Protect Yourself and Your Home Appliances During Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms may be frightening to both adults and children but there are steps you can take to remove the fear and learn to enjoy their sound and fury. In many cases, the sound of rain falling and the flashes of lightning and booms of thunder can be very relaxing.

Even as relaxing as a thunderstorm can be, it can also bring with it damaging winds and even lightning strikes that can damage or destroy household appliances. There are steps you can take, when you’re inside your home, to protect yourself and precautions necessary to remain safe.

Here are a few steps to make certain the next time a thunderstorm rumbles through that you have an enjoyable, not dangerous, experience:

1. Don’t talk on the telephone. It may be advice you’ve heard from your mother, and though it’s not likely that anything will happen, it’s best to stay off the phone – both cell phones and landlines — during storms.
2. Turn off and unplug unnecessary electrical appliances. You don’t need to unplug every electrical item in your home but if lightning is close by, it’s a good idea to unplug items such as televisions and computers and other home electronics, unless you have a good surge protector. It’s better to be safe than sorry. This also offers protection against a power surge when the electricity comes back on and all of your appliances are starting up at the same time.
3. Stay out of the shower and sink. Again, while it’s unlikely that being in water will result in electrocution and it may sound like a wives’ tale, it’s not bad advice.
4. Take shelter in the basement. Depending on the area of the country in which you live, and if tornadoes are prevalent, it is good advice to take shelter in your basement, especially if you hear reports of funnel clouds in the vicinity. This doesn’t mean you need to weather the storm in the basement, it simply means you need to be aware and alert and prepared to take shelter if necessary.
5. Plan ahead for weather emergencies. It’s almost impossible to predict all weather emergencies and in many instances when they’re announced, it might be too late to prepare. Taking preventative measures in case there’s a power outage simply makes sense. Lay in a stock of foods and water that you can use if the power goes out. Also, if you have hanging tree branches or loose shutters on your home, address these prior to any storms striking.

As with almost anything in life, preparation is key. If you’re concerned with the safety and grounding of your electrical appliances, contact a qualified electrician for a home electrical inspection.

Call the insurance company approved electricians at Cirtcele Electric at the sign of any damage to any and all power appliances that may have been caused by a storm. Cirtcele provides 24 hour a day, seven day a week service and can typically restore your power and help you get the insurance claim started at the same time!