Electrical Storm Damage in Perth: What to Check After a Storm
Electrical storm damage is a real risk in Perth, where storms bring lightning, wind and driving rain that can harm your home’s wiring and switchboard. Knowing the signs of electrical storm damage, and what to do safely, protects your family and your home. Here is what to check after a storm and when to call an electrician.
Why storms damage your electrics
Storms cause electrical storm damage in several ways: lightning can send surges through the wiring, wind can bring down power lines or branches onto them, and rain can drive moisture into outdoor outlets and fittings. Any of these can leave hidden damage, which is why a careful check after a big storm is worthwhile.
6 signs of electrical storm damage
- A safety switch or main switch that keeps tripping
- Power points or switches that are wet or discoloured
- A burning smell or scorch marks at the board
- Flickering lights or partial power loss
- Outdoor fittings that are cracked or water-filled
- Appliances that stopped working after the storm
First: stay away from fallen lines
The most dangerous electrical storm damage is a fallen power line. Never go near or touch a downed line, or anything touching it, and keep children and pets well clear. Assume it is live and call Western Power immediately. This is the one storm hazard where the right move is distance, not a closer look.
Check your switchboard
After a storm, check your switchboard for signs of electrical storm damage: a tripped main switch or safety switch, scorch marks, or a burning smell. Resetting a tripped switch is fine, but if it trips straight back, or you can see or smell damage, leave it off and call a licensed electrician rather than forcing it.
Water and outdoor fittings
Driving rain is a common source of electrical storm damage, getting into outdoor power points, garden lighting and alfresco fittings. Wet outlets can trip your safety switch or, worse, become a shock risk. Do not use a wet outdoor outlet, switch off the circuit if you can, and have an electrician check and dry it out.
Surges and your appliances
Lightning and grid disturbances can cause surges that quietly damage electronics, a form of electrical storm damage you may only notice later when something fails. If appliances stopped working after a storm, a surge is a likely cause. Whole-home or point-of-use surge protection helps guard against this next time.
When the power comes back
If a storm caused an outage, electrical storm damage can show up when power returns, sometimes with a surge. Switch off and unplug sensitive electronics during the outage, and turn them back on gradually once power is stable. If anything sparks, smells or trips when power returns, call an electrician.
When to call an electrician
Any electrical storm damage beyond a simple reset, wet outlets, burning smells, scorch marks, persistent tripping, or dead circuits, needs a licensed electrician. They can test your wiring and switchboard, repair what the storm damaged, and confirm your home is safe to use again.
Why use a licensed electrician
Tracing electrical storm damage through wiring, fittings and the switchboard is licensed work. A licensed electrician finds what the storm harmed, repairs it safely, and restores your protection. For fallen lines and network outages, Western Power is the right contact, on the Western Power outages and fallen powerlines page.
After the storm passes
Once it is safe, a quick walk-around helps: look at your switchboard, outdoor outlets and any appliances that were running when the storm hit. Catching a small problem early, before you rely on that circuit again, is far better than discovering it the hard way later.
Worried about electrical storm damage in Perth?
ACS Electrical checks and repairs storm-hit electrics across the metro. Explore our power outage troubleshooting guide, safety switch tripping guide or switchboard upgrades service. Call 0419 967 838
Professional electrical services for homes & businesses. We ensure safety & compliance.
Electrician Near Me
Emergency Electrician
Near Me Electrician
Book Your Electrician Now
Get A Free Electrical Quote
Switchboard Upgrades
Local electrician Perth WA
Same day service for homes and businesses call now
Joondalup, Wanneroo, Stirling, Balcatta, Carine, Beldon, Connolly, Edgewater, Currambine, Kingsley, Kinross, Chittering, Lancelin, BIndoon, Baldivis, Melville
Phone: 0419 967 838
Email: admin@acselec.com.au