What Causes Power Outages at Home?
- Written by Samantha Ball
There are several possible explanations for the loss of electricity at home. By determining if the problem is internal or external, you can determine whether or not the issue is something you can fix yourself, something you'll need to call an electrician for, or a neighbourhood issue that the electric company will take care of.
In any case, it's important to know the cause of your electrical problems to ensure your appliances and devices aren't enduring any unnecessary damage. Here are some of the most common external and internal causes of power outages that happen at home:
Power Outages: External Causes
Though external causes can be frustrating due to them not being in your control, they should also come as a relief. If the problem is external, it means that your home's electrical wiring isn't the issue. You'll know whether or not the cause is external by looking outside or asking your neighbours if they're experiencing power outages too.
If they are, the cause is likely due to bad weather conditions, such as storms, floods, or bushfires. Fallen trees, animals, and vehicle collisions have also been known to disrupt the power grid of entire towns. In these situations, you'll just have to wait for the electric company to get everything up and running again.
Another external cause of power outages at home is unpaid electric bills. Electric companies often respond to unpaid bills by cutting off your power, so be sure to set reminders for yourself to make your scheduled payments. If you're not meeting your payment deadlines due to financial issues, contact your electric company to see if they can provide any temporary relief or flexibility for you.
Power Outages: Internal Causes
If the other houses on your street still have electricity, the cause of your power outage is likely internal. Internal causes range from tripped fuses and faulty circuit breakers to overloaded power boards. Though tripped fuses can be fixed by flipping a switch on your fuse box, issues with the fuse box itself should be dealt with by an electrician.
If you're using too many devices or just have too many devices and appliances plugged in at once, your electrical issues may be caused by an overloaded power board. If this is the case, try to be more conscious of how many things you have plugged in and what can be unplugged when not in use.
Power Outages Cause Problems
If your power only blinks on and off now and then, it may not seem like a pressing issue. The reality is, power outages can cause more problems than you might think.
The most prominent problem is that they can inflict long-term damage to your computers and other belongings that are powered by electricity. Power outages also cause computers to suddenly shut down, which can lead to files being lost and data being compromised.
Can't Determine the Problem? Call an Expert
If you're unable to determine the cause of the power outages happening at home, you should consider calling an expert electrician for help. They can locate the problem for you, fix it, and protect your appliances and devices from being damaged by electrical issues.
