Storms, lightning strikes near power lines and faults on the grid can all send a surge through your home’s wiring. TVs, amplifiers, set-top boxes and anything connected by an antenna or network cable are especially vulnerable. Here’s what to do if something has stopped working.
1. Make it safe
Switch damaged equipment off at the wall and unplug it. If you can smell burning, see scorch marks or the power keeps tripping, leave it unplugged and don’t try it again.
2. Record what happened
- The date and approximate time of the storm or outage.
- Every item that stopped working, including smaller things like modems and set-top boxes.
- Photos of the items and their model and serial number labels.
- Anything you noticed: a bang, a flash, a burning smell or tripped safety switches.
3. Talk to your insurer
Many home contents policies cover electrical damage from power surges and storms, sometimes as an optional extra called motor burnout or electrical damage cover. Your insurer will usually ask for a written damage report from a qualified technician stating what failed, what caused it and whether it can be repaired.
4. Get a damage report
We inspect the equipment on the bench, identify the damaged parts and write a report that states the cause of failure and whether a repair is economical. If it’s repairable, we include a repair quote; if not, the report says so, which supports a replacement claim. We confirm the report fee when you book. See insurance damage reports.
Can a surge-damaged TV be repaired?
Often, yes. Surges commonly take out the power supply board or the input circuits (HDMI, antenna or network), which are repairable. Damage that reaches the panel or several boards at once may make replacement the better option, and the report will tell you which applies.
Protecting your gear next time
A quality surge protector power board for your TV and audio equipment helps, but remember that surges can also come in through the antenna and network cables. Protectors that cover those connections give better protection.