Electricity keeps our homes running, but it can also create serious problems when it becomes unstable. A power surge happens in a split second, yet it can silently weaken or destroy the appliances we depend on every day. Understanding how this damage happens and what we can do to prevent it helps protect our investment and keeps our household safe.
What Causes a Power Surge
A power surge is a sudden increase in voltage flowing through your home’s electrical system. While homes in Glendale are designed to handle normal fluctuations, a large surge pushes electricity far beyond what your appliances can manage.
Surges can occur after lightning strikes, power outages, grid switching, or even when large appliances like air conditioners turn on and off. The most surprising cause comes from within the house itself. Everyday devices such as refrigerators and dryers draw heavy current when starting up, creating small internal surges that wear down sensitive electronics over time.
How Power Surges Damage Appliances
Electrical devices rely on consistent voltage. When that balance breaks, excess current generates heat in circuits, wires, and internal components. Sensitive parts like microchips, control boards, and capacitors can melt, short, or lose calibration instantly.
Sometimes, the damage is invisible at first. Your refrigerator may keep running but lose temperature accuracy. The washing machine might start showing error codes or stop mid-cycle. Over weeks or months, that initial surge damage spreads, eventually leading to complete failure.
This slow deterioration makes it difficult to connect the dots between a past power surge and today’s malfunction. That is one reason many homeowners in Glendale call for appliance repair in Glendale without realizing a surge was the original cause.
Common Appliances Affected by Power Surges
Different appliances respond differently to voltage spikes, but all can suffer damage.
Refrigerators are especially vulnerable because they run continuously and use compressors controlled by delicate circuit boards. A surge can burn out these boards or cause sensors to malfunction.
Ovens, microwaves, and dishwashers now include digital displays and smart controls that react poorly to sudden voltage changes. Even minor surges can scramble programming or blow internal fuses.
Washing machines and dryers have motors that pull significant power during start-up. Surges may overload their control panels or disrupt the timer systems that regulate water cycles and drying times.
Televisions, gaming systems, and other entertainment electronics are also at high risk. Their advanced components rely on stable voltage, and even a brief spike can cause immediate failure.
The Hidden Cost of Repeated Small Surges
Large surges from lightning or power grid events are rare. The real threat comes from the small, repetitive surges that happen daily. Each surge takes a little life out of your appliances. Over time, wires corrode, sensors lose accuracy, and insulation breaks down.
These micro-surges are almost invisible but add up. Think of them as electrical wear and tear. After months or years, you start noticing flickering lights, tripped breakers, or appliances running less efficiently.
Surge protectors can reduce this impact, but not all protectors are created equal. Cheap plug-in versions only help against small spikes. For broader protection, it helps to install a whole-home surge suppressor at the electrical panel. This limits how much voltage enters the system in the first place.
Signs Your Appliances May Have Suffered from a Power Surge
Some signs of surge damage are immediate. The appliance stops turning on, smells burnt, or displays a flashing error code. Other symptoms take time to appear.
If your refrigerator stops cooling evenly, if your oven’s temperature fluctuates, or if your washing machine resets randomly, the root cause might be surge-related circuit damage. Even if the appliance still operates, weakened parts make it more likely to fail during the next spike.
In these cases, the best option is to have a technician inspect the appliance. Internal tests can identify burnt wiring, damaged fuses, or failing circuit boards before the damage spreads to other components.
How to Protect Your Home Appliances
We cannot stop every power surge, but we can take steps to reduce the risk.
Unplug small electronics like toasters, kettles, or TVs when storms approach. Use surge protectors with built-in circuit breakers for computers and entertainment centers. If possible, install a surge suppressor directly at the main electrical panel for whole-home coverage.
It also helps to keep your home wiring in good condition. Loose or corroded connections increase resistance and heat, which amplify the effects of surges. Regular electrical inspections catch these issues early.
If you experience frequent tripped breakers or flickering lights, it might indicate voltage fluctuations that could harm your appliances. In such cases, professional inspection can prevent future failures.
Why Professional Repair Matters After a Surge
When an appliance stops working after a storm or power event, replacing it may seem easier. But professional repair can often save money and extend the life of the equipment.
Technicians can test each internal part, identify which components failed, and determine whether the damage is isolated or widespread. Repairing a control board or wiring harness costs less than buying a new appliance and prevents electrical issues from returning.
A trained technician can also check for hidden surge effects that you may not notice yet. Addressing those early reduces the risk of further failures and protects other appliances sharing the same circuit.
The Role of Preventive Maintenance
Power surge protection is not only about hardware. Regular maintenance keeps appliances resilient to minor voltage fluctuations. Cleaning lint filters, clearing dust from vents, and ensuring proper grounding all contribute to stability.
For example, refrigerators with dusty coils overheat faster after a surge. Washing machines with poor drainage strain their motors. When an appliance is already under stress, even a small power surge can push it past its limit.
Maintaining a stable power environment and keeping machines clean work together to prevent failures.
What to Do After a Power Surge
After a power outage or storm, take a few minutes to check your appliances. If something smells burnt or stops responding, unplug it immediately. Do not attempt to reset or restart it until it has been checked.
Inspect your surge protectors. If their indicator lights are off or blinking, they may have sacrificed themselves to absorb the excess voltage and now need replacement.
Once you have ensured safety, restore power gradually. Plug in one appliance at a time rather than switching everything on at once. This reduces stress on your circuits.
If an appliance fails to restart, schedule professional inspection rather than guessing what went wrong. Getting a timely contact us appointment can prevent further damage and make the repair process smoother.
How Insurance and Warranties Handle Surge Damage
Many homeowners assume surge damage is always covered by insurance, but that is not always true. Some policies classify surges differently depending on the cause. Lightning-related surges might be covered, while internal ones caused by home wiring may not.
Extended appliance warranties often exclude electrical surges, treating them as external events. Reviewing your coverage before an incident helps avoid frustration later.
For valuable appliances, it may be worth purchasing an additional protection plan that includes electrical surge coverage. This is especially relevant in regions like Glendale, where summer storms can strike suddenly.
Surge Protection for Smart Homes
As homes grow smarter, they also become more sensitive to electrical disturbances. Smart thermostats, connected ovens, and Wi-Fi-enabled washers rely on digital components that do not tolerate sudden spikes.
These systems are also linked through central hubs or apps, meaning a single surge can damage multiple devices at once. Installing whole-home surge protection and ensuring that routers and control panels are on quality surge strips can prevent cascading failures.
Even simple actions, such as keeping firmware updated and ensuring devices have proper grounding, improve resilience.
Why Ignoring Small Issues Leads to Bigger Problems
Many homeowners overlook flickering lights, faint buzzing from outlets, or minor appliance malfunctions. Yet these are often early warnings that the electrical system is struggling to regulate voltage.
Ignoring them allows damage to spread beyond a single appliance. Overheated wiring can affect nearby devices, shorten circuit breaker life, and even create fire risks.
Taking these small signs seriously not only saves money but also keeps your home safer. A quick inspection today can prevent major breakdowns tomorrow.
When It Is Time to Replace Rather Than Repair
Not every surge-damaged appliance can be saved. If multiple components are burnt or the cost of repair approaches half the price of a new unit, replacement makes more sense.
Older appliances without surge protection features also consume more energy, adding long-term cost. Replacing them with models that include built-in voltage regulation can improve both efficiency and durability.
Still, professional assessment helps make that decision with confidence. Knowing exactly what failed and why provides peace of mind before investing in a replacement.
FAQ
What should I do immediately after a power surge?
Unplug your appliances, check for burning smells or tripped breakers, and reset them only once the power stabilizes. If anything stops working, call a technician to inspect it before using it again.
Can a small surge really damage my refrigerator?
Yes. Even minor surges can weaken compressor relays and control boards over time. The damage might not be visible right away but can lead to early failure.
Do surge protectors stop all power surges?
They help but cannot guarantee complete protection. High-intensity surges, such as from lightning, can exceed their capacity. Whole-home surge suppressors offer better defense.
Is it safe to reset an appliance after a surge?
Only if it shows no sign of burning, noise, or unusual behavior. If it still trips the breaker or flashes error codes, it needs professional inspection.
Can power surges cause long-term electrical issues in my home?
Yes. Repeated surges can weaken wiring insulation and outlet connections, eventually increasing the risk of fires or further damage to appliances.