With winter only a few weeks away, it's’ time to start thinking about protecting your home from the freezing temperatures, snow, and ice. You’ll want to start by preserving your power supply. By winterizing your electrical system, you will prevent an outage from occurring when your family needs it the most.
Harrison Electric offers a comprehensive electrical winterization plan that covers your entire electrical system inside and out. We can prepare your wiring for the cold season and secure your home through the winter months.
Below is a checklist of items you should consider when winterizing your home.
Outlets
Your outlets could be outdated. As they get older, they do not handle the circuit as well. This is especially true without outside units that are weather-worn. Our technicians can inspect all of outlets to ensure that they are in proper working order. Now would also be a good time to upgrade to GFCI devices in areas where water is a factor.
Space Heaters
Nearly 80% of all fires that occur during the winter are due to space heaters. The reason a space heater catches on fire is that it is either too close to a flammable material or the wiring and heating element is loose or damaged.
The same is true for Christmas lights and other common winter-related electrical devices. We can repair or replace the wiring in your space heater and make sure that it is properly working.
Power Lines
Snow and ice buildup can cause a significant amount of weight on tree branches. Eventually, some branches will buckle under the pressure and hurl to the ground. The falling branches and heavy ice can cause damage or injury.
Get your trees professionally trimmed away from power lines to avoid electrocution or a power outage. A power line is extremely dangerous when it falls on to melting snow or water.
Smoke Detectors
One of the most valuable devices in your home (and one of the most neglected) is the smoke detector. The threat of fire could be greater in the winter than the summertime due to Christmas tree lights, static electricity, the use of space heaters, fireplaces, and the furnace running 24/7.
A Harrison Electrician can perform a simple test on the smoke detectors and check for repairs or upgrades that need to be made. We can update the wiring, replace the detector, or repair the sound alarm within the detector.
Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting is usually located on the front and back porch, pool or deck area, above the garage door, or around the driveway. Although outdoor lights are protected by covers and junction boxes, they can still be exposed to the outside elements.
If any of the outdoor lights are not working after you’ve replaced the bulb, we can check the wiring the or the unit to see if there is any damage.
Outdoor Electrical Wiring
Winter can take its toll on outdoor wiring. If exposed to the snow, ice, and sub-freezing temperatures, wiring can corrode and also become brittle. Older wiring will expand in the heat during the summer time and contract during the winter. This may cause the connections to become loose.
A certified electrician can repair or replace the outside wiring outside or inside your home to guard it against the winter weather.
Certified Electrical Service in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Is your home ready for winter? Now is the time for a Harrison Electric technician to inspect the electrical system and make the necessary adjustments to protect your home from the threat of a fire or power outage.
To schedule service with an electrical contractor, call us today at 763-544-3300, or you can message us at mail@harrison-electric.com.