Severe weather can cause extensive damage to your electrical system and your home. Lightning strikes, power surges, floods, wind, and hail can all endanger your safety and cause devastating property losses. Preparing your home’s electrical system for storm season can minimize the weather’s potential impact on your family. Here is some information from our electrical professionals at Plugz Electric in Forest Lake, MN about preparing your electrical system for storm season.
Protect Vehicles and Outdoor Furniture
During a storm, trees and overhead power lines can fall or be blown down and cause extensive damage to your home, you, and your personal property. When the forecast calls for severe weather, park your vehicles in your garage and bring outdoor furniture inside. In addition to these steps, you should also take steps to protect your appliances and electronics from power surges and water damage.
Understanding Power Surges
Grounded and ungrounded electrical outlets provide an average output of 120 volts AC. The voltage can vary from 0 to 169 volts. A power surge occurs when the output exceeds 169 volts and can occur because of lightning strikes and power grid switches during storms. These can cause a sudden increase in electrical energy in your system and damage your electronics and appliances.
Damage from a Power Surge
A power surge can cause the following types of damage:
- Outlet shortcircuit
- Fire
- Scorched outlet
- Circuit breaker damage
- Electrical damage to your appliances
- Electrical damage to your electronics
Direct lightning strikes can cause significant power surges that permanently damage your electrical system, appliances, and electronics. Minor surges can also cause small damage that builds over time, including the buildup of electronic rust that reduces your appliances’ life span.
You must protect your appliances and electrical system from power surges. Your wiring should also be up to code.
How to Protect Against Power Surges
While power surges are not preventable, you can take steps to protect your electronics and appliances. Install surge protectors throughout your home, and buy power strips with surge protection. Check power strips for surge protection before you buy them.
Our electricians at Plugz Electric can also install ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets, which automatically shut off the power when they detect a ground fault. These outlets can protect your family from shock.
Be Prepared for Power Outages
Storm season comes with the potential for power outages. Keep flashlights, lanterns, candles, a weather radio, a portable charger, bottled water, non-perishable food, a first aid kit, blankets, and clothing handy. These items can help you stay comfortable and safe while your power is out.
Installing a generator is an excellent way to prepare for power outages. Our licensed electricians at Plugz Electric in Forest Lake can install your new generator and add a safety switch that lets you switch between your electrical system and the generator. The safety switch allows you to use your generator when necessary and ensures it is connected safely.
How to Prepare for Floods
Flash floods and flooding can cause extensive damage to your home. To prepare for these threats, you should do several things.
If you are in a flood-prone area, close your home’s outdoor outlets to keep water from entering your home. Install a sump pump in your basement to remove water. Move electronics and other important items to higher areas in your home. Unplug everything before your home floods to protect your devices and prevent electrical shock.
You can hire an electrician before the start of storm season to raise your home’s electrical sockets, circuit breakers, wiring, and switches. Raising these electrical components at least one foot above the projected flood elevation can keep you safe if a flood occurs.
Finally, review your insurance policy. Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood damage. If you don’t have flood insurance, meet with your insurance agent to add it to your policy.
Talk to Our Electrical Professionals
Preparing your home and its electrical system for storm season can protect your safety and help minimize costly damage. While you can’t prevent power surges, lightning strikes, wind damage, or floods, you can protect your home’s electrical system and appliances and prevent electrical shock. At Plugz Electric, our licensed electricians provide a wide range of services, including electrical repair, electrical panel installation and repair, surge protection solutions, wiring, and more.
For more information about how we can help with your electrical needs, contact us at Plugz Electric in Forest Lake today!
