Even though your home’s electrical system seems reliable most of the time, it can be more temperamental than you might think. For example, severe weather can do a surprising amount of damage to your electrical system and panel. Here are just a few ways the weather can affect your home’s electricity and how to minimize its negative impact.
Lightning
Lightning strikes can do a lot of damage to electronics, wiring, and your electrical panel, especially if your home is largely unprotected from power surges. The best way to avoid power surges from lightning strikes is to install whole-home surge protection. This connects directly to your electrical panel and absorbs high-voltage spikes before they can damage your circuits or electronics.
If you don’t have whole-home surge protection, you can protect most of your appliances and electronics with surge-protecting power strips. It’s not a good idea to rely too much on power strips of any kind, but plugging in your more vulnerable devices and appliances will give them some much-needed protection.
Moisture and Heavy Rain
Moisture and electricity do not mix. Whether it’s from heavy rain during a severe storm or excessively high humidity, moisture can make its way into exterior outlets and cause short circuits or corrode wiring if it goes unchecked for too long. Corroded wiring will affect the performance of your lights and appliances and could cause electric shocks or fires. Meanwhile, flooding from heavy rains near your electrical panel could create a hazardous situation, posing the risk of electrocution while you check the panel or reset a circuit breaker.
While you can’t control weather conditions outside, you can reduce moisture in your home with a dehumidifier. In the meantime, keep an eye out for signs of corroded wires or electrical connections, and contact an electrician for repairs if you see or suspect a problem. If you notice standing water near your electrical panel or electronics, do not approach them. Call an electrician instead.
Extreme Heat and Cold
Extremely hot weather can stress your electrical system as it struggles to keep your AC and refrigerator running. If your electrical panel is outdated, this increased strain could lead to overloads and tripped circuit breakers. Excessive heat can also damage wire insulation, especially in places such as your attic, which traps a lot of heat. This can expose wiring and create a fire hazard.
Cold weather can be just as bad for your wiring, causing it to contract and loosen connections. The cold also causes insulation to become brittle and break, potentially exposing wiring.
The best way to combat problems caused by extreme temperatures is to update your electrical panel. Meanwhile, keep an eye out for damaged insulation and exposed wiring. For a new circuit breaker installation in your Tampa, FL home or more information about protecting your electrical system from bad weather, contact Integrity Home Solutions today.