Shutting Off Your Electricity

7/25/2017 (Permalink)

When a natural disaster exposes electrical components electricity becomes dangerous and even life-threatening.

One of the greatest inventions and conveniences is electricity. Electricity lets us read at night, run major appliances, cook food, heat water, watch television, stay cool on hot days, and much more. It’s safely embedded in nearly every wall of every room of our houses. But when a storm or natural disaster exposes electrical components or compromises them, electricity becomes dangerous and even life-threatening.

A live electrical wire can cause electrical shock or even death. A slight electrical spark can ignite leaking natural gas. When your electrical system suffers storm damage or becomes a danger you should immediately shut off the electrical power.

If your electrical panel is damaged or if you have standing water near your breaker box you should leave the house immediately, keep everyone out, and call for help.  

1. Find The Electrical Service Panel
In homes the main electrical service panel (sometimes called a main breaker panel box) contains either circuit breakers or fuses and is usually located in a utility area. It should be easily accessible but away from the main traffic flow in your house.

It’s usually a large metal box with a door that swings open to reveal the electrical circuit breakers. Often it’s in the basement. There are many possibilities for electrical panels and shut-offs so look carefully. Nearly all homes have a single electrical feed but multi-family buildings could have several.
 
2. Make sure everyone in your home knows where the electrical service panel box is.
You may not be home when electricity needs to be turned off so others need to know how to shut off power without you. If the breakers or fuses are not marked you should label them so everyone will know what each individual breaker or fuse controls (Examples: Kitchen, Master Bedroom, Air Conditioning, etc.).

If You Have Electrical Damage Call SERVPRO Of Bloomfield/Enfield At (860) 216-2785

3. Find the “main” circuit breaker. 

You’ll see many individual circuit breakers that cut the power to individual rooms or appliances. In an emergency and when you don’t know the extent or source of the electrical damage, the easiest and safest thing to do is to shut off the main breaker. It will cut the electrical power throughout your entire house. The main shut-off is often found at the top of the breaker panel and should be labeled.
 
4. Breaker switches are usually marked “off” and “on”.
Just flip the main switch to the off position. If you have trouble finding the main circuit breaker just turn off every individual circuit breaker. The main breaker is usually a double-width switch located at the top of the service panel. You may need a flashlight handy when you turn on your electrical power.
 
If You Have Electrical Damage Call SERVPRO Of Bloomfield/Enfield At (860) 216-2785

5. Caution: The electrical line into your house still is live
After the main breaker is off you will still have power in the wire from the road to your house.
Keep everyone away from that outside power line.



Help Is Here
The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized training and experience in fire restoration services, natural disaster prevention, water damage, and natural disaster cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield (860.216.2785) anytime.

SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call 860.216.2785
24 hour emergency service