cold. Reset clocks and check that the ice maker is on. If an appliance has a digital control and acts strangely, turn its breaker off for a minute and back on.
If water got in
Don't use any appliance that sat in flood water until a technician checks it. Water damages motors, controls and gas valves, and the damage may not show at first. Gas appliances exposed to flooding should be checked before you relight them.
When to call a technician
Call us if an appliance doesn't power up after the outage, if a fridge won't get cold within a day, if a breaker trips when you turn something on, or if any appliance was in flood water. Surges can damage control boards even when everything looks fine.
Questions
How long does food last in the fridge without power?
About 4 hours with the door closed, according to the USDA. A full freezer keeps food frozen for about 48 hours, a half-full freezer about 24 hours.
Why won't my fridge work after the power came back?
Some refrigerators wait several minutes before restarting the compressor. Give it 15 minutes. If it still isn't running, check the breaker and any GFCI outlet. A surge can also damage the control board.