my area is being flooded right now. My house is on a hill. The hill is to my basement door is level with my backyard, but my front door is higher then it. If water floods to my house it would only go into my basement. I was wondering if water reaches an outlet could it start an electrical fire? My dad says it will but i just wanna make sure.
SoundPhantom
If everything is wired properly, the ground short caused by the flood waters reaching an outlet or other wiring should trip the breaker(s) with no damage. The best bet is to locate and de-energize (switch off) any breakers feeding the basement level until the danger has passed. If you have sump pumps in the basement try to leave them energized as long as possible. If there's any possibility of an energized circuit coming into contact with water, DO NOT enter the water! There's a chance of electrocution!
?
Fresh water, such as rain water and river water does not conduct electricity. Salt water does.
The chances of a fire due to flooding anywhere besides coastal towns is extremely rare. Even in coastal areas it is rare.
If flooding caused electrical fires New Orleans would not be there at all anymore.
?
if water reaches an outlet it will short out and trip the circuit breaker to that outlet.
where the water would flow to depends on how big of a flood you get. if you live on a hill and your higher than the surrounding area, your not going to flood.
Anonymous
Don't worry about it.