How Much Power Surge Damage Costs — and How to Prevent It

Simply put: A power surge is a sudden increase in the amount of electrical power flowing through your home, often lasting just a fraction of a second.

OK, you might be thinking. What’s so bad about a little extra power?

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The Problem With Power Surges

Power surges often cause an influx of electricity so great that the flow exceeds the maximum capacity of your electrical system, even if for a very short time. The sudden spike is often more electricity than your electronics, appliances and electrical system are designed to handle, and it can lead to damage.

What Causes Power Surges?

The most common depiction of a power surge is one that happens during a thunderstorm. Lighting can strike a power line, sending an overwhelming number of volts straight into your home’s electrical system.

But lightning isn’t the only external culprit. If an electrical transformer blows in your neighborhood, this can trigger a surge. The return of power after an outage can also cause power surges.

There are also much smaller surges that can happen inside your home. For example, your fridge’s compressor cycling on and off can cause small power surges, as can the cycling of other high-power-use appliances and systems, such as air conditioners or electric furnaces.

Electrical overload — too many things plugged into one outlet or circuit — can also cause power surges. Typically, you’ll get a warning in the form of flickering lights or tripped breakers. Faulty or worn wiring is another cause for these internal surges.

How Power Surges Damage Your Home and Your Stuff

Power surges cause electricity to arc within electronics and appliances. So, if a large surge reaches something like your TV or plugged-in tablet, it can literally fry the sensitive circuit boards and other electronic components. Similar damage can also occur within your HVAC system or large appliances.

Smaller surges cause similar damage, but less of it. A small surge might not cause your devices to stop working immediately, but repeated surges can eventually burn them out.

Your home’s wiring can also be damaged by power surges. The increase in electrical power can fry circuits, overheat and melt wires or damage outlets. You might see scorch marks around outlets, hear buzzing in the walls or smell burning plastic. In the longer term, you might experience flickering lights or circuit breakers that trip more often than before. In the worst cases, power surges can cause electrical fires.

Needless to say: If you suspect something is wrong with your electrical system or wiring after a power surge, you shouldn’t wait to schedule a repair with a licensed and qualified electrician. If you do see signs of electrical issues — like warm outlets, sparks or a burning plastic smell — go ahead and turn off the power at the breaker.

The Cost of Power Surges

If you were unlucky enough to have your tablet on the charger during a power surge and it burned out, you can expect to pay about $685 to replace it. 

Thanks to the declining costs of televisions, the cost to replace a TV (between 40 and 43 inches) is only $493.

The cost to replace a desktop computer can vary depending on the specifications of each model. On average, though, it costs about $909 to replace a desktop computer.

Imagine it like this: If you had your TV, desktop computer and tablet all plugged in when a large, damaging power surge swept through your home, you could be looking at over $2,000 to replace all of these electronics. And this price doesn’t even factor in the cost to replace the really expensive stuff, like your appliances and HVAC systems.

How to Prevent Power Surges

Power surges are destructive forces, but you can protect your home before they happen. Try these tips:

• Before a thunderstorm, during a power outage or when you know your utility company is working in your area, unplug electronics and appliances.

• Use surge-protected power strips, especially in areas such as a home office that contain multiple surge-sensitive devices.

• Install a whole-house surge protector or surge protector outlets.

(The prices above reflect repair costs as of January 2023, and are based on national data. Costs in your community could be higher or lower, depending on a number of factors. This pricing does not reflect emergency repairs, which can often cost more due to services needed on short notice or after hours.)