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.
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