Spring is in the air, which means “busy season” for many critters. Birds are nesting, squirrels are foraging, gophers are burrowing – which can all be bad news for your home’s electrical equipment!
Every year, our Ting Fire Safety Team assists many homeowners with electrical fire hazards caused by wild animals (most commonly squirrels). According to the Nature Conservancy, wildlife causes 13 million Americans to lose power annually and puts massive stress on the grid.
This spring, how can you tell if critters are wreaking havoc on your home’s wiring or electrical equipment? If you have Ting monitoring your home for any developing fire hazards, then you’re off to a good start. Here’s what you should know about the dangers of pests and your electrical system.
What Types of Animals Can Damage Your Home’s Electrical System?
Rural and urban communities alike coexist with many types of wild animals, creating situations where they may interfere with the complex electrical system of your home and your electrical utility’s power equipment running to it. Here are a few common culprits:
Squirrels
Squirrels are one of the most common critters that cause damage to electrical infrastructure. Just last year, our Ting Fire Safety Team helped mitigate over 50 fire hazards caused by squirrels alone!
Squirrels are chewers – their teeth never stop growing so they must continuously whittle them down. Combined with their exquisite climbing and balancing abilities, power lines (ground wires, main lines, transformer box wiring, etc.) often fall victim to their gnawing.
“Ting alerted us to a problem with the wire coming from the street to our house. We were instructed to call our power company. They saw that the voltage varied widely and had a look of concern on their face. They ended up inspecting all the wire coming from the street and found that squirrels had chewed completely through the ground wire coming to the house. They spent about two hours finding and repairing and finally running all brand-new wire from the street to the house just above the meter. We would never have known about this problem without Ting.”
– John in Nashville, TN
Mice & Rats
Rodents such as mice and rats are unwelcome pests when it comes to your home, and especially within your electrical system. Just like squirrels, mice and rats have ever-growing teeth that cause their chewing behavior. Unlike squirrels, these rodents are more likely to interfere with the electrical equipment inside your home rather than outside.
Rodents can cause wiring damage hidden in your walls, under attic insulation, and within your subpanel where they often nest. They can also chew on electrical cords attached to appliances and electronics in your home which can cause short circuits.
“Arcing was detected by Ting. When my electrician came, he discovered a mouse had gotten into the subpanel in my outbuilding and caused havoc with the wiring. I would have never caught this problem if it wasn’t for Ting!”
– Mary Beth in Sparta, MI
Gophers
While less common, gophers can wreak havoc on underground electrical equipment. While digging tunnels under your property, they can destroy electrical equipment, gnaw on wiring, and even fill underground transformer boxes with dirt!
“Ting alerted me of voltage spikes. When I called my power company, things began to happen. Their lineman confirmed the problem and chased down what was causing it. Gophers had filled the transformer box with dirt causing moisture to corrode the neutral connections there. A bad neutral I’ve learned allows the voltage to be unregulated and spike. The best part was there are several homes in my neighborhood that are also better off that are hooked to the same transformer.”
– Tom in Jenks, OK
Birds
Another less common culprit is birds. While seeking the perfect spot for a nest, birds can find their way into meter boxes, under your roof, and in your attic. They may pull out and damage electrical wiring in the process and nesting materials are usually very flammable, making a recipe for disaster.
How Dangerous is Wildlife Damage to Electrical Equipment?
The damage caused by chewing, nesting, and burrowing animals can be quite dangerous, resulting in:
- Voltage spikes, brownouts, and dangerous power quality: damaged utility equipment can affect the power quality being delivered to homes.
- Power outages: in your home, or even your entire neighborhood (last year, nearly 1,000 people were left without power in Austin, TX after a squirrel made contact with equipment on a transformer pole!)
- Tripped breakers and short circuiting
- Electrical fires: damaged or exposed wiring can overheat and spark a fire.
“Lights were flickering in my house, especially when the dishwasher was working. Ting then sent me a fire hazard warning and the Fire Safety Team instructed me to call my electrical utility company. The utility company sent a technician over who found that squirrels had chewed the negative wire, which was the cause of the flickering. The issue was fixed and now there is no more flickering in my house. I feel very safe having Ting!”
– Tom in Jenks, OK
How Do You Know if Critters are Causing Damage?
There are a few signs you can look for that indicate you may have a critter problem before a hazardous situation has a chance to develop.
- Flickering lights or strange behavior from appliances or HVAC system
- Rodent droppings near wiring runs and outlets
- Scratching and squeaking sounds behind walls
- Scurrying or bird chirping noises in attic
- Nesting materials near wires or in electrical equipment
- Visible bite marks on wires for devices or appliances
- Gopher holes in yard near electrical equipment
- Increased squirrel activity around power lines
Squirrel damage is often not noticeable since it occurs high up in overhead wires. Mitigation usually requires your local utility company to repair or replace the power line. Damage inside your home from rodents or birds can be costly. It may require an electrician to remove & replace damaged wiring and possibly an exterminator to take care of the infestation.
Did You Know? If Ting detects an electrical fire hazard, our Fire Safety Team will coordinate a licensed electrician to find and fix the hazard. We also offer $1,000 in Ting Service Credit to help cover the electrician’s labor, so that no harm comes to your home OR your wallet.
How Can You Prevent Critters from Damaging Your Home’s Electrical System?
While many utility companies have taken measures to prevent electrical damage from wildlife such as installing “critter guards” on equipment, homeowners play an important part in prevention too:
- Keep your trees trimmed: branches near power lines or your roof provide an easy route for squirrels and rodents
- Set bird feeders away from power lines: this helps keep critter activity away from electrical equipment
- Protect your wires: cover exposed wires with plastic or steel conduits, or even upgrade to rodent-resistant braided sleeving
- Practice rodent prevention in your home: seal off entry points, keep food (especially pet food) secure, and keep trashcans sealed
- Report any nests: if you see a nest close to electrical equipment or increased squirrel activity on power lines, call your local utility
If at any point you detect signs of animal interference with your electrical system, or if something doesn’t seem right, notify us! We can help you verify the hazard and figure out the next steps to get it fixed. And as you do your part in preventing unwanted pests, enjoy the comfort that comes with knowing that Ting has your back.
We are super passionate about helping to protect our customers. If you have questions, especially if you suspect an electrical risk in your home, please contact us immediately. Ting is statistically proven to prevent ~80% of electrical fires, significantly reducing electrical fire risk in homes. However, Ting alone cannot eliminate 100% of electrical fire risks. Trust your senses. Flickering lights, intermittent lights or devices, frequently tripping breakers, or electrical odors can indicate that an electrical hazard is developing.