The moment power comes back after load-shedding, a municipal outage or a storm, the supply can spike or dip. That's when fridges, TVs, computers, gate motors and alarm systems tend to fail. A few habits and the right protection prevent most of the damage.
Habits that help
- Switch off sensitive appliances (TVs, computers, sound systems, aircon units) at the wall when the power goes off, and switch them on a few minutes after it returns.
- Leave the fridge and freezer off for a few minutes after power returns, then switch them back on. Keep the doors closed during the outage.
- Unplug electronics during lightning storms. Surge protectors reduce risk but can't stop a direct strike.
Types of surge protection
| Protection | What it does |
|---|---|
| Plug-in surge protector or multiplug with surge protection | Protects whatever is plugged into it. Cheap and easy for TVs and computers |
| Surge arrester in the DB board | Protects the whole house wiring from surges coming in on the supply. Must be installed by an electrician |
| Dedicated protection for gate motors, alarms and pool pumps | These are exposed outdoors and often fail after storms. Ask about protection on their supply and data lines |
| Inverter or UPS | Keeps critical items running and isolates them from the grid while running on battery. See our inverter backup guide |
Signs of surge damage
- An appliance that won't switch on after an outage, or a burnt smell from the plug.
- Gate motor, alarm or garage door that stopped working after a storm. See gate motor not working.
- The earth leakage tripping when you switch something back on. See earth leakage keeps tripping.
Insurance tip
Many household insurance policies cover power surge damage, sometimes with limits or conditions. Keep receipts, and ask for a written report from the repairer or electrician stating that the damage was caused by a surge.
When to call an electrician
To install surge arresters in the DB board, to check whether your earthing is in good order (surge protection relies on it), or if breakers trip repeatedly after outages. See lightning and surge protection, and compare electricians in Benoni.