7 practical electrical safety tips during storms

Unpredictable weather, like storms and flooding, is a part of life. Therefore, it is important to take the time to prepare your family and property.

There are a number of simple steps you can take to protect personal safety, preserve electrical equipment, and deal with potential damage to your home’s electrical system. Make sure you are electrically safe by following these 7 tips:

1. Put safety first

Do not attempt to make repairs yourself if storm damage occurs to your property, including your home’s electrical system and any affected electrical appliances. Be prepared before a storm or rainy season.

– Install a safety switch and test it regularly.

– Know where to turn off power, gas and water in an emergency.

– Pack electrical equipment that is not in use and store it in a safe place.

2. Protect the system

Ask an electrician with experience in home electrical services about installing lightning protection in your panel to protect all appliances.

3. Disconnect before the storm

– Unplug outdoor televisions and non-fixed antennas and store them in a dry place.

– When a storm approaches, turn off and unplug sensitive appliances or equipment.

– Shut down your solar photovoltaic system using the safe isolation procedure.

4. Stay offline during the storm

Do not use equipment connected directly to electricity, including the stove, during a storm.

– If you have run out of power, turn off power points and unplug electrical equipment.

– Do not use a landline phone during a thunderstorm, as it may cause an electric shock.

– If flooding is expected, move electrical equipment to higher places.

5. Be careful with cables

Don’t go outside to check for damage before an electrician arrives, especially during a storm, as downed power lines are easily hidden and can be deadly.

– If you are in a car, stay away from power lines, trees, and waterways. Stay in your vehicle.

– If you have a solar photovoltaic system that was damaged in a flood, storm, or cyclone, you need to have your system inspected by an electrical contractor and verify that it is safe.

– Check your appliances and equipment. Using water damaged equipment can cause electric shock and fire.

6. Call an electrician before your power distributor

If the wires were broken in a power outage, most homes will require internal repairs before power can be reconnected.

– Discard or have a licensed electrical contractor repair water-affected household electrical items such as kettles, toasters, and televisions.

– Have a licensed electrician check all hard-wired electrical appliances, such as air conditioning units or stoves, intended for reuse. This security check may be required before the power supply can be reconnected.

7. Have confidence in your contractor

If you experience storm damage, contact a local electrician. If you are using power from generators, it can be dangerous if mishandled.

– Connect your generator to your home’s electrical wiring using a generator changeover switch and an appropriate plug. These switches must be installed by a licensed electrical contractor.

– Do not connect your generator to your house using a power point on a power circuit or any other connection point. This can cause dangerous “feedback.”

During stormy seasons, it definitely pays to be extra cautious with your home’s electrical systems and equipment. The practical stops you make could reduce the risk of electrical fires and protect your family from any potential danger.