Whenever you plug a device or appliance into an electrical wall socket it is given access to electricity. Ideally your home will be set up across reliable circuit boards to give every power plug consistent energy flow, but this isn’t always the case.

Sometimes the flow of electricity is interrupted, added to or rapidly changes direction which sends a sudden jolt of extra electricity through to one, or even multiple devices. These occurrences are known as power surges. Power surges can be small, triggered by something minor within your home, or large, triggered by an external force outside your home. 

Even a small boost in voltage can overload your device’s microprocessor and produce a spike of heat. Over time this creates electronic rust, causing your device to wear out faster. Large power surges from outside your home cause instant and permanent damage to everything plugged in inside your home from extreme electrical heat.

What Causes Power Surges?

Just about any device can cause a power surge under the right circumstances. 

Small surges can be triggered from an extra five or ten volts when you turn on a space heater or hair dryer. These small occurrences may take place in your home ten to a hundred times a day. 

If you have older home wiring, switchboards that can’t meet your power demands or overloaded circuits (even if it’s just in one room) you will be more susceptible to power surges.

In most cases small surges are caused by thermostat-powered devices that frequently turn on and off while they are operating, such as air-con, heating and refrigerators. 

Another potential power surge risk follows after a blackout. If your power is turned off, there are grid works or power failure, power surges can occur when electricity is restored to your home. All your plugged in devices will be demanding electricity simultaneously, which might not be delivered in a safe or consistent flow.

External power supply surges can be caused by compromised powerlines (i.e tree branches falling across the lines), storms, small animals getting into transformers as well as lightning strikes where thousands of volts can surge into your home in a matter of milliseconds.

What Are the Signs of Power Surges?

Small power surges will likely go unnoticed as they only last a moment and there are no outward signs. To protect against smaller surges, get your switchboard, home wiring and electrical circuits checked by a professional.

Chances are you will notice bigger surges, however, you might just ignore them as they don’t seem significant or important. If you notice any of the following signs, especially if they are occurring regularly, it’s important that you get in touch with a qualified electrician. 

• Frequent blown fuses
• Tripped circuit breakers
• Smells, like acid or burning around a power source or plug
• A device has turned itself off
• Lights dim slightly before coming back to full strength
• Device clock has reset or lights are flashing (i.e. microwave)
• You can’t get a device to turn on
• Surge protector board (power strip) needs to be reset

Protection and Prevention

Protecting your home against power surges is easy and inexpensive. Power surge protection (also known as surge suppressors and surge diverters) come in a wide range of applications that can be flexible to use around your home.

As well as adding surge protectors you can help prevent issues by unplugging devices when not in use. If you experience a power failure, turn off electronics at the wall and turn them on slowly one by one when power is restored.

Getting the right setup through a qualified electrician can help your insurance claim if needed – always check with your insurance provider to know the details.

A local, qualified electrician is the best person to ask for help and advice on large and small power surge prevention and prevention methods. Ask your electrician to check your home wiring to identify surge issues, fire risk and electrocution hazards to help make your home safe and electronics safe.