Landlines may be old school, but they’re useful

Do you still have a landline — you know, one of those phones connected to a wire in your house?

Most households don’t, especially those with renters and younger adults, according to a U.S. government survey. But there are a few reasons why you might hang on to yours.

If your neighborhood has a blackout, it’ll probably still work. If you call 911, the dispatcher will know exactly where you are. If you lose your cellphone in the cushions, you can call it.

But a home phone should be attached to a reliable phone answering machine, so calls can be screened.

Hustlers like to call landlines, hoping they’ll reach someone older and more vulnerable to scams. So be careful.