Storms can be terrifying, and not just when the lightning is flashing and the thunder is roaring. A severe thunderstorm or hail storm can cause serious damage to your electrical system if you aren’t prepared. While most of us are aware of the dangers of lightning, hail can also cause significant damage to your home and your electrical system if you aren’t prepared.
What can a storm do to your electrical system
A storm can do a lot of damage to your home and electrical system. A storm can damage your electrical system by hitting it with lightning, damaging your power or telephone lines, or causing a tree to fall on your home and electrical system. Power lines can be damaged even if they are in a storm shelter. High winds can make trees fall on power lines and power poles, damaging them and shutting off power to your home. Even the smallest of storms can damage some of your appliances, lights, or outlets. If the power goes out, you should take precautions to keep the damage from getting worse.
One of the most common things to happen to homes during a storm is electrical damage. The most popular reason for this is that the electrical system wasn’t prepared for the weather. The most common causes are:
- Faulty electrical installations
- Poorly fitted electrical equipment
- Cords not properly secured
What to do when a storm hits
When a storm hits, you need to take care of the safety needs of your family, while also protecting your home from weather damage. In the event of a thunderstorm, lightning can cause power surges in the electrical system. These surges can be harmful to electronic equipment, even surge protectors. So, to protect expensive electronic equipment, remember to unplug any devices that could be affected by lightning while the storm rages. Always have flashlights, batteries, a radio, and a first-aid kit ready to go in case of an emergency.
Power surge protection
As soon as you plug an electrical device into a power socket, the electrical current running through the wire flows into the device. If a sudden power surge occurs, say from a faulty electrical connection or a lightning strike, the current could increase to dangerous levels and damage the device. Surge protectors help to safeguard your valuable electronic devices by providing a layer of protection against sudden increases in current. The best surge protectors are designed to respond to these changes almost instantaneously, so you don’t have to worry about your devices being damaged – and neither do your family and neighbours.
The home electrical system is one of those things that take a lot of beating, and a storm can really damage it. Luckily it is easy to protect it from the weather. You should inspect your electrical system after the storm has passed, to check for any missing or damaged parts. If you notice that your lights are not working, or your power outlets are not working, you should contact a professional electrician before attempting to fix the problem yourself.
Losing power during a storm can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t panic, and don’t start hacking away at your electrical lines. Before you do anything else, call an electrician. Even if you’re pretty sure the power outage is limited to a small part of your house, or you can see that the fuse box is still intact, you should call the electrician. He can tell you whether the power outage is the result of a fallen tree branch or another kind of damage. If it appears to be a larger issue, he’ll know how to deal with it right away.
