When Water And Electricity Combine, Your Emergency Electrician Can Help | Myrtle Beach, SC

10/14/2021

Photo By Yammy8973 at Shutterstock

Many of the modern improvements in electrical equipment and methods can help avoid the dangers of water and electricity causing hazards together. Our emergency electricians at Mister Sparky of Myrtle Beach, SC, can help by checking out the potential hazard and addressing it. They’ll provide expert diagnosis, repairs, and fixes that can prevent dangers from shock, fire, and electrical damage from affecting your family and your home. There are two basic concerns when water and electricity combine, one is the damage to electrical components and conduction issues when water gets inside wiring, switches, fixtures, and other parts, the other is when water completes the circuit between a person and electrical power and they receive an electrical shock. It’s complicated, which is why an emergency electrician is needed to resolve electrical dangers. Water can get involved through spills, sink overflows, hidden plumbing problems, heavy rain intruding into the house structure, and many more ways. Even moisture can have dangerous effects, so the risk may not be obvious at first, such as a soaked rug becoming a shock hazard. Emergency electricians have to be very alert and follow careful rules to avoid unseen hazards and risks.

Puddles of Water Connect the Circuit with You in the Middle

The classic shock risk is a puddle of water, indoors or outside, which connects you to the ground and completes the circuit when you’re touching a damaged cord, faulty appliance, or other power sources. Typically, emergency electricians have a workplace rule to only touch power equipment with one hand, even if powered off, to avoid the risk of accidentally receiving a shock across their bodies, which could affect the heart. When you’re standing in water, all bets are off, since you’re connected through your feet. Relying on rubber boots or other solutions to wade in and turn off the power is counting on no other conducting surprises and taking a big risk. These situations should be left to our emergency electrician.

GFCI Protects You in Kitchens, Bathrooms, Basements, and Outdoors

In homes with modern electrical wiring, special outlets called GFCI units are present in areas near water. These devices interrupt the circuit when they sense current leaking inappropriately, such as when it’s about to give someone an electrical shock. Resetting the GFCI should only happen after the risk is identified and resolved, if necessary by our emergency electrician. One important note: in some cases, an entire area may be covered by one GFCI, so other power outlets may turn off when the device interrupts power. There are also circuit breaker devices that provide GFCI protection at the main electrical panel.

Plumbing Water Leaks Damage Your Electrical Wiring and Fixtures

If you have a pipe leak in your walls or infiltration of water from heavy rains, your electrical wiring and other components may become corroded. This can produce poor connections that heat up and create a risk of fire, along with other issues such as a hidden risk of shock when the components are still wet. Remember, dampness can carry current as well as puddles. Our emergency electrician can check for electrical problems after water damage, and provide rewiring and fixture replacement as needed while another remediation is in process.

AFCI Circuit Breakers Help Prevent Fires From Damaged Wires

Corroded and poorly connected wires can produce fire damage from overheating and sparking or arcing that doesn’t cause regular circuit breakers to shut off the power. Newer circuit breaker units with AFCI protection, covering arc faults and related issues, are now being installed in newer homes, and are an excellent replacement in older homes. Our emergency electrician can provide these, or combination GFCI and AFCI circuit breakers, in your recent model electrical panel.

Combination GFCI and AFCI Breakers for Greater Protection

Combination circuit breakers that help protect against fire and electrical shock risks that AFCI and GFCI protection cover are now available. They’re a great way to reduce electrical risk throughout your home. Whole house protective devices for your equipment including surge protection and lightning protection are also available for installation at the main electrical panel for overall coverage without using protective power strips in every room.

Stormy Weather Blows Water into Your Home’s Power

When storms blow from the Atlantic, nearly any home has ways that water could enter and damage wiring, from open windows and older roofing to siding gaps and basement leaks. Wherever that water reaches, there’s a possibility of damage to electrical components, even to the main electrical panel if the power service entry point is not protected sufficiently.

Spilled Drinks and Extension Cords or Power Strips in Offices and Bedrooms

Water and electricity often mix because of extension cords and power strips, which can be right in the path of drinks knocked off a desk or dropped. Once the liquid enters the outlets, caution is critical to avoid shock risk, and removing power from a safe distance is necessary.

Aquariums and Special Care for Electrical Cords

A key issue with aquariums and similar combinations of water and electrical power is the problem of water dripping down the cord and into an electrical outlet, causing fire risk and possibly shock risk as well. Cords should have a “drip loop” which provides a low point below where the cord is plugged into the wall, so any water will stop there and drip off instead.

Moisture Is Still Wet, It Doesn’t Have to Be a Puddle

Remember, especially in kitchens and bathrooms, moisture conducts just like a puddle of water, so there may be hidden hazards such as moist fabrics or wet surfaces due to steam. Be careful.

Your Responsive Emergency Electrician in Myrtle Beach, SC, Protecting You From Moisture and Power Problems

At Mister Sparky of Myrtle Beach, we respond quickly to your electrical emergencies and can provide careful inspection of your home’s electrical wiring, fixtures, and other components when they’ve been exposed to water or moisture. Be safe and give us a call.