Electrical hazards from water leaks are dangerous, so it is best to learn how to repair water damaged plug sockets. When we place plug sockets near our workplaces, we cannot avoid accidentally leaking water to them. Moreover, we can also encounter unfortunate circumstances that can cause water damages to our plug sockets.
You can sometimes find it hard to fix this, but you do not need to worry anymore because we got your back! Continue reading this as we guide you on how to repair water damaged plug sockets.
What Causes A Water Damage On Plug Sockets?
Water damages are dangerous, so it is essential to know the reasons behind them. In a household or any workplace, there can be different causes of water damages. These include:
1. Damaged water pipes
High water pressures, freezing temperatures, and corrosion can lead to broken water pipes. These busted pipes can cause water leaks on the wall, affecting wall plug sockets.
2. House floods
Due to heavy rainstorms, households can experience high levels of floods. These house floods can affect ground-level or floor outlets.
3. Roof leaks
Another common effect of thunderstorms is roof leaks. When the rain gets heavier and the roof of your house has damages, there is a high possibility of water dripping into your home. These roof leaks can get into your plug sockets.
4. Accidental water leaks
Frequently, we cannot avoid sudden accidents of pouring water near plug sockets. This situation is typical for households, especially in the kitchen or bathroom. You can unintentionally drop a glass of water, splash some after you wash your face in the bathroom, or get a socket wet because of newly-washed dishes.
It is crucial to be aware of these possible reasons for water damages. Through that, you can think of the best solutions on how you can fix them. Moreover, you can also prevent them from occurring to avoid water leaks.
How Do You Repair A Water Damaged Plug Socket?
After knowing various causes of water damages, you need to know what to do when you have water damaged plug sockets. To fix your problem, ensure to follow these steps
Step #1. Turning off the GFCI outlet
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter or GFCI outlets should take action in this step. GFCI outlets should automatically turn themselves off once they detect electrical imbalance or power interruptions. However, there can be circumstances that they fail to perform their function.
Sometimes, GFCI outlets do not turn off automatically due to the high amount of water splashed onto them. With that, you will need to turn it off manually. To do that, press the test and reset buttons on the outlet simultaneously.
If you wish to test if the GFCI outlet has shut down already, you can use digital voltage meters. You can also ask for help from skilled electricians.
Step #2. Shutting off the breaker box
Even after turning off the GFCI outlet, you still need to shut the power off in the breaker box. If there are numerous water damaged plug sockets in your house, you need to turn off the main breaker.
However, if there is only one damaged socket, you can find its breaker and quickly turn it off. This process will be easy if your breakers have labels. Otherwise, you will need to turn it off one by one until you find the breaker for the damaged socket.
In this step, you need to ask for help from electricians also. You can also use voltage meters to test if you completely turned the power off. However, if you are not confident about it, wait for further assistance.
Step #3. Drying the water damaged outlet
Lastly, think of whether you need to dry your plug socket off or replace it entirely. However, before anything else, be reminded that you should never touch the socket if it is still wet.
If there are minor damages only, you can leave it off to dry. Sockets usually dry up depending on the severity of water damages they have. Otherwise, if the plug socket has severe water damage, it is best to replace it already.
When replacing it, you can also hire professional electricians to help you. Nonetheless, ask if they have insurance and license. Ask their insurance coverage to ensure that you do not have to pay for them if unexpected circumstances happen.
What Will Happen If Water Leaks On Your Plug Socket?
You should fix water damage immediately if you ever notice one. If not, you can encounter more hazardous situations, such as electrocution or electric shock, leading to burns. Sometimes, severe electric shocks can lead to death.
Moreover, when you try to plug something in a wet socket, you can experience short circuits. Short circuits can cause electrical fires.
Conclusion
It is best if you know how to repair water damaged plug sockets. Through that, you can ensure the safety of your family from dangerous situations. Now that you have already learned how to fix that, you better repair it immediately to avoid further hazards.