Image default
Home Improvement

Why Does The Power Go Out When It Rains?

Many people think that power outage during the rains has to do with lightning. They have their share of the blame, but they are not alone. Two main culprits concerning power outages during the rains are lightning and windstorms. Precisely because of this, it is challenging to experience a power outage during light rains. The lack of light is related to strong storms, which affect the power grid in several ways.

Lightning is responsible for 40% of disconnections in power grids. This can happen, for example, if a transformer is struck by lightning, which causes an overload in the power grid. It is very common for this to happen, as transformers are metallic objects at high altitudes which attract lightning. In extreme cases, depending on the transformer hit, an entire city could be without power.

Another way that lightning affects power distribution is that a protective shutdown can occur. When the discharges cause an electrical surge, the network has a protection device that shuts down to avoid damage to the installations.

Winds are responsible for all other instances of power outages during a storm. The substantial air displacements cause the wires to touch, causing short circuits that result in the disconnection of the electrical network. The same occurs when branches come into contact with electrical wires, which can break them or cause short circuits.

Therefore, the rain does not cause the power grid to shut down. The problem lies in the electrical discharges and windstorms that accompany storms.

What To Do When The Power Goes Out During A Storm?

Not much can be done to avoid the power outage during the rains. You can prevent damage to delicate equipment, such as computers and video games, for example. As soon as you notice a storm approaching, the ideal is to unplug them.

If the power goes out during a storm, you must alert the power company such as Licensed Electrician in Palm Beach County, FL for example to the problem. Otherwise, you will not be able to recover damages. Access customer service, write down all the protocols, and document the process to guarantee your rights. 

Make sure that your house or apartment has a proper electrical installation done by specialist such as High Voltage Electric for instance. It should be noted that a procedure that helps discharge atmospheric tensions is electrical wiring grounding. The grounding process can be complemented by installing a surge protection device, the so-called DPS.