After the storm - Floodwater Safety
Where did all this water come from? What now?
When the rain comes down faster than it can be drained off, some areas are destined to flood and have potentially dangerous situations. Please remember to be safe first of all. If your home or business has been affected by flooding or water damage, you may wonder if you need to replace appliances or wiring once it dries out. Floodwater contaminants can create serious fire hazards if wiring and appliances have been submerged in water. Even with professional cleaning and drying dangers may still be present. Before beginning your clean up after a storm or flood, have a qualified electrician check the house wiring to assess any damages. There may be hidden electrical hazards.
Also, DO NOTplug a portable generator into an outlet, patch it into electrical wiring or connect it directly to a main electrical panel. Doing so could damage equipment, cause fires or cause power to flow into an electrical line, endangering persons in the home, neighbors and utility crews working in the area.
Here are some additional safety tips:
- Do not flip a switch or plug in an appliance until an electrician tells you it is safe.
- Do not touch a circuit breaker or replace a fuse with wet hands or while standing on a wet surface. Use a dry plastic- or rubber-insulated tool to reset breakers and use only one hand.
- Do not allow power cord connections to become wet. Do not remove or bypass the ground pin on a three-prong plug.
- Use portable ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protective devices to help prevent electrocutions and electrical shock injuries.
- If electrical devices such as circuit breakers, fuses, GFCIs, receptacles, plugs and switches have been submerged, discard them.
- When using a wet-dry vacuum cleaner or a pressure washer, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions to avoid electric shock.
- Portable generators emit carbon monoxide (CO), a poisonous gas that is colorless and odorless. For this reason, portable generators should never be used indoors or outdoors near open doors, windows or vents.
- Do not turn on damaged electrical appliances. Electrical parts can pose an electric shock hazard or overheat and cause a fire.
Call Jimmy Hughes 850-777-9076 to schedule your home electrical inspection TODAY!
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