Electrical Safety and Water Damage

Electrical safety after water damage to your home should be high on your list of concerns. Any time water has damaged your home, it can be quite dangerous if any electric appliances or electrical wiring that has been exposed to the water is re- energized (plugged in, turned on, etc.) without being properly inspected first. Water Mold Fire Restoration knows that there is always a danger of shock, electrocution, or fire anytime water has come into contact with anything in your home that is connected to electricity.

The first thing you should do when your homes has been damaged by water is to go to your main electrical panel and turn off the electrical circuits in any areas or rooms that have been affected. Do this before you step foot in any water soaked area.

In addition to your appliances and wiring being exposed to water, the water may be polluted with contaminateslike soil, sewage, oil, chemicals, or other debris. Leaving electricity supplied to water-damaged areas could cause further damage to you home and personal items.

What to Do If You Have to Evacuate

• If there is any immediate flooding anticipated in your area, it is recommended that you shut off the electrical power.
• If you have the time, move as much of the electrical equipment possible to areas or floors above the expected flood level.
• If you live near a flood zone, prepare for flooding in advance.Also make preparations as to how and what you will need to do when you are able to return to your home after the flood has receded.
• Always keep flashlights, batteries, and a portable battery-operated radio at hand.

Returning Home after a Flood

Here's what you should do upon returningto your home after a flood:

• You need to take extreme precautions and stay away from any electrical wires, because electricity will travel through water.
• Any downed wires should be reported immediately to your electricity provider. Never assume that any part of the flooded building is safe.
• Before entering your home, disconnect all electrical power. To be truly safe, have a qualified person disconnect the main electric meter that supplies electricity to your home
• Have a licensed electrical contractor determine the damage and ensure your safety.
• Consider replacing any electric plugs in areas that could be affected by floodwaters with GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) plugs. These plugs will immediately trip the circuit if it detects an electrical imbalance caused by contact with water.
• Before reconnecting the power to your home or any damaged areas of your home, receive authorization from your local electricity supplier or county engineer.

Handling Equipment Affected by Water

• Avoid plugging in or using any electrical appliance that has been affected by water until you are sure they have been dried out.Any of them that have been completely submerged may require replacement.
• Replace all the fuses, breakers, AFCIs, GFCIs, surge protection devices and disconnect switches that have been submerged as there is no way to ensure the safety of these devices and their effectiveness in working when they have been exposed to water.
• All the electrical devices and equipment such as switchgear, panel boards, electric motors, light fixtures, transformers, electric heaters, dishwashers, ovens, etc. that have been submerged should be inspected by a qualified technician, then repaired or replaced.
• Electrical wiring may require replacement depending on the extent of damage and the type of cable or wire.

Proper knowledge of electrical systems, affected wiring, and equipment is requiredbefore takingany corrective action. Replacement of the affected equipment and wiring may be the only alternative in many cases, even if there is no visible damage. Simply allowing the wiring and equipment to dry and then reenergizing them is not recommended. Make sure that a licensed electrician does any repair or inspection of damaged electronics.

For more information or any assistance regarding electrical safety or if your home has been damaged by water of any kind, you should contact Water Mold Fire Restoration at 800-905-0277 or if you prefer you can email us at help@watermoldfire.net. We will respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.