Extreme heat places significant stress on electrical systems. In Saudi Arabia, the load of electricity spikes during the summer months due to the pervasive use of air conditioning systems. The rise in electrical load can quickly overtax transformers, cables, circuit breakers, and distribution boards. On account of extreme temperature conditions, electrical insulation can fail, wires can overheat, equipment can malfunction, and desert dust or sandstorms can introduce additional wear on electrical equipment and the risk of short circuits. Power outages during the peak summer months are not merely an inconvenience; they have more serious outcomes as well, such as potentially shutting down critical services during emergencies, loss of business revenue, and immediate health issues due to the inability of cooling systems to function.
The safety of electrical systems and associated equipment becomes especially important during the extremely hot summer months of regions such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where a substantial rise in demand for electricity occurs during the hot months. Where temperatures often exceed 45°C, air conditioning and cooling systems will run continuously under heavy loads in order to provide comfort and meet the load on electrical systems. If electrical systems and equipment do not operate under safe conditions and regulations, the increase in demand for electricity can make electrical systems overheat, fail, short circuit, and potentially start fires. It is important to ensure safe electrical systems by maintaining, replacing, and only allowing certified or tested electrical products in accordance with safety regulations.
Additionally, electrical system safety helps to keep commercial spaces and buildings functioning properly during the extreme summer months. For commercial and industrial applications, losing electrical power can stop a business in its tracks, resulting in lost revenue and equipment damage. For residential instances, electrical system safety means less risk of accidental fires and lost cooling. Investing in electrical safety is a proactive approach that allows for increased energy efficiency, system reliability, and cost savings through the highest demand time of the year. Wafaiyah offers the best electrical maintenance services in Saudi Arabia to protect electrical systems from busts and repairs.
Causes of Electrical Failures in the Summer
- In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the extreme summer temperature is a primary factor in electrical failures.
- Once temperatures exceed the threshold of 45°C, the extreme amount of air conditioning systems and other devices that cool, place massive loads onto the electrical grid.
- This demand leads to excess heat, especially in the electrical components of cage transformers, circuit breakers, and wires. If components are kept in excess heat long enough, all of the insulation is affected, leading to potential shorts, decreasing the voltage supplied, and failure of electrical equipment.
- Dust storms that prevail in summer also contribute to electrical failures because they cause vents to become clogged, in turn reducing the efficiency of fan systems to cool electrical units that are exposed outdoors.
- Another primary reason the summer leads to electrical failures in KSA, is inadequate maintenance, and aged infrastructure. It is common observation that older buildings, or systems with aged wiring, are usually prone to overload and/or interrupted electricity.
- Inadequate maintenance leads to the issues of loose connections, corroded connectors, dirty air vents, and all will happen more speedily under the pressures of summer.
- The surplus of power in the summer can lead to other issues too, as everything from lightning strikes to outages in power supply will overload the sensitive electronics that a sensitive manufacturing environment may depend on.
- Fortunately, regular check-ups, upgrades, and maintenance may all help to prepare important electrical systems for the stress of summer, and help maintain their ultimate safety and reliability.
Solutions
Increased power demands leading to electrical failures in the summer are generally caused by increased use of cooling systems, fewer favorable temperatures for electrical components, and incidents such as thunderstorms. The most effective solution for these sources of failures is routine maintenance and inspections. Routine maintenance can be even more beneficial if you regularly check transformers, circuit breakers, panels, and wiring for signs of wear, overheating, or corrosion. The electrical system can be proactively inspected thermally for hot spots that may indicate overheating, and replacement or repair work can be scheduled.
Another good source of summertime electrical safety is to upgrade electrical systems to handle peak loads. The summertime electrical demand will be completely different than in the wintertime. It is a common passive root cause of failure simply that the electrical infrastructure was never built to handle the high summertime demands. A few key upgrades that will help improve the infrastructure resilience to summertime electrical outages include high-capacity cables, energy-efficient equipment, and surge protectors. Load management systems allowing for distributed power load management could also be used to support the avoidance of electrical component overloads further.
Lastly, utilizing backup systems and smart monitoring technologies for on-demand use when an electrical failure occurs is important. Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS), generators, and automated transfer switches could protect against an electrical outage event. Smart monitoring for energy use, energy usage of associated devices, energy net service health, and all possible issues could further help to ensure the proactive use of electrical components. With all of these techniques available both residential and commercially, users will have a further lower risk of electrical failure in hotter months, subject to electrical failures or outages.
Collaborating with Professional Electrical Services
One of the best ways to protect your systems is to engage licensed electrical contractors familiar with the challenges of Saudi heat. Professional service providers will conduct thorough audits, design systems for efficiencies, and develop reliable mechanisms to ensure skilled, code-compliant work on safety and regulatory requirements. For companies, investing in an MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) contractor experienced in Saudi’s climate is necessary. They can provide a customized preventative maintenance program that mitigates risk while maximizing uptime during the toughest months of the year. Regardless of the location (home, business, or large-scale industry), the solution to reliability is always prevention (not reaction). Don’t let the season beat you first – start putting preventative measures in place so you can ensure a safe, efficient, and failure-free summer.
Wafaiyah – Trusted Electrical Contractor for Maintenance Services in Saudi Arabia
Experiencing frequent electrical failures or scheduling electrical maintenance? Wafaiyah has covered all your electrical repair and maintenance needs. We can diagnose and repair power failures, wiring faults, shorts, tripped breakers, blown fuses, overloaded systems, and more. Our technicians can quickly perform both minor repairs and significant electrical issues. We offer scheduled maintenance, inspections, thermal scanning, panel board servicing, load testing, cable jointing, transformer maintenance, surge protection, and more. We work in large residential & commercial buildings, offices, and industrial buildings in the KSA to ensure everything is functional and safe, even in the extreme heat of summer. We are available 24/7 for emergencies and thrive in safety and quality control to protect your power when it matters most.
Conclusion
The summer heat in Saudi Arabia is avenging electrical systems. But with the right planning and professional help, most electrical failures can be avoided. Contact Wafaiyah for all fit electrical solutions and maintenance services in Saudi Arabia. Our electrical services are designed to help you prevent issues before they arise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do electrical failures happen more often in Saudi Arabia’s summer?
Extremely hot temperatures create larger loads on electrical systems, which can lead to more overheating, insulation breakdowns, and stress on the equipment, leading to electrical failures.
How can I protect my systems from getting too hot?
Ensure installation of proper ventilation, cooling systems, and sufficient shaded or temperature-controlled areas for equipment to run as cool as possible.
Is regular maintenance necessary during the summer months?
Yes, regular inspections can help identify and isolate weak points before they become costly breakdowns and loss of electricity during peak usage. Wafaiyah is the leading electrical contractor in the KSA to offer the best repair & maintenance services.
What are the signs of an overloaded electrical system?
Frequent breaker trips, dimming lights, burning smells, or hot panels could all indicate an overloaded electrical system. All require immediate repair & attention.
Can I use surge protectors to help during summer storms?
Yes, surge protectors provide security to your devices and systems against voltage fluctuations due to lightning or electrical supply changes.