Flood damage can often be seen in mould, stains, furniture damage, and musty odours. The more subtle effects of flooding on your electrical wiring are less apparent. If it has been flooded, your home’s electrical wiring will need to be replaced. Even if this was temporary, to ensure safety,
Even though electrical wiring is protected by insulation, water can still cause damage to the wires. This could lead to dangerous spark risk.
Is water able to corrode electrical wires in a house?
Your wires can be damaged by water damage, but not just the water. Remember that floodwater is not always pure water. Floods, especially from natural disasters or storm surges, can often contain various contaminants like gas, oil, farm runoff chemicals and even sewage. While the water is harmful, the problem might be the water itself.
An Electrical Test after Water Damage
Before you use any electrical appliances in your home after a flood, have a qualified electrician in east Auckland visit your home to conduct an electrical test. Even if your wiring passes all safety tests, it is recommended that you replace the wiring in the affected areas. Even if your wiring performs at a safe level right away after flooding, corrosion can continue over time, decreasing the safety of your wires. Your electrician will inspect your home and help you decide what to do next.
Do You require to Replace Electrical Wiring after a Flood?
Even if the wires were only briefly flooded, they would most likely need replacing. The likelihood of insulation deterioration will increase if your home has been exposed to standing water for a long time.
How to Move Outlets Higher on a Wall?
Flood damage can be prevented by raising outlets above the average flood level. This is a great idea for basements and other areas that are susceptible to flooding. This involves drilling new holes in your wall for the receptacle box and patching the damaged ones. Next, the wires are run to their new locations. Outlets are then connected properly and tested using a multimeter or a device. Only licensed electricians can handle such a project.
You should also know that simply raising the outlets will not solve the problem. Flooding can happen for many reasons. Even if your outlets are raised, they can still be damaged. Raised outlets can be damaged even if the source of water is an overhead leakage like a burst pipe. Also, wiring must be raised to match the raised outlets. Wiring that is not in a flood zone can still pose a risk.
