Power Outages and Surges: Protecting Your Appliances This Storm Season

Fall in southwestern Ontario brings wind storms and heavy rain. Branches come down on lines, and the power cuts out across Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge more often than anyone would like.

The outage itself is rarely what damages an appliance. The trouble usually comes from the surges and voltage dips around it, especially the moment power comes back. Modern fridges, washers, ranges and dishwashers all run on electronic control boards, and those boards do not handle voltage spikes well.

Here is how to protect appliances from power surge damage and get through an outage with your food and machines intact.

1. Switch Things Off When the Power Goes Out

When the power fails, unplug anything you can reach easily, like the microwave, toaster oven and electronics. For the range, dishwasher, washer and dryer, turn them off at the controls, or switch off their breakers if your panel is clearly labelled.

Leave one lamp switched on so you know when power is back. Then wait several minutes before plugging things back in, since power often flickers a few times as crews restore it.

2. Give the Fridge a Few Minutes

It is a good idea to unplug the fridge or turn off its breaker during an outage, then plug it back in once power has been steady for several minutes. Many fridges have a built-in delay before the compressor starts, so do not worry if it stays quiet for a few minutes afterward.

3. Use Surge Protectors the Right Way

A proper surge protector, not a basic power bar, is worth having for electronics and smaller plug-in appliances. Look for a joule rating on the package and a certification mark such as CSA or cUL. Replace it after a major surge or when the protection light goes out, because surge protectors wear out.

Large appliances are different. Many refrigerator manuals say not to use extension cords or power bars at all, so check yours before plugging a fridge into anything other than a wall outlet.

4. Consider a Whole-home Surge Protector

The best protection for hardwired and 240 volt appliances like ranges and dryers is a whole-home surge protector mounted at your electrical panel. It handles surges coming in from outside the house.

This has to be installed by a licensed electrical contractor. It works best alongside plug-in protectors, not as a replacement for them.

5. Keep Food Safe During an Outage

Keep the fridge and freezer doors closed as much as you can. A closed fridge keeps food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours, and a half-full freezer for about 24.

Keep a thermometer in both compartments. Perishable food that has been above 4 degrees Celsius for more than two hours should go. Frozen food that still has ice crystals, or has stayed at 4 degrees or below, can be refrozen. When in doubt, throw it out.

6. Watch for Problems After the Power Returns

Pay attention to your appliances for the next day or two. Warning signs include a fridge that runs but does not cool, a blank display or error codes, and a washer or dishwasher that will not start.

If you smell burning or see scorch marks on an outlet or plug, turn off the breaker, stop using the appliance and call for service. A dead control or odd behaviour after a storm often means a surge has damaged the control board or power supply, which is a job for a technician.

Storm Damage? We Can Help

If an outage or surge has left your fridge warm or a machine refusing to start, Al's Appliance provides in-home appliance repair in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph. For fridge repair in Kitchener and the surrounding area, our technicians can tell you quickly whether a part can be replaced or the appliance has reached the end of the road.

If replacing makes more sense, visit our Kitchener showroom at 20 Stewart Street for new, used and scratch and dent options, with delivery available. Call 519-824-8828 or visit alsappliance.ca to book.