Personal property coverage in your homeowners insurance may help to protect you if a power surge damages or destroys your electronics and appliances up to the limits of your policy. For example, if a power surge causes an item to overheat and perish, your homeowners insurance may be able to help cover the cost.
Can you claim damage from a power surge?
If a power surge causes damage to your property, you can file a claim with your insurance carrier to recoup your losses. Make a list of the electronics (and other personal property) in your home ahead of time in case you need to file a claim. This will not only assist you in determining the appropriate level of coverage, but it will also make filing a claim easier.
Here’s what to do when filing a power surge claim:
1. As soon as it is safe to do so, assess the damage that has occurred.
The insurance claims adjuster will want to know what harm was done, so be thorough and write down everything that happened, including the date and time.
2. Submit a claim to your insurance company.
You can file a claim with American Family Insurance online, by contacting your agent, or by calling 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326). You can also use My Account or the MyAmFam app to file.
3. Think about your deductible.
Before your insurance pays the cost, you’ll almost certainly have to pay a deductible. If the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged property exceeds your deductible, you can choose to proceed with the claim, and your adjuster will work with the insurance carrier to determine a repair settlement.
4. Obtain payment
You’ll get a check or checks to repair or replace your damaged item if your claim is approved.
Does insurance cover lightning surge?
The way your insurance provider assesses lightning damage is determined on your insurer and the type of damage that occurred. We’ll show you how it works in most cases.
Lightning strikes can start fires inside or outside your home, destroy expensive appliances and gadgets, damage wiring in the walls, and even shock and harm you or a family member. The good news is that almost all homeowner’s insurance policies cover lightning damage. Coverage for the following items is included in your policy:
Personal property has been damaged. If your personal property, such as appliances or electronics, is destroyed by lightning, you’ll usually get reimbursed for the real cash worth the price you’d pay today for a comparable item after depreciation. Replacement cost coverage, which pays what it would cost to replace your personal property at its current worth, should be available.
Other structures, such as a garage or shed, may be harmed. Your homeowners policy should cover any damage to your covered outbuilding caused by lightning.
Costs of living increase. If your home was destroyed by lightning and is being repaired or rebuilt, your homeowner’s insurance will cover the cost of living somewhere else, such as a hotel, as well as other additional costs while your home is uninhabitable.
What happens to appliances when there is a power surge?
Last night, I was watching “Pretty Woman,” my favorite film. The lights went out just as Richard Gere was ready to do the legendary “box snap” technique on Julia Roberts. The lights came back on after a big thunderclap. I switch the TV back on, hoping I didn’t miss the moment, but it’s not working. I give up after multiple attempts. This is when I discovered that the circuit board connecting my TV to the heater, refrigerator, and a few other minor appliances was also broken. To cut a long tale short, I recently had my first power surge, and believe me when I say that neither I nor my equipment were pleased!
The electrical power used in the United States is 120 volts, alternating current, and single phase. However, the voltage does not maintain a constant 120-volt stream. The voltage varies between 0 and 169 volts. Because all electronics are powered by this volt, they are the first to be affected by a power surge.
The voltage increases above 169 volts during the power surge, and that’s when the magic begins… the wicked type of magic involving sparks. This rise in voltage causes an arc of current to flow through the appliances, causing heat to be generated. This damages the circuit board as well as the electrical components of the appliance.
The appliances blow out because the surge is modest and repeats one after the other. The appliances may operate in some situations, but frequent usage in comparable settings can degrade their internal mechanisms. In certain circumstances, the wires burn out completely, rendering the device inoperable. This reduces the lifespan of devices and appliances.
Let’s look at the source of the surge now that you know what happens to your equipment after a power surge. A power surge can be caused by one of three scenarios:
- When turning on and off major appliances such as the refrigerator and air conditioner inside the house
Most individuals try to multitask by plugging many gadgets into the same circuit board at the same time. Investing in small and large surge protectors is the best approach to safeguard your equipment from power surges. They are installed on the main panel, which is also where the fuse is. When a power surge occurs, the surge protector prevents the excess voltage from entering the main system.
A Word of Caution: Avoid using large appliances at the same time and plug electronics like your PC, TV, and laptop into separate extensions. If power surges are regular in your neighborhood, invest in a power station or USP for your air conditioner.
Excess electricity can cause appliances to explode, making power surges potentially fatal. This is why surge protectors should be installed as soon as possible to avoid losing your valuable devices.
What would cause power surges in house?
A power spike can be caused by a number of factors. Electrical overload, defective wiring, lightning strikes, and the restoration of power after a power outage or blackout are the most common causes.
Can a power surge cause a house fire?
Surges in power are more often than you might expect. You’ll notice a flicker or buzz through your appliances or devices whenever the wiring in your home receives a brief jolt of high electrical power. What happens when the lights start to blink? That is, indeed, a power spike.
Most of the time, we don’t give it any thought. Even if we detect a little power surge, it only lasts a second or two before everything returns to normal, so why bother? These power surges are not at all benign. They have the potential to damage your electrical outlets. They have the potential to fry your appliances and devices. They have the ability to start a fire.
Being proactive in preventing power surges can help to make your home a safer place to live. Here are a few options for you to consider.
How many tangled wires do you have in your house? Excess cables are frequently found under televisions and surrounding workstations with computer equipment, especially in older homes. You might even have webs in your kitchen or bedrooms if you use phone and tablet chargers. Too many items plugged into a single outlet can cause power surges and electrical fires. An electrician can determine whether all outlets in a room are connected to the same circuit and make the necessary repairs to bring your electrical wiring up to code.
What you can’t see has the potential to harm you. Mice and squirrels have been known to climb into walls and nibble on wire. Because the electricity running via damaged or exposed wires is not directed or treated properly, power surges can occur. You might even smell smoke when the wires melt or burn as a result of the irregular power flow. Because exposed wires might cause electrocution, they should never be handled.
Energy spikes and power usage can be caused by high-powered appliances and devices such as refrigerators and air conditioners. Because they tend to draw a lot of power when they first turn on, that extra power can spread across the circuit, overpowering everything else in its path. The simplest approach to avoid this is to make sure that all high-powered appliances are connected to their own circuit.
Being proactive is the easiest approach to avoid damage from power surges. Don’t wait for calamity to strike; get an electrician today to make changes to your electrical system. An electrician will double-check that all of your wiring is up to code and add outlets where needed. For further security in every room of your home, you should also install a whole-house surge protector.
Does homeowners insurance cover electrical damage?
Electrical repairs and damage to residential electrical wiring are frequently covered by homeowner’s insurance policy. Older homes with outmoded wiring such as knob and tube or aluminum wire, on the other hand, are more difficult to insure and cost more. The increased cost of homeowners insurance in these situations is due to the much higher fire risk that older wiring poses.
What is power surge cover?
As the country approaches the peak of the winter season in July, the probability of load shedding due to the overburdened power grid is also high.
Load shedding, which has been identified by Google as the most searched term in South Africa over the last decade, continues to cause a great deal of annoyance, inconvenience, and increased short-term insurance risk for many South Africans.
People may now examine load shedding schedules in advance thanks to the emergence of numerous load shedding notification apps and ensure that they are appropriately prepared. However, load shedding can still happen in the early hours of the morning or overnight, putting numerous household items at danger of harm due to power surges.
When power is restored after a few hours of load shedding, a power surge can occur, causing immediate damage to one’s electrical appliances, causing plastic and metal parts to melt and circuits to burn.
FNB Insurance Brokers’ Private Wealth Manager, Elizabeth Mountjoy, cautions, “With load shedding becoming more common, it’s critical to make sure you’re covered in case you need it. Confirm whether the power surge benefit has been added to your insurance by contacting your short-term insurer or broker. You will not be able to file a claim for damaged appliances if this benefit is not included and your household appliances are destroyed due to a power surge.”
Aside from having the appropriate power surge insurance, another thorough option to secure your appliances is to have surge plugs or an arrestor fitted to protect all of your electrical circuits throughout your home. The surge arrestor is put at the point where electricity enters your home and protects you from power surges of up to 6000 volts. Surge arrestors are available for voltages up to 20,000 volts.
“Unplugging specific equipment during load shedding or thunderstorms is one of the most cost-effective ways to entirely avert a power surge. After the power has been restored, wait another 10 minutes before plugging in all of the appliances,” Mountjoy advises.
Below are three crucial items to consider when protecting household goods to avoid loss as a result of load shedding in your home:
Depending on the insurer and product, you should contact your insurer or broker, who can advise you on what parts of coverage to add to your policy to ensure that you have adequate coverage. Most household insurance policies cover power surges up to a specific maximum, which may not be enough if you have pricey electronic equipment. Also, see what kind of coverage is offered in the event that the contents of the freezer or refrigerator are lost.
- Check your policy to discover what the terms are in the event that your alarm is disabled due to load shedding.
So far, we’ve had stage 6 outages, which means we’re down for 4.5 hours with a 2-hour break before the next outage. Even if you are experiencing scheduled outages, if your policy includes an alarm warranty, you must still activate your alarm when unattended, as you would under regular circumstances. It’s worth noting that most alarm backup batteries will last at least 6 hours. Double-check that your alarm’s backup battery is checked on a regular basis and is ready to go during these times.
If not, it is your obligation to test the batteries on a regular basis to ensure that your system is providing maximum protection.
In the event of automated garages and gates, make sure you can safely access your home and maintain override keys in a secure but easily accessible location. Invest in solar or battery-powered lighting instead of candles or paraffin lamps. Also, consider putting surge protectors at your main board, but be sure you use a qualified electrician to do so. Surge protector adaptors should also be installed to safeguard devices from damage.
“Continuously monitor the load shedding schedule in your area to better prepare for the next power outage to keep yourself, your home, and your household contents safe.” Once you are aware of the load shedding schedule, you will be able to make the required precautions to secure your household appliances and relax knowing that you are well protected,” Mountjoy says.
What is power surge insurance?
As a result of load shedding, power surge damage insurance claims are on the rise. Voltage fluctuations can frequently cause household appliances to be damaged beyond repair.
Does homeowners insurance cover a tree hit by lightning?
A tree struck by lightning is normally covered under most homeowners insurance plans, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). The contents of any structure that was damaged, as well as the damage caused by the tree, are usually covered.