Water Damage to Electrical

Check for water damage

If you think your home may have water damage - from roof leaks or flood waters that have receded - FPL has the following important safety tips:

• Watch for downed power lines when you approach your home. Consider all power lines energized and call 911 or FPL at 1-800-4OUTAGE to report fallen power lines that you feel present a clear and imminent danger to you or others. Do not attempt to touch any electrical power lines and keep your family away from them.
• Once inside, disconnect all electrical appliances that are still plugged in. Use caution. Do not stand in water when operating switches, plugging in or unplugging electrical cords.
• When resetting circuit breakers, wear dry, rubber soled shoes and stand on something dry and non-conductive, such as a dry piece of wood or wooden furniture.

If the breakers don't reset, or if they continue to trip

If the breakers will not reset or they continue to trip, call a licensed electrician. This condition might indicate a short-circuit in your electrical system. Follow these instructions:

If ...	Then...
You had no problem resetting the circuit breakers	You will still want to check your appliances for water damage and make sure all cords are dry before you attempt to re-plug electrical appliances into wall sockets.
After plugging in an appliance, the breakers trip (or fuse blows) or you see smoke or smell a burning odor	Shut off power at the circuit breaker and have the appliance checked by a qualified appliance service provider.

Be very careful around all electrical wires and equipment. If you have any doubts about your home electrical system or are unsure of how to proceed, call a professional, licensed electrician.