Electrical Troubleshooting and Repair in Potomac Mills, VA

Utility outage or a problem in your house?

Start with a quick check. Look out the window and at the panel. If the whole house is dark and the neighbors are too, it is almost always the utility. If the lights are on next door, or only part of your home is out, the problem is likely on your side of the meter.

Potomac Mills has a twist: two power companies. On the federal territory map, most homes are Dominion Energy and the stores around the mall and Smoketown Station are NOVEC. Near the line, a lit shopping center does not prove your block has power. Your own bill tells you which company to call.

The county's power outage page lists Dominion at 1-866-366-4357 and NOVEC at 703-335-0500. Dominion also has an outage center, and NOVEC has a storm center. Report it yourself. The county says never assume a neighbor has.

Common problems by home age in Potomac Mills

Most homes here were built in the 1980s and 1990s, with a median of 1988 (Census ACS). In these homes we often trace dead outlets to a tripped GFCI in another room, a garage or a bathroom. Breakers that are 30 or more years old can also wear and trip at loads they used to carry.

About 73% of homes here heat with electricity. On a cold morning, a heat pump's backup heat strips draw a heavy load. A breaker that trips only in winter, or lights that dim when the heat kicks on, point to a circuit or panel worth testing.

About 18% of homes went up in the 1960s and 1970s. The CPSC says homes wired from about 1965 to 1973 may have aluminum branch wiring, where loose connections can overheat. Warm cover plates, a burning smell, or flickering in one room are reasons to call us and stop using that circuit.

After a storm: what to check before you call

Storms hit this area hard. On May 26, 2021, an 82 mph gust was clocked on the Occoquan River, and Dominion counted more than 400 customers out in the Woodbridge area (Potomac Local).

When power comes back, walk the house. If one half of the home has power and the other half is dim or dead, you may have lost one leg of the service. That can be a utility line or a problem at your meter or panel. Call the utility first, then us. Stay away from any wire that is down.