George in Westminster, MD asks:
“The severe weather and power outages this past weekend has me concerned. What steps can I take to prevent my phones and electronic equipment from being damaged or knocked offline?”
Teltek’s service department is well aware of the chaos that can result from severe weather conditions. Electronics do not function well when exposed to the elements or if there is an interruption of service.
Here are is a list of Ten Tips to follow:
1. Have your electronic equipment plugged into a battery back up unit (UPS) or a surge protector. You can also install a lightning arrester at your main circuit panel
2. If you are in a high risk area of lighting you should consider installing a Central Office (CO) surge protector. This protects the incoming phone lines from passing a surge through to your telephone system if struck
3. Keep electronic devices off the floor and installed in a data rack
4. In the event of ice or heavy snow, make sure it is not permitted to accumulate on your roof since that could cause a collapse and/or intrusion
5. Avoid placing any electronics in locations where water pipes, faucets and hot water heaters are within close proximity
6. Watch for any tree branches that hang over power lines and roofs; getting these trimmed back can prevent them from falling and causing damage or tearing down lines
7. Check the gutters on your building and make sure that they are free from debris and that water can flow freely away from your building
8. The room where your equipment is stored should be cool, dry and well-ventilated. It is ideal for your network room to have its own independent air conditioning system
9. Your phone system should be grounded. if you’re not sure if it is, give Teltek a call! We can send a technician out to make sure your phone system is appropriately installed and grounded
10. Consider installing an uninterruptible power supply for temporary backup power for your electronic equipment
A final tip courtesy of Baltimore Gas & Electric: During a power outage, turn off all appliances, including your furnace, air conditioner and water heater to avoid overloading circuits when power is restored to all appliances at once. Leave one lamp on so you will know when your service is restored.
Despite all of this preparation, accidents may still occur. If they do, Teltek is here to help you get back on track! We can assist with everything from restoring phone service to data recovery.
Since 1997, Teltek has become an established resource for nearly 2,000 client’s telephone systems, voice and data cable installations, and carrier services. As a Microsoft Certified Partner and Dell Registered Partner, Teltek has the knowledge and resources necessary to keep your computer network and IT infrastructure current and functioning efficiently with the personalized service Teltek clients have grown to admire. With office locations in Baltimore, Bethesda and Westminster, Maryland, we serve clients across MD, DC and VA.