If you live in an area with extreme weather conditions such as strong winds, heavy rain, or thunder and lightning, you may notice that these storms affect your power and may cause disruptions to your home. When wondering what storms can do to your home’s electrical system, here are a few common disturbances to be aware of.
Power Outages
The most common problem with electrical storms is power outages, which occur from disruptions to the power lines themselves. Heavy winds or debris crashing into the lines can cause these disruptions.
Minor blips in your power may occur, where the power goes out for a moment or two before coming back on. Lengthier outages, or blackouts, occur when your home loses power for an extended period of time. Homeowners may attempt to combat blackouts with a backup power source, such as a generator.
Power Surges
Power surges happen when your electrical system takes in more power than it can manage. This influx of electrical energy can short-circuit your appliances and cause damage to your home. Investing in surge protectors reduces the risk of damage to your electronic devices by controlling the distribution of a sudden increase in power.
Electrical Shorts
One way storms can affect your home’s electrical system is when water finds its way into your system. During heavy rainfall, water builds up on your roof or may enter your system, resulting in an electrical short. Electrical shorts may result in loss of power within a single room, but water reacting with live wires may result in an electrical fire if not properly contained.
Power outages are the most common problems associated with storms, which typically only last for a few hours. However, you may find yourself in an extended blackout with no access to backup power. In that case, you will need to call an emergency electrician in San Diego. The certified experts at Anson Electric will do all they can to protect your home from electrical damage.
