What To Do In Case Of An Electrical Emergency
Brownouts, blackouts, severe weather, floods, earthquakes, or a car knocking down a nearby utility pole; it seems like there's always something impacting electrical service somewhere in Los Angeles County.
We often don't think about electricity until it's suddenly not there, or until an electricity-related emergency occurs at home.
Here are some tips from a licensed Los Angeles electrical contractor on what you can do to protect your home and loved ones from the risks of an electrical emergency.
- Know where your circuit breaker is and how to shut off and reset individual and main circuits.
- Your circuit panel must be easily accessible, and should never be blocked by combustible material.
- If you reset a tripped breaker, and it trips again, leave it off. Don't risk electrocution or fire. Circuit breakers trip for a reason. Call a Los Angeles County electrical contractor to find and fix the problem.
- If you lose power completely, turn off or unplug all of your electrical devices, especially sensitive electronics like computers and home entertainment systems. Often times there will be a power surge when the utility company restores the power, and your appliances and equipment could be severely damaged.
- If you feel an electrical tingle, when handling an electrical device, inserting or removing a plug, flipping a wall switch, or stepping onto concrete floors or patios. Stop what you are doing and call a Los Angeles County electrical contractor to find and fix the problem.
- There is no way to tell if a downed electrical wire is live or not. They may pop, sizzle and whip around like snakes in the movies, but in real life a fully charged electrical wire just lays there and is a deadly hazard to anyone foolish enough to touch it. If you encounter a downed utility wire, call 911 or your local utility company.
If your home electrical service was affected, it's a good idea to have a licensed, bonded and insured Los Angeles electrical contractor check everything out to make sure there was no hidden damage. - Electrical fires are very dangerous and often happen without any warning at all. If one occurs in your home, get everyone safely outside and away from the home. Then call 911 or have a neighbor call if your cell phone is inside. Never go to your electrical panel to turn off the power.
Not only can an electrical fire spread quickly, and fill your home with lethal smoke and fumes, but you don't know what's going on inside that panel and even touching it could be fatal.
When the fire's out, and the fire department gives you permission to go back inside, call a Los Angeles County electrical contractor to repair the circuit damage and get your house back up to code. You won't be granted an occupancy permit until the building inspector certifies your home is safe to live in, and your Los Angeles County electrical contractor knows what it takes to make sure you pass the electrical inspection.
These electrical emergency tips are brought to you by Y.E.S. Electric and Construction, Inc., a bonded and insured California C-10 Licensed Electrical Contractor providing a full range of electrical services to residential and commercial customers throughout the Los Angeles County area.
