How long does it take for electrics to dry out?

Electrics affected by water ingress can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to dry out fully. It all depends on the extent of the water ingress, the number and type of circuits affected, the ambient temperature and lots of other factors that can affect water evaporation. 

In cases where flooding has occurred in the home to an extensive level, it may take longer to dry the building fabric out and therefore the electrical installation that is installed within the building fabric. If the walls, loft and floors are soaked then the electrical system will also remain soaked until everything else dries out. 

1) I have had a large flood in my home, what is the best thing to do?

Your home insurance company would be the best start. They can take the claim and manage it for you from start to finish. If you don’t have home insurance then the best things to do would be:

• Assess the damage to your furnishings, ceilings, walls etc.
• Throw out any water damaged floor coverings.
• Rent proper dehumidifiers.
• Have the electrical system checked and if necessary disconnected.
• Have a temporary power supply fitted.
• Dry the home out and assess the damage again.

We can help you with some of the process if you need us to. 

2) The electrics are soaking can you help?

Yes. We will be able to attend very quickly to make safe the electrical system and if necessary, install a temporary power supply. We can carry out testing, inspection and assessment to determine what is affected, what needs to be turned off or disconnected and what needs to be replaced in the immediate term. 

3) There has only been a small water escape, is my installation safe to use?

This is a question best answered with a visit to your property. We can them make a proper assessment of the situation and see what has happened. We can carry out some testing and ascertain the safety of any affected circuits along with identifying any potential hazards and assessing risks involved with re- energising the electrics for you. 

If for instance ONE SOCKET has been affected with water ingress then it may be possible and safe to simply replace the socket with a new dry one and re-instate the installation for you. If several sockets have been affected and the walls are also damp then it may be that the circuit has to be disconnected. 

4) What is a temporary power supply?

A temporary power supply is normally a new consumer unit / fuse box which powers only a couple of sockets and possible a light. The supply is not intended to replace the circuits in your property but is more an emergency power supply intended to power a fridge, freezer, dehumidifiers and keep phones charged. It can make the difference between having to move out of the house and being able to stay in some cases. In some cases where too much water has escaped into your property it is best for your health to relocate temporarily. 

5) The smoke detector has gotten wet, what to do?

The photograph above shows a smoke detector that has been soaked by water ingress from a leaky roof. In this instance we always recommend that smoke detectors are replaced. It is simply not worth guessing as to their effectiveness once they have been soaked. In all instances, leaks should be repaired before undertaking electrical repairs, electrical accessories replacements and so on. HOW LONG FOR ELECTRICS TO DRY OUT in a smoke detector? Throw it away! 

6) The consumer unit has been soaked help!

In most circumstances, if a consumer unit has been soaked with water we recommend replacing the unit. We will simply not take responsibility for such an important part of an electrical system if water has penetrated it. These components are not designed to guard against water ingress, to function normally after such an event or to withstand a soaking. Water can not only ruin electrical components whilst it is flushing through but can leave behind conductive trace elements with affect the insulating properties of cabling, electrical accessories and switchgear. 

As an emergency electrician we carry spare consumer units and switchgear for them. We are often able to replace units the same day (or night) but this is still not going to help if the rest of the electrical installation has been soaked. 

The best thing to do in these situations is to call us and we will tell you if we should attend to evaluate the damage, safety issues and see if we can restore some power for you. 

7) Are wet electrics safe to use or will I get a shock?

Wet electrical systems are not safe to use. There is a risk of electrical shock whenever water is introduced into an electrical circuit or system. Water is relatively conductive and will lower your body resistance to electrical current enabling a shock to happen more easily. If you are in any doubt as to the safety of your electrical system then we strongly advise you request an electrical inspection is carried out. A thorough electrical inspection will highlight any safety concerns, any deficiencies and any situations that are not to current wiring regulations. 

8) Can you tell me how safe it is from a photograph?

Unfortunately, not. The best we could do from a photograph would be to guess. The only way to ascertain the current condition of an electrical installation is to carry out a periodic electrical inspection. More information on periodic inspections can be found in our help sheet by following the link below.

https://www.electricalfaultsfixed.co.uk/helpsheet/eicr-what-expect)

9) My electrics have flooded just now, what do I do?

Call us, do not touch your electrical installation. We will attend immediately in most cases. If we cannot attend and we think it is safe to do so, we may offer advice over the telephone. 

If you need to know HOW LONG FOR ELECTRICS TO DRY OUT then let us help you. We carry out insurance repair work, emergency work and are very experienced in these situations.