Everything you need to know about home power surges

With storm season almost here, homeowners should be more aware of the power surges that are likely to happen. But what exactly is a power surge, and what triggers it? How can it affect you and your home? Find the answers to these questions in this week’s electrical blog post.

What is a power surge?

Generally, power surges occur when there is a boost to the overall electrical charge in the power lines. Technically, this phenomenon increases the electrical potential energy, causing excessive power to be discharged from the wall socket into appliances.

Furthermore, the spike in electrical current only last fractions of second but can reach thousands of Volts. And this is when it becomes a real danger for your electrical appliances.

Interested to find out more about how a power surge can affect your household? Call us at 1300 452 742 and talk to the experts today!

What are the most common causes of power surges?

Lightning strikes

First and foremost, power surges are very likely to happen during a thunderstorm. Why? Because lightning touching down your power line or near can lead to an extra spike in electrical voltage of millions of volts. Without any type of protection, electrical appliances do not stand a chance against a power surge caused by severe storms.

High powered electrical devices

Another common cause of power surges is the operation of high powered pieces of equipment like elevators, air conditioners or refrigerators. Typically, these devices require a lot of energy to switch on and turn off components like compressors and motors.

Whilst this type of surges can’t compare to the intensity of lightning strikes, they are severe enough to upset the steady voltage flow in the electrical system. When this happens, you should notice the lights flickering or blinking on and off in your house.

Bad or exposed wiring

In the same way, exposed wiring may result in a power surge over time. If the wires are not properly secured, rats, mice and other rodents could chew on them and gradually destroy the whole wiring system. This way, the electricity will no longer have a constant flow, ultimately causing a power surge.

When this thing happens, you may even smell smoke as the wires can melt or burn. Since DIY electrical work is far too dangerous in this situation, you should call in your local Jaric electrician to take care of the problem ASAP.

Power outages

Have you ever noticed how bright the lights are after a blackout? Basically, a massive burst of energy restores the power, which flows back into all appliances at once. Under those circumstances, you may experience a power surge unless you turn off your electrical devices during the blackout.

Tripped safety switch or circuit breaker

Whether it’s a fuse, circuit breaker or RCD, they all play a very important role in the whole electrical process. Typically, a safety switch tripping means it’s doing its job properly and protects you from a power surge. But if it’s damaged in the process, it can become a high risk down the track.

How can a power surge affect your home?

In most of the cases, power surges can cause damage to your electrical appliances. In fact, a severe power surge may instantly ‘kill’ an electrical device. On the other hand, if occurring repeatedly, it can damage the quality of the electrical equipment over time.

In rare cases, power surges lead to unfortunate events such as electrical fires, which can possibly destroy the entire home. That is why we recommend you to recognize the warning signs of a power surge so that you, your family and your assets are safe at all times.

Talk to our experienced local electricians about power surges

Call Jaric Electrical at 1300 452 742 and get 100% worry-free services today.