Call the Power Company When You Lose Power in Half of Your Home
We all have experienced a partial power outage. If you’ve ever experienced half of your home losing power, it can be confusing and frustrating. You thought you when your home lost power, the entire house would lose power. Unfortunately, that’s not always the way power outages work. Many homeowners think they can handle electrical repairs. But if you experience a power outage in one half of your home, don’t tackle the problem yourself.
Working with electricity can be dangerous. You can suffer serious injuries or even death from electrocution if you make a mistake during repairs. Danny’s Electrical Service, Inc. urges you to call the power company first. In the Christiansburg, VA, and New River Valley area, you should call Appalachian Power at 800 956-4237.
You Can Still Use Outlets That Haven’t Lost Power
If you are experiencing a power loss in one half of the house, you might wonder what outlets you can use. According to Appalachian Power, if there is a question, you should get in touch with the power company.
“It is safe to use the outlets you have available, while you get in touch with an electrician. However, if some of your lights are extremely bright or extremely dim, do not use those outlets to avoid potential damage to equipment. If there is a problem with a service lead to your home, our crews will repair the wires when they arrive to restore service.”
Source: Outages FAQ (appalachianpower.com)
Look for the Signs of a Loss of Power in Some Areas of the Home
What are the signs when you lose power in one part of the home while maintaining power in the other half? One sign of partial power outage could be electrical appliances are working in some areas and not others. Maybe you have some lights that appear dim, while other lights are brighter than normal. One other puzzling sign is that your lights are operational in one room, but not in others.
A Failed Power Line is Typically the Reason for a Partial Power Outage
When you only have power in half of your home, typically a line from the power company is the problem. With power out on the other half of your residence, you only have one phase of electricity available. There are times when you just have a bad link in your breaker box. In that case, you should call the power company or a qualified electrician like Danny’s Electrical Service, Inc. Your homeowners insurance probably covers the repair.
Partial Power Outages Usually Don’t Happen Frequently
Partial power outages don’t happen frequently. When they do, the electric lines deliver low voltage rather than the usual amount. The problem could be a power company issue. In addition to a faulty line, here are various reasons why this happens, including:
- Appliances experiencing power surges
- Bad connections at transformers
- Bad weather
- Blown fuses
- Failing circuit breakers
- Overloaded power grid
Check the Electrical Panel When You Lose Power
Sometimes, there’s a simple reason why your home loses power. One of the main reasons is a blown fuse in the electrical panel. If there’s no storm in the area, and your neighbors have power, locate the circuit breaker. Check to make sure none of the circuit breakers have flipped or a fuse has blown. If an appliance has caused a power surge, then a flipped circuit or a blown fuse could be the reason.
If you think an electrical panel might be the problem, unplug the device which threw the circuit. When you look inside the box, all of the tabs should be on the same side. If one is located in the other direction, flip it off and back on again. If you’re not sure if you have an electrical panel problem, call Danny’s Electrical Service.
Be Sure to Watch for the Signs of Impending Electrical Dangers
When home electrical systems malfunction, the outcome can lead to serious problems, including fire and electrocution. It’s best to stay ahead of the problem early before you suffer an injury, death, or a house fire. If you’re experiencing a partial power outage often, these are some of the signs you will encounter: tripping circuit breakers, flickering, dim, or really bright lights. Call Danny’s Electrical Service, Inc. Watch for other problems like chewed wires, sparks from outlets or breaker boxes, or buzzing sounds from fixtures and/or breaker boxes.
Get a Safety Evaluation from Danny’s Electrical Service Inc.
Are you concerned about a partial power outage happening in the future? Danny’s Electrical Service, Inc. wants you to know we care about the electrical safety of your home. We can provide you with a safety evaluation for your home. We will make sure everything is safe, and our team will troubleshoot any electrical issues.
Call Danny’s Electrical Service, Inc., at (540) 998-5750, or follow us on Facebook for updates. We proudly serve homeowners and businesses of the New River Valley. Danny’s Electrical Service, Inc., can help answer any questions about a partial power outage.