Expert service mast repair in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro
If you live in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, then you get your electricity from overhead power lines. That means you almost certainly have a service mast. Service masts contain and protect the cables that connect service drop power lines to your home’s electrical system. It’s the place where city power becomes your power. It’s also the first part of the power supply system you are personally responsible for.
If your mast is damaged or broken, your home may be completely cut off from its power supply. Even worse, the damaged cables could spark or arc, posing a serious danger to your health and home. If your service mast is damaged, call EarlyBird right away! Our certified, licensed experts will find and fix the problem fast.
Unsure if something’s wrong? Here’s everything you should know to figure it out:
What is a service mast?
A service mast is the metal pole that rises through your roof or affixes to the exterior of your home. It connects directly to your exterior meter box. Service masts protect large cables called “service entrance conductors” that transfer power from the exterior supply to your home’s power meter.
Your service mast is the place where overhead city supply wires connect to your home’s electrical system. All the power you receive flows through the service entrance conductors and into your meter. Think of this component and the conductors inside as the bridge between your home and your power supply.
How does a service mast work?
Electricity runs from overhead power lines down to your home through a collection of wires called “service drops” because of the way the wires literally drop from the overhead power lines down to your home. These service drops enter the structure at a slanted plastic cover called a weatherhead. Inside the weatherhead, the service drops connect to the service entrance conductors at the “service point.”
The entrance conductors make their way down through the mast. At the bottom, they connect with the main service panel at the meter box. If everything’s working correctly, power runs from 1. power lines to 2. service drops to 3. the weatherhead to 4. service entrance conductors at the service point to 5. the meter box main service panel. From there, power flows to your main electrical panel, where it’s distributed throughout your system.
How can I tell if something’s wrong with my service mast?
First and foremost: if you can’t get any power, check with your local supplier. If they aren’t reporting any outages, then something’s wrong with your system. It could be but isn’t necessarily your service mast. Locate your mast outside by finding your meter box and following the mast up to the roof. If the mast looks dented, disconnected, or otherwise damaged at any point, then the components inside could be damaged, too. Check the connected supply drop wires while you’re at it, but don’t get too close and don’t touch them!
What’s wrong with my service mast?
Weather, debris, and construction can all knock around different components or even seriously damage them. Here are some of the most common service mast problems EarlyBird encounters, and why they happen:
- Loose or disconnected service point connection: This could happen if a tree branch or other piece of debris falls on the service drop hard enough to yank the wires out of the service point.
- Loose or disconnected meter socket: This might happen as the result of construction, weather, or debris falling hard enough to knock the service entrance conductors off of the meter.
- Damaged service entrance conductors: If the outer components look damaged, the wires inside could become damaged, frayed, or worn down until they begin to spark or arc.
- Crooked mast or weatherhead: If something hits your mast itself, it could be dangerously damaged, even if you’re still receiving power.
- Electrical code violation: The electrical code has strict requirements pertaining to both the drops and the service mast. New construction such as adding windows, housing additions, or even porches may violate these codes and expose you to danger.
Can I repair my this damage myself?
No. We highly recommend against interacting with your service mast yourself in any capacity. Service drops transfer up to 240 volts of electricity into your system constantly. If anything inside your mast isn’t working correctly, that voltage could arc into the open and become a serious shock hazard.
What should I do if my service mast is damaged?
If you suspect your service mast is damaged, give EarlyBird a call right away. We’ll fix the problem by safely cutting off power and then finding and fixing the damaged wiring, connections, or components. Our experts safely restore functionality as efficiently and effectively as possible.
You need your service masts to function correctly in order for any part of your electrical system to work. If there’s a problem with your service mast, don’t wait! Call EarlyBird today, and we’ll make sure your electrical power gets all the way to you safely.
Service mast FAQ
What are those wires connecting to my house?
The wires that run from power lines down to your home are known as “service drops.” These drops connect to your home at the mast. The service mast transfers distributed municipal electricity to your individual home’s system. Those wires connected to your home are how your home receives power!
How Do Service Masts Get Damaged?
Service masts are usually damaged during storms. Storms can rip out the connection at the service point, disconnect the service entrance conductors from the service panel, or simply fry and mangle the wires at any point along the system. Generally, you’ll have to replace the components that storms damage.