Power interruptions are a fact of life during severe weather. Orlando’s thunderstorms can bring lightning, heavy rain, strong winds, and other conditions that can affect the electrical grid.
But if your home repeatedly loses power during storms while surrounding homes remain powered, there may be more going on than a typical utility outage.
Outage Status Update
Additionally, the utility may be losing power during an outage.
The first thing to determine is whether the outage is limited to your home.
If your neighbors are also without power, the problem may be with the local utility. Check your utility’s outage information for updates and estimated restoration times.
Never approach or touch downed power lines.
Power Interruptions
However, a breaker may be tripping, leading to losing power.
Storm-related electrical fluctuations can sometimes cause a breaker to trip. If only part of your home loses power, check your electrical panel for a tripped breaker.
You can reset a tripped breaker once. If it trips again, don’t continue resetting it.
Repeated trips can indicate an overloaded circuit, short circuit, ground fault, or another electrical problem.
GFCI Protection May Be Interrupting Power
Outdoor outlets and outlets in areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and other potentially wet locations may have GFCI protection.
A GFCI can shut off power when it detects a potentially dangerous electrical condition.
If a GFCI repeatedly trips during or after storms, an electrician can determine why.
Lightning Can Affect Electrical Equipment
However, lightning doesn’t have to strike your house directly to cause problems, leading to losing power.
A nearby strike can affect electrical infrastructure and create a surge that travels through utility lines. Sensitive electronics and appliances may be vulnerable to this type of event.
Whole-home surge protection can provide an additional layer of protection against certain electrical surges.
When Repeated Storm Outages Need an Electrician
Consider having your electrical system evaluated if your home experiences:
- Repeated breaker trips during storms
- Flickering or unusually bright lights
- Burning smells
- Buzzing or crackling
- Damaged outlets
- Electrical equipment that stops working after storms
- Power interruptions that seem limited to your property
These symptoms may indicate an electrical problem that should be addressed rather than simply waiting for the next storm.
Don’t Assume Every Storm-Related Power Problem Is the Utility’s Fault
A utility outage will generally affect more than one property. If your Orlando home has recurring electrical problems whenever severe weather arrives, a professional evaluation can help determine whether the problem is inside your home.
Thomas Edison Electric provides electrical troubleshooting and repair services for homeowners in the Orlando area.