Electrical Safety Guide
Water and Electricity at Home: Leaks, Wet Outlets and Flooded Basements
Water dripping from a light, a wet outlet, a flooded basement or a soaked panel. What the safety sources say to do first, who should turn the power off, and when it is safe to turn it back on.
Sources checked October 31, 2026. Jump to: what you see · who turns the power off · turning it back on · who to call
Stay out of the water. Do not touch anything wet.
- Do not go in if water covers the outlets or cords are under water. If you see sparks or hear buzzing, crackling, snapping or popping, get out (National Weather Service).
- Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or you are standing in water (American Red Cross).
- Water dripping from a light or fan? Do not touch it or flip its switch. Stay out of the room and call an electrician.
- Already standing in water? Get out the way you came in and touch nothing on the way.
- Saw sparks, or someone was hurt by a shock? Once you are out of the water, call 911. See our electric shock guide.
- Smoke, fire or a power line down? Get out, stay at least 35 feet from a downed line (American Red Cross), and call 911. Our emergency guide covers downed lines.
Sources: National Weather Service, During a Flood (item 1); American Red Cross, Flood Safety (item 2). Items 3 to 6 are our advice.
Never step into water to reach a switch or panel.
- Panel dry, floor dry, hands dry? Turning the power off from a dry spot is what the CDC advises. We recommend calling an electrician instead of doing it yourself. Who turns it off.
- Water between you and the panel? Call for help instead: an electrician (CDC) or your utility (Safe Electricity).
- Before the power comes back on, have an electrician check the system (CDC). The checklist.
What You See and What to Do First
| What you see | What to do first | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Water leaking from a light fixture or ceiling fan | Do not touch the fixture or flip its switch. Stay out of the room and call. Do not guess at breakers. Keep everyone clear, and call an electrician and a plumber. | Our advice; none of the official sources we read covers a leaking fixture. Red Cross: do not touch wet electrical equipment. |
| A wet outlet or switch, or water running down a wall into one | Leave it alone and call an electrician. Have it checked before using it again. | Red Cross; the call and check lines are our advice. |
| Water covering outlets, or cords under water, in a basement or room | Do not go in. If you hear buzzing, crackling, snapping or popping, or see sparks, get out. | National Weather Service |
| Water on, in or around the electrical panel | Do not stand in water to reach it. Do not touch it or open the cover. Call for help (see the next section). | CDC and Safe Electricity: never stand in water to switch power. Not touching it is our advice. |
| The meter box, or the wires where power enters the house, were under water or are damaged | Do not touch them. Call your utility, then a licensed electrician. | US Department of Energy: never touch damaged equipment, and contact a licensed electrician. Calling the utility first is our advice. |
| An appliance or electronics got wet or sat in water | If it was under water, do not use it (Red Cross). Anything wet must be completely dry before it goes back into service, and checked by an electrician if there is any question (CDC). | American Red Cross; CDC |
| Breakers tripped when the water came in | Do not reset them yet. Have an electrician inspect them first. | American Red Cross |
| A pipe burst near outlets, a panel or wiring | Stop the water only if you can reach the shutoff without going near wet wiring. Then call. None of the sources we read says whether to shut off the water or the power first. | Our advice |
Who Should Turn the Power Off? The Sources Differ
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| CDC | If you have standing water and can turn off the main power from a dry location, turn it off. If you must enter standing water to reach the main switch, call an electrician to turn it off. Never turn power on or off yourself while standing in water. |
| Safe Electricity | Never turn off power at the breaker box if you must stand in water to do so. If you cannot reach it safely, call your electric utility to shut off power at the meter. |
| CPSC | For arcing or sparking at the electric service equipment, do not try to fix it or touch any of the equipment, and call the power company immediately. They or emergency personnel such as firemen are the only ones authorized to turn off the power in this part of the system. (This is about sparking, not floods, but the same part of the system.) |
| American Red Cross | Turn off the utilities only if you suspect damage or if local officials instruct you to do so. If any circuit breakers have been tripped, contact an electrician to inspect them before turning them on. |
| US Department of Energy | If meter boxes, conduits or wires were under water, or water rose above outlets, contact a licensed electrician. Never touch damaged equipment. |
Who to call, and for what (our advice)
- 911: a shock, a fire, smoke, sparks, or a power line down.
- Your electric utility: to cut power at the meter, or for a wet or damaged meter or service wires. NOVEC outage line: 703-335-0500 (from NOVEC’s site). Dominion Energy customers: use the outage and emergency number on your bill or Dominion’s website.
- A plumber: to stop and fix the leak.
- An electrician: to check wet wiring, outlets and breakers before the power goes back on. That can be us: 571-500-6637.
For an emergency, we dispatch an electrician within about 45 minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Before the Power Comes Back On
- Get the system checked. The CDC says to have an electrician check the house’s electrical system before turning the power on again.
- Expect repairs or an inspection after a flood. The US Department of Energy says many local codes require a licensed electrician or plumber to do any repair work, or a city or county inspector to check the system, before power can be restored, which can delay reconnection.
- Leave tripped breakers off until an electrician has inspected them (American Red Cross).
- Do not use wet appliances until they are completely dry (CDC), and do not use electrical equipment or electronics that may have been submerged (American Red Cross). Our advice is to leave them alone until an electrician has looked at them.
- Evacuated? Return home when local officials say it is safe (Fairfax County).
Sources: CDC, US Department of Energy (2017 fact sheet), American Red Cross, Fairfax County.
Storms, and Keeping Water Away From Wiring
During a thunderstorm
- Avoid plumbing: no showers, hand washing or dishes (National Weather Service).
- Do not touch electrical equipment or cords (NWS).
- Do not unplug equipment during the storm, because you could be struck (NWS).
Before the next flood or leak
- Fairfax County says to disconnect electrical appliances before a flood. We recommend calling an electrician instead of doing it yourself if you are not sure how.
- Have GFCIs professionally installed on outdoor outlets and near wet areas like the kitchen, bath and laundry room (Safe Electricity). CPSC says electric shocks can be more serious in certain places, such as bathrooms, kitchens, basements and garages.
- In flood-prone homes, elevate the water heater, electric panel and furnace (Safe Electricity).
- Keep electric tools at least 10 feet from wet surfaces (Safe Electricity).
Outdoor and damp-area outlets live next to water. CPSC says shocks can be more serious in places like bathrooms, kitchens, basements and garages, where people can touch water, pipes, radiators, heaters or stoves, and that if your home has no GFCIs, you should consult a qualified electrician about adding them.
Water Near Your Wiring? Call Us
Once the water is stopped and everyone is safe, call and tell us what got wet. We will tell you what we can do, and what needs your utility or a plumber first. A real person answers.
For an emergency, we dispatch an electrician within about 45 minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Virginia-licensed master electrician. Fully insured. 127 Google reviews, 5.0 stars.
“We had an emergency at our home and he was able to come with almost no notice. He troubleshooted the issue and was able to replace all of the outlets in our basement.”
Google review, March 2026, 5 stars
What happens when Ahmad comes out
- Once everyone is safe, call, and Ahmad answers, day or night. Tell him what got wet, and he tells you what to leave alone and whether your utility or a plumber needs to come first.
- When it is safe to check, he looks at the wet outlets, fixtures and wiring, and makes sure nothing is damaged before the power goes back on.
- Nothing you pay for starts until he has told you the price.
Good to know before you call
- Where the water is: ceiling light, outlet, panel, basement, water heater.
- Whether the power is on, off at the panel, or cut by the utility.
- Whether any breakers tripped or anything sparked.
- Whether the water is still coming in.
Call us from Fairfax, Arlington, McLean, Vienna and Falls Church.
Water and Electricity Questions
Short answers, with the source named.
Is it safe to turn the electricity back on after a flood?
Not until it has been checked. The US Department of Energy says that if your meter box, conduits or wires were under water, or water rose above your outlets, you should contact a licensed electrician. It adds that many local codes require a licensed electrician or plumber to do any repair work, or a city or county inspector to check the system, before power can be restored. The CDC says to have an electrician check the house’s electrical system before turning the power on again.
Water is leaking from my light fixture. What should I do?
None of the official sources we read gives steps for a leaking light fixture, so this answer is our advice. Do not touch the fixture or flip its switch. Keep everyone away from the wet area, stop the water if you can do it without touching anything electrical, and call an electrician and a plumber. The Red Cross says not to touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water.
Who should turn off the power if my basement is flooded?
Sources differ. The CDC says that if you can turn off the main power from a dry location, do it, but if you must enter standing water to reach the main switch, call an electrician to turn it off. Safe Electricity, a safety education website, says if you cannot reach your breaker box safely, call your electric utility to shut off power at the meter. Everyone agrees: do not step into the water to do it. We recommend calling an electrician instead of switching the power off yourself.
Can I use an appliance that got wet once it dries out?
Not right away. The American Red Cross says not to use electrical equipment or electronics that may have been submerged, and to have a qualified electrical inspector check the electrical system. The CDC says all electrical equipment and appliances must be completely dry before returning to service, and to have an electrician check them if there is any question.
Is it dangerous if water got into an outlet?
Treat it as dangerous. The Red Cross says do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet, and the National Weather Service says do not go into a room if water covers the outlets. Our advice: leave that outlet alone and have an electrician check it before you use it again.
Should I unplug things during a thunderstorm?
Not during it. The National Weather Service says do not unplug equipment during a thunderstorm, because there is a risk you could be struck, and to avoid plumbing and electrical equipment while it lasts.
How long does a wet outlet or light take to dry out?
None of the sources we read gives a drying time, so we will not guess one. The CDC says all electrical equipment and appliances must be completely dry before returning them to service, and to have a certified electrician check them if there is any question. Safe Electricity warns that electrical equipment can be energized and in contact with water, posing a serious risk of electrocution. Our advice: leave it off and have it checked.
My breakers tripped after the water came in. Can I reset them?
Not yet. The American Red Cross says that if any circuit breakers have tripped after an outage, contact an electrician to inspect them before turning them on. See our breaker guide for ordinary trips.
Water got into my breaker box. What should I do?
Do not touch the panel or open its cover, and do not stand in water near it. Safe Electricity says never turn off power at the breaker box if you must stand in water to do so, and to call your electric utility to shut off power at the meter if you cannot reach the box safely. Then call an electrician. Not opening the cover is our advice.
Do I need an electrician after a flood?
If water reached the wiring, yes. The US Department of Energy says to contact a licensed electrician if your meter box, conduits or wires were under water, or water rose above your outlets. The CDC says to have an electrician check the house’s electrical system before turning the power on again.
My water heater is leaking near its wiring. What should I do?
None of the sources we read covers this case, so this is our advice. Do not touch the heater or its wiring while there is water around it. Call a plumber for the leak, and an electrician if water reached the wiring.
Where These Facts Come From
Every source below was read on October 31, 2026. Use this page for general safety only: 911, Dominion Energy or NOVEC, and an electrician on site come first.
- National Weather Service, During a Flood: do not go into a room if water covers the outlets; get out if you see sparks or hear buzzing. Open the source
- National Weather Service, Lightning Indoors: avoid plumbing and electrical equipment; do not unplug during a storm. Open the source
- American Red Cross, Flood Safety: do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or you are standing in water. Open the source
- American Red Cross, Power Outage Safety: submerged equipment, electrical inspection, tripped breakers. Open the source
- CDC, Safety Guidelines: Reentering Your Flooded Home (page dated August 24, 2026): who turns off the main, never switching power while standing in water, electrician check before power returns. Open the source
- US Department of Energy, Floods and Power Restoration: 5 Things to Know (2017 fact sheet): licensed electrician, repairs and inspections before power is restored. Open the source
- Safe Electricity (safeelectricity.org), Flooding: Keep Your Family Safe: never stand in water at the breaker box; call the utility; GFCIs; elevate equipment. Open the source
- Fairfax County, Community Emergency Response Guide: Flooding (2023): disconnect appliances before a flood; do not touch electrical equipment if wet. Open the source
- CPSC, Guide to Home Wiring Hazards (Pub. 518): sparking at the service equipment where power enters the house is a power company job; shocks are more serious near water; GFCIs. Open the source
Related guides: Electrical emergencies (smoke, sparks, power lines) · Space heater safety (heater trips the breaker) · Hot outlet or switch (plug or plate feels hot) · Breaker keeps tripping (why it keeps tripping) · Electric shock (when to go to the ER)
Water and Wiring Do Not Mix. Get It Checked.
Stop the water, stay out of it, and call us before the power goes back on.
