Electrical Safety During Storms: How Sunshine Coast Homeowners Can Stay Protected

In times of unpredictable seasons like storms, Sunshine coast homeowners are not exempted. Though heavy rains bring a calming sound to our indoors, it is essential for residents to know the serious electrical hazards that can be present during storm season. During this severe weather, power surges, outages and the risk of fire are common incidents.

Do not wait for these unfavorable circumstances to happen without taking the proper preparations of your home’s electrical system before the arrival of the storm. At Axon Electrical, we know how a smart effort will protect families from any damages or hazardous incidents that are very costly. 

Here are the essential electrical safety tips that will help homeowners in Sunshine Coast to be aware and be protected during storms.

1. Protect Your Home from Power Surges

The occurrence of power surges brought by lightning strikes or by damaged power lines, can cause an essential damage to the electrical system of your home that may lead to burn-out appliances, destroyed electronics and repairs that would be very expensive.

Safeguard your home with these tips:

• Install Surge Protectors 

  
  

It would not be reliable to have only plug-in surge boards though it somehow protects devices like TVs and computers.  

• Decide for a Whole-Home Surge Protection

  
  

Have comprehensive protection for your entire home by installing a surge protector at your switchboard by a licensed electrician.

• Unplug Sensitive Devices

  
  

Carefully unplug your home’s high-value electronics such as computers and gaming consoles whenever a big storm is being forecasted.

Pro Tip: Make prevention your best protection since a lot of insurance policies don’t cover surge-related damages of appliances.

2. Have a Backup Power Solutions

Power outages that last for a few hours often occur during storms which could bring minor inconvenience or serious hazards especially on homes that heavily rely on medical equipment or refrigerated medicines.

These are your options:

• Portable Generators

  
  

This is best especially for short-term outages, however, this should be setup properly to prevent back-feeding electricity into the grid.

• Standby Generators

  
  

This is installed permanently and will automatically turn on when there is a power cut, which best suits households that really need an uninterrupted power supply.

• UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)

  
  

Excellent for households that secure devices like modems, computers, and routers that run for a few hours.

Safety Reminder: Always have a licensed electrician do the job of connecting your generator to your home’s wiring. Having unsafe connections can put you at serious risk.

3. Secure Your Outdoor Electrical System

The decks, patios, pools and gardens have been part of the Sunshine coast outdoor lifestyle. However, the electrical systems of these spaces are the most vulnerable during storms.

Ensure safety with these tips:

• Inspect Outdoor Power Point

  
  

Check your outdoor electrical setup to be weatherproof and with no damages. Make sure to immediately replace any faulty outlets.

• Check Garden & Security Lighting

  
  

Secure loose fixtures and exposed wiring to prevent water infiltration.

• Pools & Spas

  
  

In case of lightning storms, turn off pumps to prevent any damage. Secure your pool areas to have safety switches (RCDs) installed.

Be proactive to address any issues since even a single malfunction of an outdoor outlet can have a serious risk in heavy rain.

4. After the Storm: Stay Safe Before You Switch On

While it can be tempting to immediately go back to normal after the storm has passed, it is still best to be cautious to prevent any hidden dangers.

• Check any Damage

  
  

Be aware of any warning signs such as scorch marks in the outlets, any burning smells, or flickering lights.

• Look at Your Switchboard

  
  

If you observe your circuit breakers have tripped, do not repeatedly reset them without investigating its cause.

• Avoid from Fallen Powerlines

  
  

Be careful and contact a qualified electrician immediately and safely assume every line is live and dangerous.

• Call a Specialized Electrician

  
  

If you are suspecting any damage to your electrical system or having doubts of your safety, reach out for a professional inspection before using any circuits that are affected.

Protect Your Home This Storm Season with Axon Electrical

While we cannot avoid storm season especially here in the Sunshine Coast, the electrical damage doesn’t have to be. By having correct precautionary measures, you can secure the safety of your family, protect your appliances, and avoid any expensive repairs.

At Axon Electrical, we are your local team and qualified electricians that can help you to stormproof your home with:

• Install surge protection 

  
  

• Inspect your switchboard and wiring

  
  

• Generator and backup power solutions

  
  

• Upgrade your outdoor electrical safety

  
  

Be prepared and don't wait until the next storm strikes. Schedule a storm-season electrical safety check now with Axon Electrical and enjoy peace of mind no matter what the weather brings.

📞 Call us now or request a quote online - – (07) 4802 0303