7 Signs of a Power Surge in Your Home

Think your home’s safe because lightning didn’t strike it directly? Think again. Even if a bolt hits nearby—like a tree in your yard or a utility pole down the street—it can still send a surge of electricity into your home through the ground, power lines, or metal piping.

These indirect lightning strikes can quietly cause big problems. Let’s walk through what to look out for—and what to do next. If you need surge protection or an electrical check-up near Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, or San Antonio, Texas, call In Charge Electric at 888-830-4237 or request a quote here.

1. ⚡ Power Surges & Damaged Electronics

Lightning or rolling blackout-induced surges can fry anything plugged into your outlets, even if you’re using surge protectors.

Watch for:

• Devices that won’t turn on
• Weird behavior like flickering screens or random restarts
• Burn marks near plugs or charging ports

Heads up: Surge protectors aren’t foolproof, especially against a powerful voltage spike.

2. 🔦 Tripped Breakers or Blown Fuses

A sudden surge can trip your breakers—this is actually your electrical system protecting itself.

What to check:

• Main panel and subpanels for tripped breakers
• Fuses that may have blown

Pro tip: If a breaker trips more than once after resetting, there could be a serious underlying issue. Time to call a professional.

3. 🔌 Damaged Outlets or Switches

Lightning surges can scorch or fry wall outlets and switches.

Look for:

• Discoloration or scorch marks
• Buzzing, humming, or crackling when in use
• Switches or outlets that just stopped working

Don’t ignore these—they could be signs of internal damage or fire risk.

4. 🔥 Burning Smells or Strange Noises

Smelling something like burning plastic? Hearing strange crackling or buzzing?

These could be signs of:

• Melted wire insulation
• Arcing inside your walls (a serious fire hazard)

Don’t wait—turn off power to the area and call an electrician.

5. 💡 Flickering Lights or Shocking Appliances

A nearby strike can mess with your home’s grounding or neutral wires, leading to all kinds of weirdness.

You might notice:

• Lights flickering or dimming for no reason
• Appliances acting erratically
• Small shocks when touching devices or fixtures

This could mean your grounding system has been compromised.

6. 🧊 Hidden Damage to Circuit Boards

Big appliances like your HVAC, refrigerator, or oven often have sensitive internal boards that can be damaged silently during a surge.

Keep an eye out for:

• Units that stop working later
• Odd behavior days after the storm

Sometimes the damage isn’t obvious until a system fails entirely.

7. 🌐 Internet, Cable, or Phone Glitches

Lightning can enter your home through phone or coaxial lines, too.

Symptoms include:

• Slow or lost internet connection
• Dead modems, routers, or cable boxes
• No dial tone on landline phones

Surge arrestors on these lines may not always do their job—and they can fail without you knowing.

✅ What Should You Do Next?

If you suspect your home was affected by a lightning surge, here’s your action plan:

🔍 Inspect First

• Check for tripped breakers, damaged outlets, or non-functioning devices.
• Sniff around—burning smells are a major red flag.

🧑‍🔧 Call a Licensed Electrician

• If you notice multiple electrical issues or suspect grounding problems, get a professional to do a full system check. Texas residents can call In Charge Electric at 888-830-4237 or request a quote here.

🛡️ Consider Upgrades

• Whole-home surge protection installed at your main panel can guard against future surges.
• Test your grounding system to make sure it’s still providing proper protection.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a direct lightning strike to experience serious electrical problems. A surge from a nearby hit can quietly damage wiring, electronics, and appliances—sometimes without you even realizing it.

When in doubt, play it safe: inspect, call a pro, and take steps to protect your home moving forward.

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