How to Fix Storm Related Electrical Issues

Posted on , updated on by admin

A storm brings with it water and lightning which can be unfriendly to your electrical systems. In most situations you may experience some circuit breakers tripping, the air conditioning shuts off, and the light goes out. The food in your fridge may start to thaw dangerously. These can easily become a homeowner’s worst nightmare. While your electrical wiring may be in trouble, there’s often no need to panic. Let’s explore how to fix these storm-related electrical problems.

Prevent them in the first place.

Prevention is usually the best way to protect your house wiring. It also saves you the cost of replacements when the damage is done. There are a few preventive measures to take.

  1. Install a surge protector
    You have two choices when it comes to using surge protection in the home. One involves installing surge protection boards to the expensive appliances and outlets in the home. It makes sense when you think of how much it would hurt your heart and pocket to lose these expensive appliances to storm damage.

    The other is to invest in a whole house surge protection which covers all appliances and house wiring. It is installed on the switchboard and serves as a protective barrier between your whole house and the power lines on the street.

  2. Safety switch
    A safety switch is a proactive electrical component that can ultimately save lives in the home from any electrical wiring problems. They shut off the power if any water leaks are detected or found interfering with the electrical wiring in the home. Safety switches come in handy when the electrician arrives to help narrow down the search for faulty areas.
  3. Anti-storm
    A storm can do more than damage your electrical appliances or house wiring. Prior to such seasons, it is best to make your home water tight and make sure that any excess water around your home is flowing in the right direction.

Also, discuss with your electrician to install electrical wiring that is rated for moisture in areas where there is a high probability of flooding. These include PVC conduits, boxes, and fittings.

Reset

After the storm and if your circuit breakers tripped, you can try to reset them all and turn the power back on. This can work but not in all cases and you might experience some more electrical issues. When this happens, you should call an electrician.

Replace

Sometimes fixing storm-related electrical issues is as good as replacing them all. Any and all electrical wiring that was affected or saturated with moisture should be replaced, inspected, and then tested.

Call a professional electrician
A licensed and experienced electrician can carry out electrical tests to determine what the problem is and how to fix it.