Trees love them but......

Published on 16 October 2024 at 06:51

If trees are overhanging or growing too close to an overhead electrical wire, it can pose serious safety risks, including power outages, electrical fires, and hazards during storms. Here’s what you should do:

### 1. **Contact the Utility Company**
- **Notify the utility company** immediately. Most utility companies have tree maintenance programs and will trim trees around power lines to prevent interference. Never attempt to trim the trees yourself if they are near high-voltage lines.
- **Avoid touching the wires** or trying to remove any branches yourself. Even if the wires appear insulated, they can still carry dangerous levels of electricity.

### 2. **Assess the Situation**
- Determine if the trees are on your property or public land. In many areas, the utility company is responsible for maintaining trees near power lines in public spaces. However, if the trees are on your property and far from high-voltage lines but still close to lower-voltage lines (like those that run from the pole to your home), the responsibility may fall on you.

### 3. **Hire a Professional Arborist**
- If the trees are near power lines that don't belong to the utility company (such as phone lines or cable lines), hire a **certified arborist**. Make sure the arborist has experience in working near power lines and follows safety protocols.
- **Check local regulations** before proceeding. There might be local ordinances about cutting or trimming trees near power lines, especially if the wires are in public easements.

### 4. **Preventive Action for Future Growth**
- **Regularly prune trees** to prevent future issues, but always do so when the trees are young and the branches are far from power lines. This reduces the risk of needing intervention when the tree is fully grown.
- **Consider planting trees that don't grow tall** near power lines in the future. Smaller species are less likely to interfere with overhead wires.

### 5. **Emergency Situations**
- If a tree branch is touching the power line or has caused a power outage, treat it as an emergency. **Stay away from the area** and immediately call the utility company or emergency services. Do not touch anything nearby as it could be energized.
- If a power line has fallen due to tree branches, report it to emergency services immediately and avoid the area.

In summary, for safety reasons, it’s best to leave the job to professionals or your utility company and avoid any direct interaction with trees near electrical wires.

#homeinspectors #homeinspections #homeinspection #realestate #homeinspector #homeinspectorlife #inspections #inspector #realestate #homeinspection #inspection #homeinspector #realtor #css #realty #home #homeinspections #homebuyer #realestateagent #property #investment #househunting #generalscience #newhome #homebuyers #inspections #firsttimehomebuyer #homebuying #broker #currentaffairs #homesforsale #gk #generalknowledge #mold #cincinnatihomes #cincinnati #termites #radon #sewerscope #cincinnatihomeinspection #cincinnatihomeinspector #homeinspection #homeinspector #buyingahouse #thermalimaging #buyingahome #cincinnatirealtor #homebuying #cincinnatirealestate #cincinnatiohio #detailed #aplacetocallhome #knowledge #homebuyers #thorough #indoorairquality #newhome #serviceandsupport

#CincinnatiHomeInspector
#CincyRealEstate #CincinnatiLiving
#CincinnatiHomeBuyers
#CincyRealty
#HomeInspection
#HomeInspector
#RealEstate
#PropertyInspection
#HomeMaintenance
#HouseHunting
#FirstTimeHomeBuyer
#HomeBuyingTips
#HomeSafety
#HouseInspection
#HomeRepair
#PropertyInspector
#InspectionServices
#HomeInspectionService #RealEstateInspection
#OhioRealEstate
#CincinnatiHomes
#CincinnatiRealtor
#CincyHomes
#MidwestLiving