One of the world’s most beautiful and overall best places to live in is New Jersey. We’ve got it all right here close to home: a wonderland of beaches, mountains, open green countryside, and exciting metropolitan options. But, like everywhere else, our region has its natural challenges. Storms in the northeast U.S. are infamous for causing lightning and wind damage, flood destruction, and electrical outages. Every year, regional utility technicians and NJ electrical contractors make thousands of replacements or repairs to fallen power lines and electrical systems, equipment, and appliances. Here’s some important information on how to handle the most common types of major storm damage.
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Making Electrical Repairs After a Storm
Some minor electrical issues, like replacing blown fuses, can be managed by homeowners. However, many electrical problems caused by storms need to be corrected by a professional electrician using proper tools and equipment and best practices for safety and quality electrical work.
Electrical Issues Caused by Storms
Here is some information about the most common electrical problems NJ residents face when severe weather strikes. If you discover signs of electrical problems in your home, the priority should be to avoid serious risk to yourself, your family, your home, or your personal property. Use these recommendations to resolve electrical issues caused by a storm safely and effectively:
Power Lines Down
One of the most common and dangerous results of strong storms in the northeast U.S. is fallen electrical lines. If you encounter a broken power line, keep your distance. Do not approach the line, even if it does not appear to be live. Not even experienced electricians can determine whether a power line is active based only on visual inspection. Whether the broken power line is on your property or in the street, call 911 for emergency response or the utility company. Emergency responders will shut down the power going into the broken line.
Usually, the responsibility for electrical equipment and line repairs depends on which segment of the line is broken or fallen.
- Homeowner Responsibility: From the point where the electric wire is either connected to the homeowner’s privately owned utility pole on their property or attached directly to the house and going into the house, the homeowner bears responsibility for repairs. You’ll need to call a licensed electrician for the repair of that line.
- Electric Company Responsibility: For repairs of wire extending from the homeowner’s electrical pole or house going out to the public utility pole, the utility company is responsible for repairs.
For repairs the homeowner must have done, you’ll need a licensed and insured electrical repair contractor to test and rewire the line before other electrical repairs are undertaken on your property.
Damage from an Electrical Surge
Most homeowners have probably had the experience of the electricity suddenly going out and quickly coming back on, within just a second or so. When that happens, electrical appliances and devices in a home can be damaged by a power surge. If you have damaged electrical systems or appliances in your home after a storm, DK Electrical Solutions Master Electricians can repair or replace:
- Damaged wiring
- Damaged electrical systems components
- HVAC electrical connections
- Whole-house standby generator connections
- Electrical appliances
- Other electrical systems, items, or parts
Water-Damaged Electrical Items
When a home is flooded from a storm, there are likely to be water-damaged electrical appliances or other electrical items, along with damage to furniture and other contents. To be safe, assume that anything electrical in or around your home that gets wet during a storm has water-damaged parts. If electricity is live in the house, do not touch electrical appliances or devices.
Do not plug in or turn on the electricity in your home to test for the proper functioning of light fixtures, appliances, electronics, air conditioning, heating systems, etc. These items and others can cause potentially serious electric shock and/or an electrical fire. You should either have such items removed or inspected and repaired, as needed, by a licensed and certified electrician.
Fuse or Breaker Box Damage
After a severe storm, it’s not uncommon for people to find that the electricity shuts off when they attempt to turn on an appliance. This can indicate that the appliance is water-damaged and must be replaced, or it may signal issues with your fuse or breaker panel caused by a storm. Storm damaged electrical wiring or appliances can blow a fuse or trip a breaker safety switch.
In some cases, a homeowner can safely check the fuse or breaker box by turning each breaker off and then on or pulling out and reinserting fuses, to ensure that all connections are complete. But, if the problem persists, you should call for a professional examination of the breaker panel or fuse box. A certified electrician can identify any problems with a breaker (or fuse) or connection, or with any appliance or circuitry that might be overloading a breaker and perform repairs.
If You Discover Storm Damage in Your Home
After a storm that has caused wind damage to your New Jersey home, or a power outage, or flooding, there may be damage that is not immediately apparent. If you find any irregularities in the functioning of electrical systems or appliances in your home after a severe weather event, don’t wait for the problem to clear up on its own. If you suspect that there may be an electrical problem, have an assessment by an experienced, licensed, master electrician who provides storm electrical services.
DK Electrical Solutions Master Electricians can provide a thorough assessment and identify any electrical problem in your home or affecting your home from the public power grid. NJ Master Electricians can inspect your home’s electrical systems and appliances, perform a thorough electrical safety assessment, identify storm damage issues, and make repairs. We provide thorough, safe, lasting solutions within the shortest possible time frame.
Tip for Avoiding Future Electrical Damage From Storms
To help prevent future power surges from sudden momentary electrical outages that can damage or destroy electronics and appliances, install high-quality surge protectors. Purchasing and connecting surge protectors is a relatively inexpensive protective solution, compared to the cost of replacing major appliances and home electronics.
Call DK Electrical Solutions for Storm Damage Repair
We are Master Electricians in New Jersey. All our electricians are licensed, bonded, and insured. We warranty all our electrical work. Same day service is available for emergencies. DK offers financing for larger electrical jobs and 0% interest with qualified credit. All pricing is upfront; there are never any billing surprises. Ask about our current special offers.
For electrical damage repairs after a storm, call DK Electrical Solutions Inc, Southampton, NJ, at (609) 796-4177, or contact us online for a free onsite estimate and same-day storm electrical services.
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