Preventing Danger of Moisture in Electrical Service Panels

According to a research, visual investigation of the electrical service equipment is an important factor of the procedure followed by highly accredited residential maintenance inspectors, whose evaluations are very often made at the time of sale of a residential area. If fortunate, observations can offer a database of field performance of residential electrical system components that may be useful for the development of enhancements in both the parts and their linked qualifying measures.

Expert house inspectors offer an exceptional idea on field setbacks: in performing a comprehensive survey of building’s structures and parts, and checker may find typical external or interactive causes of decay or deterioration.

In home safety inspection procedure, removing the cover of electrical service panel is one of the requirements and as much as possible it must be detached carefully so that the interior of the panel can easily inspected and viewed. One of the responsibilities of a home safety inspector is to make sure that he examines the internal electrical connections, grounding, breakers, wire size, wire type, condition of the box, panel condition and also the main breaker. Rust is one of the most common problems that occur inside and outside of the electrical panel.

Water can travel down the interior of the coated electrical wire and then can enter the panel. The service wire will act like a sealed pipe bringing moisture into the panel box. If the electric meter is not tightly sealed on top where the service cable enters then it is more prone from leaks.

Wind driven rain can also infiltrate a frayed or damaged main service cable and drip down to the panel box. A deteriorated lower service entrance wire will also contribute too the cause of moisture issues in the panel.

During the home maintenance assessment, the inspectors will evaluate the type of water infiltration and the damage in electrical pane. Normally, the terminals and the circuit breakers are rusted and corroded due to the moisture in the panel box. For many instances the bottom of the metal service panel is decaying. Sometimes water is found in the lower part of the electrical panel box. On at least one inspection water was dripping from the bottom of the panel box. I did not remove the panel cover because of the unsafe conditions and electrical shock hazard.

Most vital sources of water and moisture entry were: through service entrance conductor cables which were old and damaged, or which were not properly sealed at meter boxes or building sidewalls; from condensation from high interior moisture levels; and from other building leaks or surface water which passed down building walls where panel enclosures were mounted.

A professional electrical contractor is necessary to fully evaluate and correct the condition. The contractor will definitely locate the source of moisture and make necessary repairs or replacements. More often the panel box and wiring is incredibly damaged and corroded, thus changing of the panel is require. Sometimes the panel box can be salvaged; at any cost the source of the moisture must be determined and solved in order to avoid worse effects

Waldron Electric Heating and Cooling because we are leaders at everything electrical, far beyond figuring out electrical service needs for a building. Call Waldron Electric Heating & Cooling for the most reliable 24 hr service, and no complaints.

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