A Hidden Danger in Your Home
Most homes in Plymouth will experience a power surge at some point — but many people don’t realise just how much damage they can cause. Whether it’s your TV, broadband router, fridge or washing machine, a surge can silently destroy your electronics, or even start a fire in extreme cases.
So, what causes them, how can you spot the signs, and what can you do to protect your home?
What is a Power Surge?
A power surge is a sudden spike in voltage in your home’s electrical system. It usually lasts less than a thousandth of a second, but that’s more than enough time to fry circuit boards or degrade your appliances over time.
In the UK, we run on 230V at 50Hz, but during a surge, the voltage can briefly rise to hundreds or even thousands of volts — and your equipment isn’t built to handle that.
Surges can happen when something interrupts the normal flow of electricity, or when power is unexpectedly fed back into the system — for example, from faulty appliances or after a power cut.
What Causes Power Surges?
There are quite a few possible triggers, some of which are in your control:
🔌 High-powered appliances
Fridges, heaters, air conditioners, and even washing machines can cause small surges when their motors switch on or off. These can affect nearby electronics if the system isn’t protected.
⚠️ Damaged or tripped circuit breakers
Circuit breakers and RCDs are designed to protect you, but if they’ve been damaged or worn, they might not do their job properly next time.
🪛 Faulty wiring
Poorly installed or old wiring increases the chance of a surge and often goes unnoticed until there’s a problem. If you suspect bad wiring, get it checked by a qualified electrician.
🌳 Trees touching overhead lines
Branches swaying in the wind, growing too close, or falling onto lines during bad weather can send a surge down into your property. If you see risky trees near lines, report them to your local council.
🐿️ Animals in transformers
Squirrels, birds, or even rodents getting into outdoor electrical gear can short-circuit equipment and cause major surges — often resulting in both power cuts and fried devices.
⚡ Lightning strikes
Less common, but a real risk, especially in rural or exposed properties. Lightning doesn’t need to strike your house directly — it can hit nearby lines and send a surge into your property. Surge protection is a must in these situations.
🔁 Power returning after a blackout
When power is restored, everything turns on at once. That inrush can spike voltage, especially if delicate devices are left plugged in. Best practice is to unplug non-essential gear during a blackout and plug them in again after power returns.
What’s at Risk?
Just about anything that uses a circuit board:
TVs and games consoles
Broadband routers and smart home devices
Fridges, washing machines, dishwashers
Phone chargers and computers
Security systems, alarms, CCTV
A big surge can destroy them instantly. Smaller, repeated surges can wear them down slowly, causing weird behaviour or shortened lifespan. In worst cases, they can overheat and cause fires.
Signs of a Power Surge
Surges happen in a flash, but they often leave clues:
Circuit breakers or RCDs tripping without reason
Devices turning off or resetting randomly
Burnt smells or discolouration around plugs or sockets
Chargers or appliances suddenly stop working
Flickering lights or buzzing from sockets
If you’re seeing any of these, it’s worth getting your system checked.
How to Protect Your Home from Power Surges
There are simple, affordable ways to safeguard your home:
✅ Whole-home surge protection
A Surge Protection Device (SPD) fitted in your consumer unit is the best protection. It protects the entire property from external surges like lightning or supply issues.
✅ Surge-protected extension leads
Use these for your sensitive or high-value electronics like TVs, routers, PCs and consoles. Avoid cheap unbranded ones — they often don’t do much at all.
✅ Unplug during storms or power cuts
If you know a storm’s coming or you’ve lost power, unplug non-essential equipment to avoid surges when power returns.
✅ Check and maintain your wiring
If your home’s more than 20 years old and hasn’t been tested recently, an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is worth doing.
Need Help Protecting Your Home?
If you’re in Plymouth and want peace of mind that your home or business is properly protected, I can help. From consumer unit upgrades with SPD protection to full wiring inspections, I offer honest, practical advice and reliable installs.
👉 Call today on 01752548766 or click here to request a quote