Power Surges and Damaged Electrical Equipment
A power surge is an unexpected increase in current or voltage in an electrical circuit – may damage electrical equipment in your home or business. Electrical equipment is designed for specific voltages and increases resulting from a power surge may cause damage that creates electrical safety hazards.
After a power surge, check your electrical devices and safety equipment to be sure they work properly:
- Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI): These devices protect you from electrical shock. They can be part of electrical outlets or circuit breakers (look for the “test” and “reset” buttons). They might also be built into electrical devices such as whirlpool tubs, hot tubs and heated floor thermostats.
- Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI): These devices protect your home from electrical fire and usually found in your electrical panel. Look for the “test” and “reset” buttons.
- Smoke detectors, and/or carbon monoxide detectors: These are hard-wired into your home’s electrical system.
You can't tell if your electronic devices are damaged by a visual inspection alone. You need to use the “Push to Test” button to check if the devices still work (follow the manufacturer's instructions). If not, replace your devices.
If you need someone to do electrical repairs in your home, by law you must hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor who takes out a Notification (Permit) for the work.
Find a Licensed Electrical Contractor Near You
Ensure you hire someone who can legally do electrical work in Ontario.