As a cottager, soon you will likely be headed this way on weekends to enjoy warm weather by the lake. Hydro One reminds us that there are a few things that you can do when you open your cottage for the season to ensure the next few months are spent relaxing and not working around your summer property.
1. Upon arrival, do a circle check and inspect the power line feeding your cottage. Take note if there are any tree branches that have grown too close to the power line — they could cause a power outage. Hire a qualified contractor to prune trees near your power line. If a wire is down on the ground, stay at least one bus length away and call Hydro One's power emergency line immediately at 1-800-434-1235.
2. Perform basic maintenance activities around your cottage. Hydro One will disconnect the power supply to your property once a year at no charge so that any maintenance along or near your power line can be performed safely.
3. The last thing to do before entering the cottage is to check your electricity meter for damage. If there is damage, report it to your local electricity service provider.
4. Before turning on the power to your cottage, ensure all branch circuits are in the off position. Open the main switch and then energize individual circuits one at a time. Fill your water tank before switching on the power, to avoid damage to your water heater element.
5. Look at your interior wiring, electrical cords and plugs for damage. Arrange for repairs or replacement, if necessary. The start of the cottage season is also a good time to replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and ensure your fire extinguishers are charged.
6. Finally, sign up for Hydro One's new outage alerts. The free service sends registered customers a text or email when the power is out near their property and updates on estimated times of restoration.
www.newscanada.com
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