A wet electrical outlet presents a serious risk in your home. If you take immediate steps, you can reduce these risks and have time to replace or to repair the outlet that’s been affected. Keep reading to learn the right way to manage a wet outlet in your home.
GFCI Outlet Shutoff
Ground fault circuit interrupter outlets – GFCI for short – are designed to turn off if the flow of electricity is interrupted. This shutoff occurs automatically and may take place if small amounts of water – such as humidity in the bathroom – gets into the outlet.
You can turn the outlet off, which is going to help prevent water damage resulting from excess humidity. To manually shut off a GFCI outlet that’s gotten wet, push the reset and the test buttons at the same time. You should also test the outlet using a voltage meter to make sure the outlet is really off. If the water damage is severe, there are additional steps involved.
Water is what causes an interruption and what causes the outlet to stop working. However, the wires connected to the outlet may carry a live electrical current. This live current poses a fire risk and an electrocution hazard. If you want to minimize these risks, you need to turn the power off at your breaker box quickly.
Shutoff at the Breaker Box
It’s recommended that you shut the power off at your breaker box if you are dealing with a wet outlet. This is a good idea even if you have a GFCI-rated outlet and if it has already stopped working. If the breakers in your box are labeled, all you have to do is flip the right one to the off position, which is going to stop the electrical current from continuing to flow into the wet outlet.
If your breakers are unlabeled, it’s a process of trial and error until you find the right one. Use a voltage meter to test the outlet and ensure the right breaker has been turned off or call an electrician to help you find the right breaker. Don’t remove, try to use, or even repair the outlet if you aren’t sure the right breaker has been turned off.
If you are dealing with several outlets that have water damage, you should consider turning the power off at your main breaker. This is usually found in a breaker box that’s on your electric pole. Don’t try to flip the main breaker unless you know ho to do this safely.
Drying Out Your Wet Electrical Outlet
Usually, the best course of action is to replace an outlet that has been damaged by water. This is especially rue if your outlets are exposed to large amounts of water. If your home has been flooded, be sure to turn the power off at the main breaker until an electrician can come and evaluate the damage.
If you need help, the best course of action is to turn off the power and wait for an electrician to arrive. They will ensure the problem is fixed and that the hazard is eliminated.
If you have a wet electrical outlet, get in touch now!
