Power outages, even brief ones, can cause more than just inconvenience: some household appliances are particularly vulnerable, and knowing how to protect them is essential to avoid costly damage. Whether you’re in Paris, Madrid, or Lisbon, the risks are the same, and understanding which devices are most at risk during a power outage can help you take the right measures to keep your home running smoothly.
Why are some appliances so vulnerable to power cuts?
Although a power outage may simply leave you in the dark, it can also cause serious internal damage to your appliances. Many devices, especially those with electronic circuits, are sensitive to sudden stops or surges when power is restored. Common household appliances like Internet boxes, televisions, gaming consoles, and washing machines can all experience malfunctions or even short circuits if not handled properly during a power outage.
Here’s an overview of why these devices are particularly susceptible to being damaged:
- Internet boxes, televisions, and gaming consoles: A sudden loss of power or a surge can damage internal components, rendering them potentially unusable.
- Washing machines and dishwashers: If power is interrupted during a cycle, especially during a cycle involving water, mechanical parts can be compromised or, in the worst case, a short circuit can occur.
- Computers and their peripherals: Losing power while processing files can lead to data loss or even hard drive damage.
For appliances such as washing machines, TotalEnergies recommends manually restarting washing programs or draining the machine’s water tank after an outage to avoid further damage.
Protecting your refrigerator and freezer during a power cut
Two of the most sensitive appliances during a power cut are your refrigerator and your freezer. These rely on a constant cold temperature to keep food safe, and when power is lost, this temperature can rise, spoiling your food in just a few hours. But don’t worry: there are a few simple steps you can take to mitigate damage:
- Do not open the door during the outage. This helps to keep the cold air inside as long as possible.
- A closed refrigerator can keep food cold for 4 to 6 hours.
- A full freezer can maintain a safe temperature for up to 24 hours, or 48 hours if it is half full, according to TF1.
A practical tip: Keep ice packs or frozen water bottles in your freezer in anticipation of a power cut. This can help maintain lower temperatures for longer.
However, after more than six hours without electricity, it’s important to throw away certain foods: meats, fish, seafood, opened dairy products, and cooked vegetables. If your freezer shows a temperature above 4°C when power is restored, discard any items that have lost their frost.
Insurance, surge protectors: solutions to minimize damage
If you are concerned about protecting your valuable appliances, you may want to consider some additional security measures. According to Fanny Limare-Wolf, CFO at L’Olivier Assurance, appliances less than five years old may be covered by electrical damage insurance, provided you have added this option to your home insurance policy. If you’re not sure, check your contract to confirm coverage.
To further protect your appliances:
- Install a surge protector (uninterruptible power supply or UPS). This device acts as a backup battery, ensuring that your appliances can be turned off properly and protecting them from harmful surges.
- Unplug sensitive devices when a power cut alert is issued (using services like EcoWatt).
- Once power is restored, manually reset your circuit breakers, especially if you use a Linky meter.
By taking these simple measures, you can help ensure that your appliances remain safe during power outages, saving you from costly repairs or replacements in the future.
