Each process of construction is directly or indirectly related to the other, so having a bit of knowledge about each one of these is imperative even if you specialize in only one.

From a contractor’s perspective, the construction of a house can be divided into two main phases: wet and dry. The wet phase refers to the initial phase when the house is unprotected from moisture caused by external forces such as rain, while the dry phase is the phase when most electrical work is carried out as the interior is safe from rain and snow.

On the other hand, from an electrician’s perspective, the two main phases of construction include phase one – the rough in, and phase two – the finish. This division is based on the stage of finishing that the walls are at. Here is a step-by-step guide into how the electrical work is carried out during the construction of a house:

Since there is a lot of machinery that operates on electricity and there is no electricity connection at the construction site, a temporary electric pole is installed during this stage.

In case there is a flash flood or storm in your area or if there is a severe plumbing leak or pipe burst, that can result in flooding of water in different areas of your home. Water can cause a lot of damage to the installations and features on your property, and you would have to start the clean-up and repairs without delay. This is also when you start evaluating what can be salvaged and what would have to be replaced – and this includes your home’s wiring.

The wiring inside the walls can become dysfunctional and dangerous if it’s exposed to or submerged in water. If there is a severe flood, it becomes important to completely replace the wiring in your home. Not too many builders actually use wiring that’s rated for water exposure of this kind. Of course, not much can be done till the time all the flood water recedes and all the water has been cleared out from your home.

Even when all the water is pumped out from the indoor spaces, it’s best to shut down the electricity supply at the circuit box mains before continuing with anything. Call in your local electrician to test the wiring in your home. Even if it is still in a working condition, it’s never a good idea to use it.

The insulation can get degraded and that can raise the chances of an electrical fire in the future. In addition, when there are traces of moisture in the wiring, that leads to mould & mildew growth and the metal parts in the system can corrode. This is especially the case when the property has become flooded with salty water.

When it comes to rewiring jobs, you also have to factor in the cost of opening up the wall panels and fixing them. In instances of a flood, the walls are generally torn down right up to the framework. If you take this opportunity to upgrade the wiring in your home, you can save a significant amount of money.

Floodwater is never clean and that proves to be an additional hazard to the wiring and other installations in your home. Chemicals, oil, sewage and a number of other contaminants that come with the floodwater work their way into the smallest spaces, and this is why it’s best to just start afresh with the installation. In comparison, if your home’s wiring has been impacted by water from a burst pipe, you might be able to save these features; this is because it may not be fully-submerged in water.

However, it’s never a good idea to test the condition of the wiring yourself and you should call in a skilled and licensed electrician to thoroughly check and evaluate the installation and give their opinion. Regardless of whether the wiring in your home has got impacted by flood water or water from a damaged plumbing installation, it’s important to get it checked without delay. The professionals will provide suitable solutions based on the condition and location of the wiring.

Welcome to Kolb Electric’s blog! At Kolb Electric, we want to be your number one source for residential and commercial electrical services in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC area, whether we’re on the job or not. To that end, we’ve created this blog to answer any questions you might have about your electrical system and electrical service in general!

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be filling this blog with the latest tips, tricks, and trends to keep your home or building’s electrical system running smoothly, so bookmark this page and be sure to check back often!

At Kolb Electric, we’ve built our business around providing the best possible customer service to each and every commercial or residential electrical customer in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC area. If you need electrical service and want to go with the most professional company in the area, call Kolb Electric today!