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Can Water Damage Electrical Wiring? 

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Water-damaged electrical wire is shown when an outlet is removed from the wall. 

Flood damage is often visible as stains, destroyed furniture, mould, and a musty odour. What happens to your electrical wiring after floods is less evident. If your home has flooded, your electrical wiring will almost certainly need to be replaced, even if just temporarily, to protect the safety of your home's electrical systems. 

Even if your electrical wiring by Electrician Freshwater is insulated, water can still damage it to the point where usage becomes risky owing to spark dangers. 

Does Water Damage Ruin a House's Electrical Wires? 

Water damage can wreak havoc on your wires, but it's not always the water's fault. It is critical to realise that a flood does not necessarily involve pure water gushing into your home. Floods, particularly those caused by natural disasters and storm surges, may contain toxins such as gas, oil, farm runoff chemicals, and even sewage. Although the water itself is harmful, the real worry may be brought in by the water rather than the water itself. 

After Water Damage, Conduct an Electrical Test 

Before using any electrical equipment in your home after a flood, have a qualified electrician complete an electrical test. Electricians can do a variety of tests to determine where your wiring is after a flood. Even if your wire passes the different safety checks, it is advised that you consider replacing your wiring in the affected region. This is due to the fact that, even if your wires function at a safe level immediately following flooding, corrosion may persist over time, affecting the safety standards of your wires down the future. Following the inspection, your electrician will be able to explain what you need to do next, if anything, to keep your home safe. 

Is it necessary to replace electrical wiring following a flood? 

Even if your cables were only momentarily soaked, you will almost certainly need to repair them. If your home has had standing water for an extended period of time, the insulation on your wires is more likely to deteriorate. 

How to Raise Your Outlets on a Wall 

If you live in a flood-prone location, one method some homeowners use to counteract flood damage is to raise outlets above usual flood levels. This is an excellent idea for your basement or other regions that may flood more frequently. Cutting new holes in your walls for the receptacle boxes and patching up the existing ones is part of the process. The wires are then run to the new place, the outlets are properly connected, and the system is verified by plugging in a device or using a multimeter. A project like this should only be handled by licenced electricians. 

It's also crucial to understand that increasing your outlets will not completely address the problem. Flooding can happen for a variety of reasons, and even if your wires and outlets are raised, they can still be damaged. Raised outlets can still be damaged if the source of the water is an overhead leak, such as a pipe burst. Wiring must also be raised to match the raised outlets, as wiring that remains in a common flood zone is also vulnerable. 

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