Why Surge Protection Is Important for Your Brisbane Home

The hidden risk

Power Surges Are More Common Than You Think

Brisbane storm season is upon us again, and many homes are affected every year. The damage a storm can cause is unpredictable and, in some cases, devastating. One very common problem is the power surge. Have you had a power surge in your home? Have expensive appliances been fried because of it? Even if your appliances survived, they may still have suffered some hidden damage that shortens their working life.

Did you know you can easily protect your appliances and your home from surges, starting right at your switchboard?

Power surges can trigger your circuit breakers and shut off the electricity to your home. Most households will experience power surges at some point, with multiple small ones happening every day. The most common, and often the most damaging, surges happen during our Brisbane summer storms.

The basics

What Actually Causes a Power Surge?

A power surge occurs when there's an unexpected interruption to the flow of electricity that then starts again, or when a device that's supposed to draw electricity from the grid puts it back into the system instead – for example during a Brisbane storm, or when an overseas appliance is used in an Australian outlet without adequate protection. Power surges aren't predictable, and have multiple causes including, but not limited to, storms, faulty devices, sudden changes in voltage on a circuit, and supply faults from your electricity provider.

Power surges are sudden and quick – a rapid increase in power that can cause real damage to your electrical appliances. Larger power surges can instantly cause severe damage to a power circuit, resulting in complete loss of appliances and even melted plastic or metal components. Smaller, more frequent surges will cause your devices to degrade over time without you realising why. In very rare cases, surges can lead to house fires.

The most common causes of power surges include:

• Bad, faulty and old, outdated wiring or switchboards – these are the cause of most power surges, can be extremely dangerous, and can lead to fires and electrical shocks. It's important to have an electrician inspect and replace any damaged wiring.
• Small power surges that happen in your home multiple times a day, usually originating from high-powered devices being turned on and off – most commonly air conditioners, fridges and heating devices. These small surges often go undetected but can damage your appliances over a long period.
• Tripped and damaged circuit breakers, which can become a risk over time if they aren't properly maintained and replaced when required.
• Fallen power lines, damaged mains and lightning strikes.
• Tree limbs touching power lines. If there are trees on your nature strip at risk of damaging lines, take a photo and send it to your local council so they can remove or trim them.
• Animals getting inside the walls of your home, the roof, or electrical equipment such as transformers, causing power surges.
• The restoration of power after a blackout, as power comes back into all your appliances at once. It's a good idea to turn off and unplug your devices during a blackout, then plug them back in gradually once power is restored.

What's at risk

What Needs Protecting in Your Home?

Some of the main culprits that are vulnerable to power surges, and that benefit most from protection, include:

• Computers, servers and any data carriers
• Televisions and large entertainment systems – like media rooms
• Speakers, stereos and gaming consoles
• Big kitchen appliances – fridges, dishwashers, ovens and stovetops
• Washing machines and dryers
• Light fittings
• Wi-Fi, internet and phone modems
• Vacuum cleaners
• Air conditioners

What to expect

The Surge Protection Installation Process

When you have surge protection installed, our process typically covers:

• Assessing the need for surge protection in your home
• Inspecting your electrical devices
• Inspecting your switchboard and wiring, to make sure it's up to date and of adequate size to cope with the amount of electrical equipment in your home
• Checking and servicing any existing devices, such as safety switches
• Discussing your surge protection options and professionally installing your chosen upgrades