Expert Minnesota Electricians

With severe storms sweeping the Midwest, you may find more than just broken tree limbs and patio furniture around your home.  Electrical damage caused by strong wind, rain and hail is a problem that many Minnesota homeowners are facing today.

Last Friday’s thunderstorm left many east central Minnesotans without power.  The East Central Energy (ECE) cooperative acted quickly, but many homeowners will need an electrician to first repair their meter sockets before they can take advantage of ECE’s services.

Repairing a meter socket isn’t overly complex, but if you’re inexperienced with handling electricity, it can be dangerous.  It’s usually best to leave the fixing to the professionals to ensure it’s done correctly and safely.

If you feel comfortable looking into the issue yourself, here are a few tips:

1. Confirm the problem is with the socket.  It could actually be the electrical current, so check that the wires are connected.  Then see if the problem is isolated to one area or is an issue throughout your whole house by trying the outlets in different rooms.

2. Check the flow of electricity. The circuit breaker is there for protection, shutting off the flow of electricity when there is a sudden surge in power, often caused by storms.  If the circuit breaker is “tripped,” no power is being sent to the meter.  In this case, you may have to replace the circuit breaker.

3. Identify any loose connections.  A voltage tester can help identify whether there are any loose connections with the wires.  It may be a matter of simply refastening the wires.

Again, I urge you to call a professional.  If not Horizon Electric, then another qualified, licensed electrician to ensure safety and that the job is done right.