December 21, 2021
Three Common Winter Electrical Issues
Winter has officially arrived. This time of year can be particularly rough on your home with the ice, snow, and those crazy New Jersey sixty degree days. Before you start to worry- We’ve got a few of the most common winter electrical issues our electricians see this time of year so you can be proactive and start preparing for them now.
Leak or Water Damage in Your Electrical Panel.
When snow or ice begins to melt, water can penetrate through tiny cracks or holes in your electrical meter box that is attached to the outside of your house. This can cause leaks to funnel right into your electrical panel which can become extremely dangerous and also cause all sorts of damage. which can become extremely dangerous and cause all sorts of damage.
How to help alleviate the issue: If you notice any damage to your meter box, or any moisture in your electrical panel – don’t touch anything! It’s time to call a licensed electrician and have them safely investigate the problem.
Standby Generator Stops Running Once Snow Covers the Machine’s Air Vents.
A home standby generator is a great way to protect your family and your home. But without proper care and maintenance, it may not work when you need it most… especially in wintery weather! If snow or ice begins to cover the ventilation, air will not be able to get into the machine and the generator will stop running.
How to help alleviate the issue: When there is snow or icy precipitation be sure to periodically go outside with a shovel and push the snow away from the machine, especially near the vents. It is also good practice to shovel a path to and around your generator so that a technician can get to it when it needs to be serviced.
Frozen Branches Falling on Your Electrical Service Line.
Did you know that as little as a half inch of ice can add up to three tons of weight on a single tree branch? All it takes is that first frozen precipitation of the year or even some heavy wet snow to weigh down branches and make even the sturdiest trees more prone to damage.
How to help alleviate the issue: Get your branches trimmed prior to the winter weather and seek a professional if they are too close to power lines.
For more information on how we can help get your home winter-ready, feel free to give Esposito’s Electric a call at 973-366-9902.