Power surges can cause expensive damage to your electronic devices, appliances, and home. If you’re concerned about power surges in your area, you may wonder whether they’re covered under your homeowners insurance policy. By exploring the intricacies of homeowners insurance coverage, you’ll gain valuable insights to protect your home and possessions from the costly effects of power surges. In this article, we’ll explore what causes power surges and when they’re covered by homeowners insurance so you can stay prepared and feel confident in your coverage.
What are power surges and what causes them?
A power surge occurs when there is a sudden increase in the electrical current flowing through your home. These happen quickly and can be either artificially generated or naturally occurring. These are some examples of what causes power surges:
Lightning strikes: Lightning can cause a power surge if it hits your home, power lines, or phone lines.
Power outages: When power returns after an outage, it can cause a sudden jolt in the electrical current running through your house, which could cause a power surge.
Problems with the electrical grid: Maintenance work on your power lines or grid, a malfunction in a nearby transmission line, or surge switching can all cause a power surge.
Old or faulty wiring: Wiring that is no longer insulated or grounded correctly, as you would find in old houses and appliances. You are more likely to experience power surges from a tripped circuit breaker with damaged wiring.
Power surges can damage valuable electronics or appliances plugged into unprotected wall outlets. They can also cause damage to wiring and outlets or even cause a fire, making them a serious hazard to your home and belongings.
How To Protect Your Home from Lightning Damage
Power surges have many causes, but the most common are lightning strikes so it’s important to know how to protect your home. Here are some tips to help you avoid lightning damage:
Unplug devices during a storm: If you know a storm is in the forecast in your area, unplug your electronic devices. This helps ensure they won’t be damaged if lightning strikes your home.
Use surge protectors: If you’re worried about lightning and the risk of a power surge using a surge protector can give you added peace of mind. You can install surge protector wall outlets or purchase a surge protector power strip. Make sure not to buy a standard power strip, as this won’t provide the same security as a surge protector. Surge protectors do go bad so they should be replaced every three to five years.
Maintain your home’s wiring: Old or damaged wiring can significantly increase the risk of a power surge so make sure to repair and maintain wiring routinely to minimize risk.
When does homeowners insurance cover damage from a power surge?
Standard homeowners insurance policies typically cover property damage from lightning strikes, but it depends on the circumstances and insurance carrier. If a lightning strike causes a power surge that results in a fire, homeowners insurance typically covers this type of fire damage as well. Personal protection coverage typically covers belongings damaged due to a lightning strike. However, power surge coverage depends on the carrier and your particular homeowners insurance policy. To learn more about your coverage and whether you’re protected against damage in the event of a power surge, contact your carrier or insurance agent.
SelectQuote Can Help You Understand Your Coverage and Stay Protected from Power Surges
As a homeowner you have many things to consider when deciding on insurance coverage, including the risk of lightning storms and power surges in your area. At SelectQuote, we’ll take the time to understand your unique needs when shopping for a policy. Our team of experienced, licensed insurance agents will help you search and compare rates from several of the nation’s most trusted carriers in minutes. With your priorities in mind, they’ll help you make an informed decision so you can feel confident when selecting your coverage.
