Three Reasons to Call an Electrician After a Power Surge (Houston Storm Guide)

When Gulf storms roll through Houston, power surges and voltage spikes can travel into your home in a split second thus silently damaging appliances, HVAC systems, and sensitive electronics. Even if everything seems fine, hidden problems can show up days or weeks later. Elios provides elite Houston surge protection.

Here are three critical reasons to schedule a post-surge electrical inspection with Elios’s licensed electricians and how we protect your home going forward.

1) Hidden Damage to Control Boards & GFCIs

Surges often cook control boards inside furnaces, air handlers, refrigerators, garage openers, and smart devices. The unit might restart today, but a weakened board can fail under the next heavy load.

Surges also degrade GFCI/AFCI outlets and breakers. They may still reset, but their protection level is reduced. This leaves your family exposed to shock and fire risks.

What Elios checks:

• HVAC, refrigerator, and other appliance control boards

• GFCI/AFCI devices for proper trip thresholds

• Smart devices (gate openers, chargers, routers) for abnormal draw or heat

• Panel for scorched neutrals, loose lugs, or arc marks

  
  

Result: You’ll know exactly what’s safe, what needs monitoring, and what should be repaired or replaced now.

2) Compromised Grounding & Bonding = Future Risk

A strong surge can loosen lugs, weaken ground rods/clamps, or damage bonding jumpers. When grounding/bonding is compromised, the next surge looks for the easiest path which is often straight through your electronics.

What Elios corrects:

• Grounding electrode system (rods/clamps/wire size)

• Neutral/ground terminations and torque at the main panel

• Bonding between metallic systems (water/gas piping, subpanels)

• Recommendations for panel-mounted whole-home surge protection (Type 1/Type 2, UL-listed)

  
  

Result: A hardened electrical system that safely diverts future surges before they fry your gear.

3) Insurance Documentation from Licensed Pros

Most insurers require licensed diagnostics, photos, and line-item estimates to process surge claims. Without clear documentation, reimbursement can stall.

What Elios provides:

• Inspection report: what failed, why it failed, and how to fix it

• Photos of affected components and panel conditions

• Itemized repair/replace estimate for your claim file

• Coordination with adjusters, when needed

  
  

Result: A clean paper trail that helps you recover costs faster and protects manufacturer warranties.

Signs You May Have Surge Damage

• Lights flicker, buzz, or dim randomly

• Breakers/GFCIs trip more often than before

• “Burnt” smell at an outlet or warm receptacles

• Smart devices, TVs, or chargers died after the storm

• HVAC fan runs but no cooling/heating (board fault)

  
  

If you notice any of these, power down the affected circuit and call a licensed electrician.

What to Do After a Surge (Quick Checklist)

1. Visually inspect your main panel for scorching or loose wires (don’t touch).

2. Test GFCI/AFCI on devices press TEST/RESET; note any that won’t reset.

3. Check major appliances (HVAC, fridge, garage opener) for abnormal sounds, error codes, or non-start.

4. Document everything with photos and dates.

5. Schedule Elios for a Surge Safety Check and whole-home surge protection consultation.

   
   

Prevent the Next One: Whole-Home Surge Protection

A whole-home surge protector mounted at your main panel is the first line of defense, clamping high-energy spikes before they reach branch circuits. For full protection, we pair it with:

• Proper grounding/bonding (the “escape route” for surge energy)

• Point-of-use protectors for ultra-sensitive electronics

• Optional UPS units for computers/network gear to ride out sags and short outages

  
  

Elios installs UL-listed Type 1/Type 2 SPDs, sized and placed to protect real-world loads in Houston homes.

Why Houston Homeowners Choose Elios

• Licensed, local electricians who know Gulf-coast surge conditions

• Code-compliant panel work, grounding/bonding, and SPD installs

• Thorough diagnostics and insurance-ready reports

• Fast scheduling (same/next-day when available)

• Honest options: repair, replace, or upgrade with transparent pricing

Book Your Surge Safety Check Today With Elios

Don’t let hidden surge damage turn into an expensive failure. Schedule a Surge Safety Check with Elios today:

📞 855-463-5467🌐 letsgoelios.com

Elios is Power with Purpose, Protection with Precision.

FAQ

Does a power strip protect my whole home?No. Power strips only protect devices plugged into that strip. A panel-mounted whole-home surge protector protects all circuits.

Will insurance cover surge damage?Policies vary, but many cover surge-related appliance and electronics damage. Proper licensed documentation speeds claims.

Can I install a whole-home surge protector myself?We recommend a licensed electrician. Proper breaker sizing, conductor routing, and grounding/bonding are crucial for effective protection and code compliance.

How often should surge protection be checked?Annually, and after any significant storm or known surge event. SPDs can degrade after big hits, testing ensures ongoing protection.