A storm can leave more than a few branches in the yard. If you see a cable hanging low between the utility pole and your house, a bent pipe above the meter, or a damaged cap where wires enter the home, you may be looking at part of your electrical service. What is a weatherhead and service drop? They are key pieces of an overhead electrical connection that bring utility power safely from the pole to your home.

For homeowners, these parts are easy to overlook because they sit high on the exterior of the house. But when something is loose, damaged, or too close to a tree, it can become a serious safety concern. Knowing what each component does makes it easier to recognize when to stay clear, call the utility, or schedule a licensed electrician.

What Is a Weatherhead and Service Drop?

A service drop is the set of overhead utility wires that runs from the power pole to your home. In most neighborhoods with overhead electrical service, it is the visible cable span above the yard or driveway. It carries electricity from the utility’s distribution system to the point where the home’s electrical service begins.

A weatherhead, sometimes called a service head, is the hood-shaped fitting at the top of the vertical conduit or service mast on your home. The utility wires connect near this location, and the home’s service entrance conductors pass through the weatherhead and down toward the electric meter and main electrical panel.

The weatherhead faces downward for a practical reason: it helps keep rain from traveling into the conduit. The wires beneath it are also arranged in loops, called drip loops, so water drips off the conductors rather than following them into the electrical equipment.

These components work together. The service drop delivers power across the air, while the weatherhead helps protect the point where your home’s wiring enters the building.

Where the Utility’s Responsibility Ends

One confusing part of an overhead electrical problem is determining who should make the repair. The exact division of responsibility can vary by utility company, local requirements, and where the damage occurred.

Generally, the utility is responsible for the service drop and the connections on its side of the service point. The homeowner is commonly responsible for the service mast, weatherhead, meter equipment, and wiring on the house side. If a tree limb damages the mast or pulls it away from the home, an electrician may need to repair that equipment before the utility can reconnect power.

That division matters after storm damage. Calling the utility is the right first step if a line is down, sparking, or visibly unsafe. If the utility finds that the home’s weatherhead, mast, or meter equipment is damaged, a qualified electrician can make the necessary repair and coordinate the next steps for restoration.

Do not assume a wire is safe because the power is out inside the house. A damaged service drop may still be energized, and it should always be treated as dangerous.

Why the Weatherhead Matters

The weatherhead is small compared with an electrical panel, generator, or EV charger, but it has an important job. Water and electrical equipment do not mix. When water enters a service mast or conduit, it can contribute to corrosion, damaged insulation, connection problems, and failures at the meter or panel.

The weatherhead also provides a protected path for the service entrance conductors. If it cracks, comes loose, or is installed incorrectly, the wiring may be exposed to moisture and physical strain. In some cases, the service mast itself can bend or pull away from the house under the weight of ice, wind, or a falling limb.

Older homes throughout Baltimore and the Mid-Atlantic often have electrical service equipment that has been in place for decades. Age alone does not always mean the weatherhead needs replacement. However, corrosion, loose hardware, deteriorated conduit, or repeated moisture issues are reasons to have the installation inspected.

Common Problems Homeowners Can Spot

You should never touch the service drop, weatherhead, or service mast. You can, however, look from a safe distance and pay attention to changes around the exterior service equipment.

Call for professional help if you notice any of these conditions:

• A service wire is hanging unusually low, sagging, or pulled toward the roof, fence, or tree.
• The weatherhead is cracked, missing, tilted, or separated from the conduit.
• The metal service mast is bent, rusted through, or pulling away from the home.
• You see sparking, smoke, burning odor, damaged insulation, or an electrical arc after wind or tree damage.
• The meter base, conduit, or siding around the service equipment appears loose or damaged.

A service drop may naturally have some sag. Its required height and clearance depend on where it crosses, such as a yard, driveway, street, or roof area. That is why homeowners should not try to judge safety by pulling a wire higher or attaching it to a structure. Clearance issues must be evaluated against applicable utility requirements and electrical codes.

What to Do After Storm or Tree Damage

If a wire is on the ground, touching a vehicle, lying across a fence, or sparking, keep everyone away. Move people and pets back, do not touch nearby metal objects, and contact the utility or emergency services as appropriate. A downed power line is an emergency, even if it appears inactive.

If a branch is resting on a service drop but there is no immediate danger, do not attempt to remove it yourself. Cutting or moving a branch can shift the wire, damage the connection, or create a path for electricity through a ladder, tool, or wet ground. Report the issue to the utility and arrange an electrical assessment if the equipment on your home has been strained.

If the mast or weatherhead is damaged, repair often involves more than replacing one visible part. An electrician may need to evaluate the conduit, service entrance conductors, meter equipment, grounding and bonding, attachment point, and panel condition. The work may also require a permit, inspection, and utility coordination before power can be restored.

When a Service Upgrade Is the Better Fix

Sometimes weatherhead damage reveals a larger issue. A home with a small, outdated electrical service may not have enough capacity for modern needs such as a Level 2 EV charger, central air equipment, a hot tub, an induction range, or an expanded finished basement.

If your service mast and weatherhead need substantial work anyway, it can be a sensible time to ask whether a panel or service upgrade is warranted. That does not mean every repair should become a major project. If the existing service has adequate capacity and the equipment is otherwise safe, a targeted repair may be the right answer.

The decision depends on the age and condition of the equipment, the home’s electrical load, planned upgrades, local code requirements, and the utility’s service requirements. A thorough inspection should provide clear options rather than pressure to replace equipment that still performs safely.

Why This Is Not a DIY Repair

Work near a weatherhead or service drop involves conductors that can carry high voltage and high fault current. Turning off the main breaker inside the home does not necessarily de-energize the service wires outside. The equipment ahead of the main disconnect may remain live.

There are also structural and code considerations. The mast must be properly supported, the wires need correct connections and weather protection, and the service drop must maintain required clearances. A repair that looks simple from the ground can require utility disconnects, permits, inspections, and carefully coordinated reconnection.

A licensed electrician can identify whether the concern belongs to the utility, the homeowner, or both. At Stella Electric, our trained professionals can assess damaged service equipment, explain the repair in plain language, and help homeowners move toward a safe, code-conscious solution without guesswork.

If your home’s overhead service looks different after a storm, renovation, or tree-trimming project, trust that instinct. Staying clear and getting the right professional involved early can prevent a small exterior issue from becoming a dangerous interruption to your home’s power.