What should I do if a storm has damaged my appliances?

Storm damaged appliances: the first steps

Summer storms in Seville, Spain bring lightning and voltage surges that come in through the power grid, the TV aerial or the phone line. If a storm has damaged your appliances, the order of the steps matters, especially if you are going to claim.

1. Disconnect. Unplug the appliances that do not work or smell of burning. If something has tripped in the fuse box, only reset it once the damaged items are disconnected.
2. Do not keep testing the appliances. A burnt power supply can cause a short circuit.
3. Document it. Photograph the appliances, the fuse box and any marks. Note the date and time of the storm.
4. Keep receipts and appliances until the insurer has seen them.
5. Report the damage. Check whether your policy covers electrical damage and how soon you must notify it.

Lightning or a surge from the grid

They are not the same. A transient surge is a very brief spike, typical of nearby lightning. A permanent overvoltage is a rise in voltage that lasts, for example when the neutral fails on the grid. If the damage comes from a fault on the distribution network, the distributor (in Andalusia, e-distribución) may be liable for the quality of supply (RD 1955/2000). A technical report helps prove the cause.

What the electrician checks

• The fuse board: RCDs, breakers and the surge protector if there is one, which may be useless after absorbing a spike.
• The earthing (grounding), which is where surges are discharged.
• The damaged appliances, for the insurance report.
• The likely cause, which the assessment puts in writing.

How to stop it happening again

A surge protector is fitted in the fuse board and diverts spikes to earth before they reach your appliances. It has a guide price of 60 to 200 euros for the device, plus 50 to 100 euros for fitting. Spanish regulations (REBT, ITC-BT-23) make it compulsory in new installations in certain cases and at EV charging points and solar installations, and it is highly advisable in detached houses and homes with an outdoor aerial.

What the check costs

A full check after a storm has a guide price of 70 to 100 euros, plus the surge protector if one is needed. An insurance claim assessment costs 250 to 700 euros depending on the case.

When to call an electrician

As soon as the storm has passed, if several appliances have burnt out or something in the fuse box will not reset. In Seville, Spain, we fit surge protection, prepare the insurance claims assessment for your insurer and attend urgent cases through our 24-hour emergency electrician.