Molly Ayala
Knowing how to shut off your electricity is an essential skill for homeowners, especially in the event of an emergency. Utilities such as electricity, gas, and water are essential for running a home, but there are many reasons you may need to shut them off, including natural disasters, repairs, or damage. In the case of a natural disaster or electrical emergency, it is recommended to call your electric company first. However, if you need to shut off your electricity quickly, locate the electrical breaker box, typically in the basement or utility room, and switch all individual circuit breakers to the OFF position before doing the same to the main circuit or fuse.
How to shut off electricity
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to shut off electricity | In case of emergencies such as exposed wires, sparking switches, impending disasters, or gas leaks. |
| Where to locate the shut-off | Locate the electrical breaker box, typically in the basement or utility room. |
| How to shut off electricity | Switch all individual circuit breakers to the "OFF" position before doing the same to the main circuit or fuse. |
| Precautions | Avoid producing a spark through static electricity, such as walking on carpet in socks. |
| When to call the electric company | In case of a natural disaster or electrical emergency. |
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What You'll Learn
Locate the electrical service panel
Locating your electrical service panel is crucial in case you need to shut off the power in an emergency or restore power after an outage. The electrical service panel is the distribution center for all the electricity you consume, and it is sometimes called the breaker box.
The location of your electrical service panel will depend on the property, but there are several common places to look. If you live in a house, the electrical panel is typically located outside, in the garage, basement, or utility room. If you live in an apartment, it is most likely inside the apartment, usually in the kitchen or bathroom areas.
If you are still unsure where your electrical service panel is, start by looking outside near where the city power line connects to your house. The electrical panel is a rectangular metal box usually mounted into the walls of your home. It should have a cover on it so that it blends in with the wall or looks like a metal box. If you still can't find it, consult your home inspection report or call your local electrical company, who may have a record of its location.
Once you have located your electrical service panel, you will see multiple switches (circuit breakers) inside. The main circuit breaker controls the electricity supply to your entire home and is usually at the top or bottom of the panel. It is often labeled "Main" or "Service Disconnect," and you can identify it by checking the amperage rating, which will be a number like 100, 150, or 200.
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Identify the circuit breaker box
The circuit breaker box, or electrical panel, controls all the electricity coming into your home to the various electrical lines running through your house. It is an essential safety device that monitors the electrical current and automatically interrupts the electrical flow in a case of an overload or short.
The circuit breaker box can be located anywhere, so it is important to find it and ensure that nothing is obstructing it from being quickly opened. It typically looks like a metal box that is mounted on a wall in a utility room, basement, or garage. The circuit box has a door that can be opened either by a slight lift of the door to unlatch it, or a latch that can be turned or pressed. You may need a flashlight handy if it is in a dark closet or basement.
The circuits are generally labelled during the initial wiring installation. The labels are next to each switch or inside the breaker panel door. They are numbered to correspond with their respective switches and may refer to specific appliances or rooms in the circuit. The labels on an electrical panel breaker box can help during an emergency if you lose power to a particular room or appliance. For instance, if the breaker that provides electricity to the stove or oven trips, you can check the label and identify the circuit breaker that connects to the oven.
If you are unsure which circuit breaker controls which wire, you can use a circuit breaker finder to identify them. A circuit breaker finder is a simple electronic tool that helps you map your household circuits by identifying the circuit breakers that feed the wires. It includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter plugs into a household outlet (or light socket, using an adapter) and sends a faint electronic signal through the circuit wires. At the breaker box, you use the electronic receiver that is paired with the transmitter. When the receiver passes over the circuit breaker that carries the electronic signal from the transmitter, the receiver rapidly beeps and flashes.
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Turn off each individual circuit
To turn off each individual circuit, you must first locate your home's electrical service panel. This is usually a large grey metal box attached to one of the walls in or around your home. It may be in a garage, basement, or utility closet. In warm climates, it may be on the outside of the house. In an apartment or condo, it may be recessed into the wall in a hallway, laundry area, or closet.
Once you have located the service panel, open the door. You should see rows of individual circuit breakers that look like toggle switches, with a main breaker at the top. The individual circuit breakers will be labelled as 15 or 20 amps, while the main breaker will be labelled as 100 amps or more.
To turn off an individual circuit, identify the correct circuit breaker. There should be a list indicating which parts of the house each breaker controls. Once you have identified the correct breaker, turn it off by flipping the lever to the "off" position. You should hear an audible click, and you may see a red or orange tab in a small window on the breaker.
Before beginning any electrical work, always ensure that the power is off by testing the device or outlet with a non-contact electrical tester. It is also a good idea to turn off all appliances and lights in your home before starting work.
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Flip off the main breaker
To shut off the electricity in your home, you will need to locate the electrical service panel, which is usually in a utility area, such as the basement or utility room. The electrical panel controls all the electricity coming into your home and powering the various electrical lines.
The electrical service panel contains either circuit breakers or fuses. To turn off the power to your entire house, you will need to flip off the main breaker. This is usually a double-width switch located at the top of the service panel. It may be marked "Main" or "Shut Off".
Before flipping off the main breaker, you should turn off each individual circuit breaker. When you are ready to turn the power back on, simply reverse the process: start by turning on the main breaker, and then turn on each individual circuit. This will prevent a big surge of power that would occur if all the power was turned on at once.
It is important to note that turning off the breakers does not affect the power lines coming into your home, so never go near a damaged or downed line. If you are unsure about how to turn off your power, contact a licensed electrician.
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Avoid damaged power lines
It is important to know what to do in the event of damaged power lines. Firstly, you should always treat any downed or low-hanging power lines as energised and dangerous. Stay at least 30 feet away from any downed distribution lines and at least 100 feet away from downed transmission lines. If you are in a vehicle and a power line falls on it, you should stay inside the vehicle until utility workers tell you it is safe to exit. The metal body of your car will provide a layer of protection between you and the power line. If you must exit the vehicle, jump clear of it, landing with your feet together, and shuffle at least 30 feet away while keeping your feet close together and on the ground. Do not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time.
If a power line falls across a car that you are in, stay in the car and call 911 immediately. If you must exit the car due to a fire or other immediate danger, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground. If you see a fallen power line, call 911 and report it immediately. Warn others to stay away and keep children and pets clear of the area.
Never attempt to move or assess a downed power line yourself. Utility workers are trained to identify, repair, and replace damaged power lines safely. Remember that damaged power lines can stay energised even if they are not functioning as they should, so it is critical to wait for professionals before proceeding. Do not stand under or near damaged trees or damaged utility equipment. Damaged objects and equipment could be unstable and fall at any time. Do not drive over or under damaged lines and always obey road closure signs and barricades.
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Frequently asked questions
Locate your electrical breaker box, typically in the basement or utility room. If you live in an older home, you may have a fuse box instead of a circuit breaker. Once located, switch all the individual circuit breakers to the "OFF" position before doing the same to the main circuit or fuse.
There are many reasons you may need to shut off your electricity. Natural disasters like hurricanes or tornadoes, repairs, or damage such as a burst pipe can create the need to turn off your electricity at a moment's notice.
Before shutting off your electricity, it is important to locate your electrical breaker box and ensure that nothing is obstructing it from being quickly opened. You may also need a flashlight handy if the breaker box is in a dark closet or basement.
