Your power always seems to have problems in the winter. Appliances stop working or the power goes out entirely. It’s clear that in the winter, cold-weather electrical issues abound. Why is that? Here’s a look at what’s going on and what you can do about cold-weather electrical problems.
Winter Power Usage
The most common electrical issues will likely come from your circuit breaker. Running your heating equipment — furnace, space heater, etc. — uses a lot of power and may overload the circuit. Particularly if you have older equipment, it often uses more and more energy over time, tripping the circuit more frequently.
If this continues happening, talk to your HVAC technician about upgrading to a newer, more energy-efficient system. They might also be able to provide you with a “heavy up”: an increase in power to your home to handle the higher electrical usage.
Cold Weather Electrical Safety
A power outage is annoying, but in Yuma, where winters are milder, it’s easy to deal with. However, there are other cold weather electrical issues that are more dangerous. Particularly if you use a space heater, you need to be careful of electrical fires.
Always plug your heater directly into the outlet; never into a power strip or extension cord. The amount of energy a space heater uses is often too much for them, causing overloading, overheating, or short-circuiting. Additionally, make sure there’s at least 3 feet of clearance on all sides of your heater, to avoid anything catching fire.
Holiday Electrical Problems
Cold weather electrical issues can extend to more than just heat. During the holiday season, you may be putting up lights or other decorations, both inside and outside your home. Spending 11 months of the year sitting in a box can cause them to degrade or become worn.
If you see any damage to any electrical decorations, replace them immediately. Also, adhere strictly to the instructions and never string more lights together than is recommended.
For help solving your cold weather electrical issues, contact us at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company. Yuma’s home comfort is our top priority.
