“It was a dark and stormy night, and throughout the city, the power went out.”
With the right planning and help from licensed electricians, you’ll never have to worry about this scary story coming true at your house. A-1 Electric will send an emergency electrician in Philadelphia to the rescue, rain or shine. Additionally, we can show you how to protect your home from power surges and other electrical issues caused by storms.
Electrical Issues Caused by Storms
Storms bring rain, high winds, and lightning that can cause a power surge or start a fire if lightning strikes your home. If you suspect you have lightning damage to electrical equipment at your home or business, call the fire department and evacuate the building. Then, call A-1 Electric for residential and commercial electrical contractors in Philadelphia, PA, to check the breaker box for signs of electrical damage.
Here are five common electrical issues caused by storms and how to handle them.
Power Outages
High winds can tear down power lines, and heavy rain softens the ground, causing uprooted trees to fall. This can lead to electrical problems or a fire hazard if left unaddressed. Fallen trees can also damage power lines or electrical equipment at your home.
We suggest a backup power source that can keep your appliances running throughout the emergency. Generators supply power, even if you have thrown circuits in your electrical panel. After the storm, our reliable technicians can repair any electrical damage.
Lightning Damage to Electrical Equipment
Lightning damage to electrical equipment results from a lack of surge protection for your home, business, or industrial complex. With a surge protector, you can save your electrical wiring from being fried during a lightning strike.
When lightning strikes your home or business, it may cause a power surge that fries your electrical wiring, including the delicate equipment in your electrical box. Further, surges can damage appliances and electronics, costing you thousands of dollars in repair or replacement costs. A-1 Electric technicians can install a lightning arrestor and other power surge protection to direct electricity away from your property to safe ground.
Beware of Fire
Power surges can damage your appliances, as noted above. However, they can also cause short circuits in your electrical panel that create a fire hazard. Lightning generates tremendous heat, leaving your property vulnerable to fire damage. To protect your family, employees, or customers, it’s important to take precautions to prevent an electrical fire.
Excessive Water and Electrical Shorts
During a storm, excessive water can pool on your roof or cascade through cracks in your walls or foundation. This can cause electrical lines to become saturated, leaving your property vulnerable to a short circuit and other damage. To protect your home or business against leaks in a storm, it’s important to repair any structural issues with your home or building. Additionally, our licensed and insured electricians can inspect your entire electrical system, make repairs, and suggest changes to prevent future electrical problems after a storm.
Lack of Backup Power Source
Food spoilage in freezers and fridges can cost you hundreds of dollars. So, if you have refrigerated medication or other essential items dependent on electricity, it’s time to invest in a portable generator or whole-house generator to keep your electricity flowing.
It’s important to take precautions to protect your home or business from lightning damage to electrical equipment and other problems caused by storms. Let us help you take the necessary steps to do so.
A-1 Electric is a family-owned business passed down for multiple generations. Contact us for advice on how to weatherproof your electrical system and for all your residential, commercial, and industrial electrical projects.
