Flickering lights during a storm in the DC area are common. During severe weather events, the electrical grid takes a proactive approach to preventing long-duration outages. Throughout the grid, protective devices known as reclosures perform quick “trip and reclose” operations to clear minor faults. Read on to find out when power fluctuations are a problem.
Storm-Related Electrical Issues in Virginia, Maryland, and DC
This region is prone to short-duration power outages, flickering lights during storms, and long-duration power loss. This is due to aging electrical infrastructure, frequent and severe thunderstorms, and heavily treed residential communities.
Much of the region’s power system is above-ground, leaving it vulnerable to falling limbs and branches, heavy winds, and heavy precipitation. During the winter months, heavy snow loads can take a major toll. Rather than light, powdery snow, Maryland gets dense, wet, heavy snow that weighs down power lines and tree branches.
- Branches temporarily short circuiting power lines
- Direct lightning strikes
- Wires coming into contact with one another
- Excess humidity on weak, corroded connections
What to Do
Even when power fluctuations are the result of protective reclosures or external problems throughout the electrical grid, they can still cause damage. Each time your home’s power supply is restored, greater-than-normal voltage travels through your electrical system. Both large power surges and “mini surges” can shorten the lifespan of costly electronics, wear down wiring, outlets, and electrical panels, and cause appliance malfunctions.
The best way to reduce the effects of storm-related electrical issues in Virginia and other areas is by installing whole-house surge protection. Whole-house surge protection devices (SPDs) connect directly to electrical panels. They divert excess energy into the ground before it enters electrical systems. SPDs can also protect electrical systems from internal power surges and the larger surges that often occur after long-duration outages.
If you don’t have whole-house surge protection, unplug costly appliances during major storms. You can also install outlet-only surge protectors while waiting for whole-house SPD installation.
You should report all outages to your utility service provider. If flickering lights are a repeated and severe issue, report these as well. Timely interventions can save utility companies lots of money and prevent long-duration outages in the future. For instance, a weak or damaged tree branch may cause your lights to flicker by coming into contact with a utility line. If this happens, your electric company can cut the branch or remove the tree before it brings the utility line down.
When Flickering Lights During a Storm in DC Is Cause for Concern
A good sign that your power fluctuations in Maryland, Virginia, or DC are grid-related is seeing your neighbors’ lights flicker as well. If everyone in your neighborhood is experiencing flickering lights at the same time, reclosures are the most likely cause. But if your home is the only home on the block with a flickering light issue, your electrical panel could be to blame.
- Singe marks around or in the panel box
- Burnt odors
- White smoke coming from outlets
- Loud buzzing sounds
- Repeated circuit breaker trips
Direct Lightning Strikes
A direct lightning strike can send over 100,000 volts of electricity into your home’s electrical system at once. This far exceeds the voltage of a normal power surge.
- Damage your major home appliances
- Fry your electronics
- Damage your electrical meter
- Destroy your electrical panel
- Melt wiring insulation
These events can also destroy circuit breakers, fuses, and fuse boxes.
Cumulative Damage From Unprotected Power Surges
If your home is the only home with flickering lights during a storm in DC, the problem may be due to cumulative damage from unprotected power surges in the past. Even mini power surges take a toll on electrical systems. Melted wiring insulation, faulty circuits, damaged outlets, and panel issues can cause lights to flicker. This can occur whenever the wind blows hard or heavy precipitation hits the area.
Worn or Faulty Wiring
Electricians recommend rewiring homes every 25 to 40 years. DC, Maryland, and Virginia have many historic homes. Unfortunately, many of these homes still have outdated knob-and-tube (K&T) wiring. These often 100-year-old, ungrounded electrical systems are major fire hazards.
Homes that still have rubber and cloth-insulated wiring, aluminum wiring, and fuse boxes rather than circuit breakers are outdated as well. If you haven’t updated your home’s wiring in more than three decades, frequent power fluctuations are an indication that you should do so now.
During severe weather, insects and animals seek warm, dry spaces. Common pests in Virginia, Maryland, and DC include ants, termites, and rodents. Rodents can gnaw through wiring insulation and conductors, creating electrical faults. Insects leave behind wings, feces, exoskeletons, and other detritus in outlets, which can create faults and increase the risk of electrical fires. Unchecked pest infestations can cause wiring issues and flickering lights during every storm in DC and the surrounding areas.
Water Intrusion
Moisture and electrical systems don’t mix. Water conducts electricity and accelerates corrosion. This can cause voltage spikes and short circuits that damage wiring, terminals, and metal components. Flickering lights could be a sign of a roof leak, a flooded basement, or a burst pipe.
Lighting Issues
If your lights flicker during a storm, but the power to everything else seems fine, you may have a lighting issue. You could have incompatible dimmer switches, loose bulbs, or an overloaded circuit. It may be time for a lighting inspection, repair, or upgrade.
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What to Do About Internal Electrical Issues
Flickering lights are merely a symptom of internal electrical issues. They’re hardly your biggest problem.
- Painful electric shocks
- Potentially fatal electrocution
- Electronics and appliance failure
- Fast-spreading electrical fires
Following a direct lightning strike, if it’s safe to do so, turn your home’s electricity off by flipping the main circuit breaker. If you have a fuse box, remove the main fuse block instead.
While you should contact your power company for external concerns, call 24-hour electricians for everything else. Don’t delay. Electricians can find and fix the exact cause of your power fluctuations in Maryland, Virginia, or DC. They can also recommend strategies for making your electrical system more resilient to the region’s heavy snow and frequent thunderstorms.
If you have recurring electrical issues in Virginia or the surrounding areas, Kolb Electric is the company to call. Proudly serving the region since 1925, we have 24-hour electricians on hand, and we offer same-day service, seven days a week. Get in touch with Kolb Electric today to schedule an appointment!
