When storms roll through North Alabama, preparing your home means more than bringing in patio furniture. Lightning, strong winds, and power outages can also affect your electrical system and the electronics you use every day.
At Avans Electric, we want you to know how to prepare—and who to call if electrical trouble follows the storm.
Before the Storm: Get Your Home Ready
Unplug sensitive electronics early
Unplug televisions, computers, gaming systems, and other nonessential electronics well before the storm arrives. Once you hear thunder, avoid handling plugs, cords, or electrical equipment.
Charge your essentials
Charge your phones, tablets, and portable power banks ahead of time. Keep flashlights and fresh batteries where you can find them easily if the power goes out.
Plan for backup power
If you use a portable generator, operate it outdoors at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents. Never use it inside your home or garage—even with the garage door open.
Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. Connecting a generator to your home’s wiring requires properly installed equipment to prevent dangerous backfeeding.
Ask about surge protection
Whole-home surge protection can help reduce damage from electrical surges. It adds a layer of protection for your home’s appliances and electronics, but it does not guarantee protection against every surge or a direct lightning strike.
Avans Electric can help you understand your options and determine what makes sense for your home.
During the Storm: Put Safety First
Stay inside and follow local weather alerts. Avoid using equipment connected to electrical outlets during a thunderstorm.
If water enters your home, stay away from wet outlets, electrical equipment, and your electrical panel. Do not enter standing water to reach a breaker or unplug a device.
After the Storm: Watch for Electrical Warning Signs
Even if your lights come back on, electrical damage may still need attention. Warning signs include:
- Burning smells near outlets, switches, or your electrical panel
- Hot or discolored outlets
- Breakers that repeatedly trip
- Severe flickering or unusually bright or dim lights
- Partial power loss in your home
- Visible damage to your meter
- panel, or exterior electrical wiring
Do not repeatedly reset a breaker that keeps tripping or attempt to repair storm-damaged wiring yourself. Contact a qualified electrician to assess the problem.
Who Should You Call?
Call 911 first for smoke, fire, active sparking, or immediate danger. Move to safety and keep others away. Contact your utility provider for downed power lines or a neighborhood-wide outage. Treat every fallen line as energized, and never approach or touch it—or anything in contact with it.
Call Avans Electric for urgent electrical problems in your home, including storm-damaged wiring, repeated breaker trips, and outlets or circuits that stop working after a storm.
Prepare Today for Greater Peace of Mind
You don’t have to wait for storm damage to think about electrical protection. From electrical safety inspections to whole-home surge protection and generator options, Avans Electric can help you prepare for the next storm. Need emergency electrical service or want to discuss storm protection? Call Avans Electric at (938)-205-0368 .
Avans Electric — Shockingly Great Service!