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SunEarthMoonYou t1_j1jpxkk wrote

What part of town? Sounds like it could be a “Brown out” situation

6

RulerOfTheRest t1_j1jreul wrote

I had a problem like that where one of my legs (wires) was dropping down to around 70 volts instead of 120. Turned out that the meter socket had gone bad and had a poor connection, and it was a contributing factor in killing my heat pump. I had an electrician buddy pull the permits, have the power company disconnect service line at the transformer located at the telephone pole, he installed the new meter box, and then had everything turned back on. After that I replaced the heat pump since it was well past its lifespan. For his work, it just cost me my time to help him rebuild a motor.

The first step is you should call Dominion, they are responsible for the step-down transformer at the pole and line going into your meter box, and if you're lucky the problem will be on their end. If it's your meter socket, or breaker panel, you're going to need an electrician. Be warned though: HVAC equipment is very sensitive with low voltage and can be damaged when attempting to run with it. And most of the other electronics, like TV's and computers don't like low voltage either.

Good luck...

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LostDefectivePearl t1_j1jto5m wrote

I am not an expert by any means but my house has crappy wiring and I super recommend you don’t use the microwave for a bit

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ohnogangsters t1_j1jtyaw wrote

not in the area, but i would definitely unplug your expensive electronics if you're having a brown-out. stay warm!

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10698 t1_j1jvuq4 wrote

Unplug anything you care about and call Dominion. Throw the breakers for your HVAC and any electric water heater to prevent potentially significant damage.

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predicktable_x t1_j1jw3m4 wrote

Call Dominion - they should send someone over asap. That could be a dangerous situation.

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femanonette t1_j1jwx8v wrote

Dominion did send out an email that they're seeing a demand on the grid and to use as minimal power as you possibly can.

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TheFakePlissken t1_j1jz1dj wrote

I did see a few power trucks working in Highland Park Southern Tip while walking my dog earlier. Around 3:00. Maybe related, maybe not.

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blancamystiere t1_j1k1z68 wrote

The most logical answer is obviously a haunting, this time of year typically it’s important to keep an eye out for ghosts trying to peddle either a “Christmas past” or “Christmas future” sort of agenda.

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shes_the_won t1_j1kgg8n wrote

I had a similar problem and it turned out to be a Dominion issue specific to my house. Apparently the ground wire between the outdoor pole and my house was bad. They replaced it and it eliminated the inconsistent power supply problem

0

lemonartichoke t1_j1kpnhe wrote

We’re in highland park and noticed the same thing with our lights

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Charlesinrichmond t1_j1kr67q wrote

Probably you. Check up on it this could be very bad. I'm guessing from the question you aren't experienced with a meter so you should probably call an electrician

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amullen17 t1_j1nhr6j wrote

Replying to Vapid_Ingenue (#1,052,579)

220V is incorrect. The power company provides two hot ‘legs’ or wires (both 120V) and a neutral for a standard residential service. These two combine to make 240V. Your large appliances such as dryer, HVAC, and stove all run off of 240V. 220 volts is simply not enough voltage to run these appliances. So no, 220V is not correct.

Source: I work in the industry.

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the_faded_memories t1_j1nx7l3 wrote

Happened at our house couple years ago. Bad leg. Dominion wired up a temporary fix and came back a week or so later to trench a new line from the junction box nearby.

Definitely get someone to look at it and check voltages, partial power can cause a lot more issues than just a straight loss of power.

2