Trees that grow close to electricity lines (even if they aren’t very tall) pose a risk to you and your entire neighbourhood. A tree may appear to be too short to be a problem now, but its branches can come dangerously close to power lines over time. If they come into contact, there might be a blackout, a power outage, or even a fire.
There is a basic rule: electrical wires and trees should not be too close together. So, if a tree in your yard becomes too large, it’s time to clear it. To ensure that the work is done safely and following all rules and specifications, you should always engage a competent tree clearance company.
What is Power Line Tree Clearing?
Pruning trees in close proximity to power lines is essential to ensuring the reliable and secure delivery of electricity to residential areas. Large and tall trees that are located near power lines can easily cause power outages and surges. For this reason, power lines and other energy structures must always be clean of branches and tree leaves that are either in contact with power lines or are located close to power lines.
However, regular pruning helps save lives, which is the most important benefit, since trees that grow near power lines may have a direct influence on the safety of the general public. The removal of power line trees in a timely and proper manner safeguards against falling cables and electrical fires, both of which are harmful not only to public safety but also to healthy trees in the surrounding area, since they have the potential to hurt or kill the trees.
Why Hire Professional for Tree Clearance from Power Lines
If you prune your trees in the right way and at the right time, you may save yourself a lot of trouble in the future and prevent having to remove trees, which will ensure protection against structural issues and possible tree diseases.
However, especially in the case of older trees, it is essential to have a professional tree clearing arborist examine the trees on your property regularly to determine whether or not they pose a threat to people, the property itself, or power lines. In addition to getting a letter from an electrical company requiring the removal of a tree, there are other signals that your trees may require a professional assessment and maybe even maintenance done on them, such as:
- Limbs that have died
- Splits, cracks, and cavities
- Wood rot along the trunk
- Cankers and sunken bars are examples of sickness or wound signs.
- Growing fungi or mushrooms around the base
- Root damage, as well as a mound of earth, raised around a tree
- Leaves that fall at the wrong time of year
- Trees that are dangerously leaning to one side
Regular Check-ups
The distance between the tree branches and the electricity lines should be 1.5 metres, and the area above them should always be clear, according to the rules. However, when it comes to tree clearance, the distance that ensures safe and reliable power distribution to households is not always the same: in areas with high fire risk, the distance increases from 1.5 to 2 metres, and in residential areas, the distance increases by an additional metre for higher voltage powerlines. Additionally, some extra clearing space is recommended to allow for regrowth.
Trees should be pruned every 2 to 5 years to keep the power clean of branches and enable uninterrupted energy delivery. In rare circumstances, however, it may be necessary to chop down a tree to ensure secure energy distribution.
What Should You Do If You Need to Clear Power Lines?
If you need to remove a tree on your property, you are legally allowed to do so as long as the limbs do not fall too near to a power line.
Apart from the numerous hazards of working with electricity, there are other dangers from power line removal tree trimming that you should be aware of if you decide to do it yourself, including the chance of injury from falling or from the branches, as well as injuring the tree.
The safest option is to seek expert assistance. Tree surgeons, also known as arborists, are specialists that concentrate on the health and safety of plants and trees. They are the people to contact if you need a tree removed.
However, in certain cases, this is the only choice since only tree surgeons are permitted to operate near powerlines, and they may arrange for the power to be turned off on your behalf if working while the circuit is “active” is unsafe
One of the most important reasons to hire experienced and trained professionals is that, unlike you, arborists who climb are trained to use a variety of cutting equipment as well as ascending into the tree to ensure safety: climbing rope systems, pole saws, lift platforms, and other clearing machinery…
Aside from safety, this is a smart concept since tree surgeons would ensure that there is enough room for tree regeneration for up to three years following the clearance. Furthermore, reputable tree care businesses that are certified to remove electrical lines might clean up the branches.
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