Repairing Your Electrical System After a Flood

25 Oct 2018 Licensed Electrician

Repairing your electrical system after a flood can be a dangerous and stressful ordeal. Although it is reasonable to want to have your home back to normal after a disaster, there are some steps that should be taken to ensure the safety of you and your family. At Expert Electric, they know the destruction that flood damage can wreak on electrical systems, and their licensed electricians have experience making homes habitable again.

How Flooding Affects Electrical Systems

Water is a conductor, which means that electricity can flow through it, so if any part of your house was flooded, you should wait for an inspection from a licensed electrician before accessing it, or you could risk electrocution. Flood water can introduce corrosion to electrical systems and this, combined with residual moisture, can make electrical systems unstable and dangerous. For this reason, most electrical components that have been submerged in water for even a short time will likely need to be replaced.

Repairing Your Electrical System

Once the power to your home has been cut off and a licensed electrician has inspected the flood damage and given you the green light to access your home, you should go through the house and make a list of everything that the water touched. Along with wiring, any switches and outlets that the water came into contact with will need to be replaced. Electrical items, such as media players, heaters, fuse boxes, light fixtures, and appliances, are also usually ruined by floods and will need to be replaced. Any electrical system repair, should only be handled by a professional electrician to avoid further damaging your home or creating a fire hazard.

Precautions and Opportunities

One of the most important precautions that can be taken is a good insurance plan that covers flood damage. Since flood damage can be expensive to repair, having insurance can help keep the expenses down and allow your repairs to go further. Repairing flood damage can also offer some opportunities. For instance, if you have ever wanted to change the positioning of a switch or outlet or if you have been wanting to upgrade your appliances and electrical system, it may be ideal to make these changes after a flood, as the walls will already need to be opened up.

If you would like to learn more about repairing your electrical system after a flood, or if you are interested in any residential services or commercial services, contact Expert Electric at 604-681-8338.