Melbourne’s west cops its share of wild weather. A strong storm can bring down service lines, drive water into light fittings and outdoor power points, and send surges through the house that knock out appliances. If it happens to you, here’s how to stay safe and how the insurance side usually works.
This is general information. Your insurer decides what your policy covers, so always check your policy and talk to them.
Safety first
- If a power line is down, stay well clear, keep others away and call the faults number on your electricity bill, or 000 if there’s immediate danger.
- If water has got into the switchboard, power points or light fittings, stay away from them. If it’s safe and the switchboard is dry, switch off the main switch.
- If you smell burning or see smoke or sparks, get everyone out and call 000.
- Don’t touch wet electrical equipment, and don’t use appliances that may have been damaged.
Then call an electrician to make the property safe. We take emergency calls 24/7.
Common storm damage we see
- Water in light fittings, ceiling roses and outdoor power points
- Safety switches that won’t reset after rain
- Damaged service lines or connections to the house
- Appliances, TVs and computers dead after a surge
- Switchboard damage, sometimes with a burning smell
- Garden lighting and outdoor power damaged by fallen branches
How a claim usually works
1. Make it safe
An electrician isolates damaged circuits and makes the property safe. Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, so don’t wait on this.
2. Document everything
Take photos and video of the damage before anything is repaired or thrown out. Include damaged appliances, water marks, the switchboard and any fallen trees or branches.
3. Contact your insurer
Report the claim as soon as you can. Ask what they need from you and whether they’ll send an assessor or accept a report from your own electrician.
4. Get an electrician’s report and quote
Insurers usually want to know what was damaged, what caused it and what it will cost to fix. We provide a written report with photos, our view on the likely cause, and a quote for the repairs. For damaged appliances, we can test them and report on whether a surge was the likely cause.
5. Repairs
Once the claim is approved, we do the repairs and issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety for the work. Keep a copy with your claim paperwork.
Tips that make claims smoother
- Don’t throw damaged appliances away until your insurer says you can.
- Keep receipts for emergency repairs and anything you had to buy.
- Write down the date and time of the storm and when you noticed the damage.
- Ask your electrician to note the likely cause in writing.
- Check whether your policy covers motor burnout and power surge damage. Not all do.
What a good electrical report includes
- the address and date of the inspection
- what was damaged, with photos
- the likely cause, such as water entry, lightning or a power surge
- which repairs are needed to make the installation safe
- an itemised quote for repairs and replacement
- test results for damaged appliances, where relevant
The clearer the report, the easier it is for your insurer to assess the claim.
Getting ready for storm season
- Test your safety switches with the Test button. Energy Safe Victoria recommends once a year.
- Check outdoor power points and lights for cracked covers or missing seals.
- Trim branches that hang over service lines to your house. If they’re close to the line, call a professional rather than doing it yourself.
- Keep a torch handy and know where your switchboard is.
- Think about surge protection for expensive electronics.
Power surges and protecting your gear
Surges can travel through the wiring when lightning strikes nearby or when power is restored after an outage. During a big storm or outage, unplugging expensive electronics is the simplest protection. Surge protection devices can also be fitted at the switchboard or used at the power point for valuable equipment. Ask us whether it suits your home.
For what to do during an outage, read what to do when your power goes out.
Landlords should also tell their property manager and renters what’s happening. A storm-damaged electrical fault in a rental is usually an urgent repair, and renters need to know when power will be restored safely.
Storm damage to your electrics?
We’re a family-owned, licensed electrical business based in Point Cook, with more than 25 years of experience. We work across Williams Landing, Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit, Truganina and the rest of Melbourne’s west, and we take emergency calls 24/7. Find out more about our insurance and storm damage service.
Call us on 0405 418 132, or send a few details and a photo of the job. Every job is quoted before we start.