Most people think of power surges as a big bang followed by lights flickering or something burning out instantly. But the truth is, many power surges are quiet. You will not hear them. You will not see them. Yet over time, they can quietly chip away at your appliances and electronics without you ever realising.
At East Coast Sparkies, we often get called in to fix electrical issues where the root cause turns out to be hidden surge damage. In this blog, we are going to explain what power surges are, how they happen, how they can cause long-term damage, and what you can do to protect your home or business from them.
This is a topic many Gold Coast homeowners do not think about until it is too late. So if you have ever noticed devices dying earlier than expected, or strange flickers and resets happening without warning, this blog is for you.
What is a Power Surge?
A power surge is a sudden and brief spike in voltage that travels through your electrical wiring. In Australia, standard homes and businesses run on 230 volts. A power surge might push that number up by hundreds or even thousands of volts for a fraction of a second.
Even a small spike can affect delicate electronics, especially if it happens repeatedly over time. While one big surge can destroy a device instantly, it is usually the little ones that quietly wear things down.
What Causes Power Surges?
There are many causes of power surges. Some are obvious, but others happen behind the scenes. Here are the most common:
-
Lightning strikes nearby that send a huge amount of energy through power lines
-
Faulty appliances that send voltage back into the home circuit
-
Downed power lines or accidents involving local infrastructure
-
Switching on or off large devices like fridges, air conditioners or industrial equipment
-
Grid fluctuations during maintenance or demand spikes
Even things like older wiring or overloaded circuits can lead to voltage spikes. On the Gold Coast, with our mix of storms and high electrical demand, homes are especially at risk.
How Do Power Surges Damage Your Appliances?
Most appliances and electronics are designed to work within a certain voltage range. When a surge hits, it can push too much voltage into the delicate parts inside your devices.
Here is what can happen:
-
Wiring inside devices overheats and breaks down
-
Capacitors and resistors weaken or burn out
-
Microchips inside TVs, computers and gaming systems become damaged
-
Battery systems in solar inverters or UPS units degrade faster
What makes it worse is that this kind of damage does not always happen all at once. You might notice your microwave no longer heats evenly, or your TV takes longer to turn on. These could be signs of cumulative surge damage that has built up over time.
Can You Tell If a Power Surge Has Happened?
Sometimes, yes. But usually, no.
Big surges might trip your safety switch or shut down your entire system. You might hear a pop, see lights flicker, or even smell burning.
But smaller surges are silent. They come and go in milliseconds. You might not realise anything has happened until you notice devices behaving strangely weeks later.
One of the tell-tale signs is when multiple devices fail within a short timeframe. If your modem, TV and air conditioner all have issues around the same time, it is worth checking your home for surge risks.
What Can You Do To Prevent Power Surge Damage?
The good news is that there are some very effective ways to protect your home or business from power surges. At East Coast Sparkies, we recommend a few key steps.
1. Install a Surge Protection Device in Your Switchboard
This is the first and strongest line of defence. These devices detect excess voltage and divert it safely away from your home circuits. This is especially important during lightning storms or grid surges. We can install surge protectors in your main switchboard that protect the entire property.
2. Use Quality Surge-Protected Power Boards
Not all power boards are created equal. Cheap ones offer little to no protection. Make sure you are using a board that clearly states surge protection on the packaging and includes a warranty for connected devices.
3. Upgrade Your Switchboard if It Is Outdated
Older switchboards often lack the safety features needed to handle modern surge protection. If your board still uses ceramic fuses or has not been upgraded in over ten years, it might be time for an inspection.
4. Avoid Overloading Circuits
Spread out large appliances across different circuits. Avoid plugging multiple high-load devices into the same outlet. Overloaded circuits are more likely to trigger internal surges.
5. Unplug During Storms if You Are Home
If a storm is coming and you are home, unplug valuable electronics like TVs and computers. This is a simple, manual way to protect against the most powerful surge source — lightning.
How Often Should Surge Protection Be Checked?
Surge protectors do not last forever. After one or two big hits, they can lose their ability to protect effectively. Some units include indicator lights that show whether protection is still active.
We recommend having your surge protection checked every few years by a qualified electrician. If you live in a storm-prone area like the Gold Coast, this becomes even more important.
Why Choose East Coast Sparkies?
We are a locally owned and trusted team of licensed Gold Coast electricians who understand the electrical challenges homes and businesses face in our region. From storm damage prevention to air conditioning and home automation, we offer complete solutions backed by honest service and quality workmanship.
We provide thorough safety checks, switchboard upgrades, and professional surge protection installs to help you protect your investment and avoid costly breakdowns.
Final Thoughts
Power surges are sneaky. They do not always announce themselves with a bang. Often, they creep in quietly, damaging your devices over time and leaving you to foot the bill.
The best defence is preparation. If you are not sure whether your home is protected, or if you have noticed strange behaviour in your appliances, book a safety inspection with East Coast Sparkies today.
We will check your wiring, switchboard, and appliances, and give you peace of mind that your home is protected.
Call East Coast Sparkies now on 0420 750 752 for a free quote or to book your surge protection checkup.
