With time, electricity has become an indispensable part of our modern life. Be it our work, healthcare, economy, leisure, even our livelihood, all depends on a constant electrical power supply. A minor stoppage of power in our lives feels like everything is stopped. A normal power outage causes chaos, monetary setbacks and even leads to loss of life. The reasons for the outage can vary and will also affect the time it will take to restore the power service to your home. Knowing what causes the power failure is a good way to understand better how soon electricians can fix it.
The loss of power happening for a shorter period may not necessarily lead to any chaos. Though it may result in loss of data, it can hamper productivity or cause revenue loss. However, this can be limited or stopped to extinction if prepared for the power outages. It is very important to be familiar with the possible reasons for power failure.
Following are the most common power outage causes that we experience in our daily lives:
Natural Causes
A survey shows that 70% of the power outages in the US are due to adverse weather conditions. Any natural phenomenon such as rain, lightning, snow, ice, wind, or dust can lead to power failure. When lighting strikes any electrical equipment, the power outage occurs in the transmission towers, poles, or wires. Storms are one of the most usual factors for power interruptions. It is more challenging to safeguard from significant power failure from natural tragedies like floodings as well as severe storms. But to save it from the effects of water and dust is comparatively easier.
One can prepare themselves on a prior basis to ensure protection against water damages. The damage caused by the water can be costly, but this can be reduced to quite an extent. The electricians can do it simply by protecting your electrical boards, wires, and circuits from exposure to water. The moisture and dampness can also cause severe damage, so it is better to invest in specially sealed circuit protection devices.
It might not seem that dust can lead to severe damage, but it causes electrical systems to short circuit and power failures. Here also the sealed circuit boxes will help you in protecting your essential electrical equipment. When high winds occur, tree branches come in contact with power lines that further cause interruptions. Apart from these, several other natural disasters such as earthquakes, wind storms, and ice storms are natural causes that can destroy critical power infrastructure that results in outages.
Animals
The animals coming in contact with the empower lines can also cause power outages. A study shows that birds and squirrels cause around 11% of the power outages in the US. Sometimes even ground animals can contribute towards the power failures.
Vehicles
Artificial outages are also one of the primary concerns that happen in vehicle and construction accidents. A collision of the vehicle with an electrical pole can also result in a temporary power outage of the area. Short circuits can also occur in such cases.
Digging
Many times the underground cables get damaged by excavation digging. It can result in power loss in the whole area for quite a long time if left unattended.
Sudden Power Surge
A sudden increase in power can lead to rapid overheating, leading to the loss of essential equipment. Protection from such surges is offered in the kind of circuit breakers.
Equipment Failures
Though we work hard on maintaining our electrical equipment, things can still go against us. Any problem with the cables, connectors, switches, or even transformers can fail. The insulators can corrode and break. Sometimes equipment failure also plays a role in a power outage in an area.
The other reason behind this can be the maintenance and repair of the equipment. If a timely check is not kept on the equipment, they are bound to get damaged due to external factors. Power distribution requires complex equipment that can have many reasons to stop, so regular checks are needed.
Verdict
Our cities rely entirely on electricity, and even a minor power outage can cost a lot. Specifically, when a power failure occurs, it ends up being dreadful for the life support systems in medical facilities and also assisted living facilities. Facilities such as flight terminals, train terminals, as well as web traffic control also fall target to power interruption impacts. Though almost all life support facilities have a backup source such as generators that automatically turns on in case the power grid fails.
It is unforeseeable when a scenario would certainly take place, and also you can experience a power outage. At such times having the support of professional electrician services nearby will come in handy. You should always seek the assistance of licensed and certified electricians in your area. If you are looking for an experienced and professional electrician in Arvada, Colorado, contact ElectriCall.