Checking for Electrical Damage Around Your Home from Ice Storm

News provided by

Electrical Safety Authority

Dec 23, 2013, 13:52 ET

Look for issues with overhead powerline connection to your house, wiring, and water damage and contact a Licensed Electrical Contractor to make repairs

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 23, 2013 /CNW/ - The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) is cautioning all Ontarians affected by the ice storm to check around and in their home for potential electrical damage and to take safety precautions.  Residents are advised that if there is serious damage to a home's connection to the electricity system, the utility may not be able to safely restore power to the home. The homeowner will need to arrange for repairs to be made by a Licensed Electrical Contractor.

  • Look for possible damage to electrical service coming into your home - Visually check (do not touch!) for damage to electrical wires connecting your home to hydro wires on the street.  If these wires are down, sagging, touching trees or your home, or pulled away from your home or the hydro wires:
    • Do not touch! Even if you believe the power is off.
    • Stay at least 35 feet or 11 meters (about the length of a school bus) back from the wires.
    • Do NOT attempt to repair yourself.
    • Contact a Licensed Electrical Contractor to make repairs.  To find a Licensed Electrical Contractor in your area, go to www.esasafe.com and use the "Find a Licensed Electrical Contractor in My Area" link.
  • Look for damage to electrical connection to your house (stand pipes and masts) - Visually check (do not touch!) for damage to stand pipes/masts.  These are the pipes typically attached to the side of a house, connecting incoming hydro wires to the electrical meter.  If the pipe/mast is pulled away from your home or otherwise damaged in any way, contact a Licensed Electrical Contractor to arrange repairs.
    • Do not touch! Even if you believe the power is off.
    • Stay at least 35 feet or 11 meters (about the length of a school bus) back from the wires.
    • Do NOT attempt to repair yourself.
    • Contact a Licensed Electrical Contractor to make repairs.  To find a Licensed Electrical Contractors, go to www.esasafe.com and use the "Find a Licensed Electrical Contractor in My Area" link.
  • Look for damage inside your home caused by flooding - Burst pipes, burst or backed-up watermains, and other sources may have caused flooding inside your home. If there is water in your basement above the level of electrical outlets or near your electrical panel, do not enter the basement until your utility has disconnected your power.

If there is no standing water in your basement, do a visual check. Look (do not touch!) for water damage to electrical outlets, panels, wiring and appliances.  If water has made contact:

    • Do not touch! Even if you believe the power is off.
    • Do NOT attempt to repair yourself.
    • Contact a Licensed Electrical Contractor to make repairs to panels, wiring, outlets, etc.  To find a Licensed Electrical Contractors, go to www.esasafe.com  and use the "Find a Licensed Electrical Contractor in My Area" link.
    • Do not use electrical appliances that have been affected by water.  Hire a qualified appliance repair person to check for and repair any damage.
  • Be careful when clearing up snow, ice and debris - If you are clearing away snow, ice, tree limbs or other debris around your home, watch out for and stay well clear of electrical wires.
    • Do not attempt to clear tree limbs that are leaning on or caught in powerlines - Report them to your local utility.
    • Be careful when carrying and moving ladders - Do not to come near or make contact with overhead powerlines. Electricity can jump from the wires to items like ladders so you don't even have to make physical contact to risk shock or injury.  Stay 35 feet or 11 meters back.
    • Be careful when digging through snow or chipping ice - Make sure that powerlines have not come down and are buried under snow or ice.

For more information on electrical safety when stormy weather hits, visit:

www.esasafe.com/powerlinesafety/your-community/winter-storm-safety.

About the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA)
The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) is an administrative authority acting on behalf of the Government of Ontario with specific responsibilities under the Electricity Act and the Safety and Consumer Statutes Administration Act.  As part of its mandate, ESA is responsible for administering regulation in four key areas: the Ontario Electrical Safety Code; licensing of Electrical Contractors and Master Electricians; electrical distribution safety; and electrical product safety.

Image with caption: "ESA reminds Ontarians to visually check their home's connection to the electrical grid. Call a Licensed Electrical Contractor to assess damage to stand pipe/mast as repairs must be done before power can be restored. (CNW Group/Electrical Safety Authority)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131223_C6518_PHOTO_EN_35239.jpg

Image with caption: "ESA reminds Ontarians to visually check their home's connection to the electrical grid. Call a Licensed Electrical Contractor to assess damage to stand pipe/mast as repairs must be done before power can be restored. (CNW Group/Electrical Safety Authority)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131223_C6518_PHOTO_EN_35240.jpg

SOURCE: Electrical Safety Authority

Kathryn Chopp
Electrical Safety Authority
905-712-7819 or [email protected]
www.esasafe.com

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Electrical Safety Authority