A power outage completely disrupts our daily routines, putting a halt to cooking, cleaning, or even turning on the lights. When your home is without electricity, your first thoughts might be what tasks you can still safely perform while waiting for power to be restored.

Many homeowners wonder if it’s safe to shower during an outage. Here, we’ll break down this common question so you’re equipped with the best knowledge. There are two main factors to understand: What type of water heater your home has and how recently the power outage occurred.

How Do Power Outages Affect Trussville Homeowners?

In the Trussville area, power outages are usually the result of tornadoes, thunderstorms, or planned maintenance. Depending on the source of the outage, the infrastructure affected, and ongoing weather conditions, a power outage can last anywhere from a few minutes to several days. This duration may be longer if response workers don’t have easy access to downed power lines or vital equipment.

Showering During a Power Outage

Not having a functioning shower certainly qualifies as a plumbing emergency.

During a power outage, your home’s water heater determines the usability and safety of your shower. Here’s what you need to know:

If your home has a traditional tank water heater, you’ll have a hot water reserve available. That means it’s safe to take a shower during an outage, but it’s best to do so within a one- to two-hour window. After that, you might run out of hot water.

If your home has a gas or tankless water heater, you won’t have access to hot water. A gas water heater relies on electricity to ignite its pilot light and regulate temperature. Likewise, a tankless water heater is an energy-saving alternative, but it won’t have a reservoir of hot water during an outage unless you have a whole-home generator.

It’s generally safe to take a cold shower during a power outage, but there are potential risks. If a power outage lasts longer than a day, explore alternative bathing methods like boiling conserved water or using body cleansing foams and wet wipes.

Practical Tips for Showering Without Power

If you do need to shower during an outage, take certain precautions:

• Check your water supply: If your plumbing appliances rely on an electric pump, you may need to use stored water.
• Prepare water if necessary: Stored hot water can be mixed with cold water, or cold water can be brought to a boil and then cooled.
• Ensure proper lighting: Make sure you have a battery-operated flashlight or lantern within reach.
• Gather necessary supplies: Avoid fumbling around in the dark by having towels, soaps, and clothing nearby.
• Conserve water: During long outages, shorten your shower time or conserve bathing water by collecting shower runoff in a basin.
• Ventilate: Good ventilation will prevent drafts, but avoid opening doors or windows that let in cold air.

To seal in warmth, pre-heat your bathroom with a portable heater or warm bathing water in a bucket by mixing cold and hot water.

Trust Wilbur’s for Expert Plumbing Advice

Showering during a power outage is safe when proper measures are taken. By following our tips, you can confidently bathe, especially if water is conserved. If no water supply is available, resort to alternative hygiene products like baby wipes or dry shampoos.

For expert plumbing care in Hoover, AL, count on Wilbur’s Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing. Schedule a service with us today.