3 Types of Electrical Conduit Weatherheads

There are many different types of electrical conduit weatherheads which are suitable for different purposes. The idea of electrical conduit weatherheads is to waterproof your system and to protect it from water damage. Understanding the different types of electrical conduit weatherheads should make it much easier to weatherproof your property and prevent any damage caused by rain water entering electrical conduits.

The right electrical conduit weatherhead is required to ensure that the electrical system in your home isn't exposed to the weather, specifically rain.

Other Names for Weatherheads

There are actually a number of different names for weatherheads all of which are basically the same thing. Weatherheads are also known as service entrance caps and weather caps, these are designed as a waterproof entry point to allow maintenance to wiring entering a building. These are used on both industrial and residential buildings and are used to drop cable down from the roof into the property. Weatherheads are important for use with electrical and telephone cables when they are coming from above.

The weather head itself is the watertight cap which seals the top of the conduit. This uses a rubberized seal to seal against the wires and to prevent water from getting inside. The wires overhead will also have a drip loop to prevent water tracking down the cable and into the conduit.

The angle of the cap is pointing down towards the ground. This is important because it helps to assist with the surface water runoff. Most building and electrical codes require the use of weather heads and they are also a common fixture on telephone and utility poles.

1. Different Sizes

There are various different sizes of weatherhead depending on the size of the electrical conduit being used to carry the wires down from your roof. It's important that the weather head is the correct size for the conduit to prevent water from getting inside. If it's too large or too small then this could potentially cause problems.

2. Telephone and Electrical

Telephone and electrical conduit weatherheads work in pretty much the same way. However, telephone conduits are often much smaller due to the smaller cable used.

3. Materials

Weatherheads are also available in a wide range of different materials. It's important to choose the right conduit for the job. This will normally be made from the same material as the conduit it is being fitted to. This will ensure a snug fit which will protect your home.

Getting Advice

If you're not sure about the type of weatherhead required then you can always ask in your local home hardware store for advice. These are normally installed as part of the utility companies installation which means that you shouldn't actually need to replace on yourself unless it has become damaged or broken.