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Is is ever ok to touch electrical powerline to house?
I need to work on my valley on my roof due to ice dams and leaks. My son is going to come work on it so I called the power company to come over as the power/electric line to the house is inches from the area he needs to work on---they told me it is fine to touch the wire. I didn't believe him so he came over and said unless there is a nick in the wire it is ok to touch and he took his metal tools and hit the wire. I am still afraid to have my son work on it. The wire has been there for decades so I am worried with all of our ice storms that there could be a "nick".
4 Answers
- walmeisLv 78 years agoFavorite Answer
The wires to your house are insulated. If they are old, there could be cracks and splits in the insulating jacket, but those are easily made safe by wrapping some electrical tape around the individual wires—do not bundle them together!
Honestly, the biggest danger is falling off the roof. Minimize contact with the utility wires and definitely don't grab onto them for any kind of support.
- ?Lv 78 years ago
Never, Never, Ever touch those wires.
that's not saying touching them is an automatic shock, if not electrocution, but that is always a possibility.
i have worked on houses and touched those wires either with some part of my body, and twice while moving an aluminum extended ladder, and my heart leapt each time, and as i sit here posting this, i've thanked God yet again that i'm still here.
that's to say they are Generally safe, but as he said, if there is a nick in the wire...and just because the insulation looks good doesn't mean there isn't a small crack. also, and just because the insulation looks good on the outside, one never knows if it hasn't deteriorated in some spots inside next to the wires, making it thinner than it should be.
and even though your son would be ungrounded up on the house, that doesn't mean he can't get across a hot and the neutral/ground), or, God forbid, the two hots.
Never, Never Ever take that chance on your life.
(thank You, Father...)
ps--i still own that aluminum extension ladder but i finally 'bit the bullet' (expensive) and bought a fiberglass extension ladder.
i figured it was way better to bite the bullet than bite the dust.
- big fellaLv 78 years ago
The guy from the power co. is a jerk.Always stay away from live wires no matter what he told you.Your decision to kill the power is a good one for your sons safety.The power guy just wanted to get out of some work.Can a person touch an insulated wire without getting shocked? Sure.Is there a chance a person could get electrocuted under certain conditions? For sure.
