Post-storm electrical safety checklist Adelaide wide — warning signs and when to call an electrician
During the colder months when it's rainy and windy, our team at SA Metro Electrical will often get called out to diagnose and repair electrical issues arising from damage created by storms. Storms, and the electrical damage that they cause such as outages, damaged lines and circuit boards, etc., can leave behind hidden electrical issues — moisture exposure, surge damage, or faults that don’t show up until you switch things back on. If anything feels unsafe, the safest move is to call our experienced, qualified teams of professional electrician here at SA Metro Electrical.
This post-storm electrical safety checklist Adelaide home and business owners can refer to will provide you with general guidance, as well as highlighting warning signs, what to watch for after a storm or outage, and when to treat it as urgent - because we pride ourselves on our superior customer service, and it's important to us that we educate our customers wherever possible.
For non-urgent work, tell us your suburb and what the job is, and we'll confirm scope and the next step. SA Metro Electrical is based in Hendon and proudly services all Adelaide metro areas including Adelaide CBD, West Lakes, North Adelaide, Henley Beach, Unley, Norwood, Prospect, Mawson Lakes, Burnside and Glenelg.
After a storm or outage - what to watch for
Surge damage vs other faults — simply explained
The safest way to confirm the cause of your electrical issue is always through a professional site assessment.
If your site is storm-exposed or you’ve had repeated issues, you may want to discuss:
Planning multiple rooms
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Switchboard condition and whether protection is appropriate for your setup
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Whole-home surge protection options (where suitable) — risk reduction only
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Outdoor power and lighting suitability in exposed areas (site dependent)
Ceiling fan installation
Full install & replacement service
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Domestic electrician
Related home upgrades and fixes
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Contact us
Request a quote
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Next steps
Commercial electrician
Assistance for businesses and offices
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Lights flickering, outlets not working, or intermittent power (power coming on and off randomly)
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Electrical appliances behaving unusually after power returns
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RCD or breaker trips that start occurring after the storm event has passed
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Any visible damage to outdoor electrical points, lights, or cabling (site dependent)
Urgent warning signs - call now
If you notice any of these, treat it as urgent
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Burning smell, smoke, heat marks, or buzzing from the switchboard
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Visible arcing, sparking, or scorch marks on outlets or the board
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A breaker or RCD that won't stay on after one reset
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Water exposure near outlets, fittings, roof spaces, or the switchboard
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Partial outage issues ("half the house is out") or repeated tripping after the storm
Surge-related issues
Can affect sensitive electronics and protection devices — often shows up immediately or in the days following a storm event.
Moisture and pre-existing faults
Can cause faults in fittings, cabling, and outdoor points — sometimes only becoming apparent after an outage or when conditions change.
What an electrician inspection typically involves
Every site is different, but an inspection after storm or outage damage commonly covers:
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Make-safe first
If there is any immediate risk, the priority is isolating the affected circuit or area before any further testing or work begins.
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Switchboard and protection device checks
Assessment of the switchboard and RCDs or breakers, where relevant to the reported issue (job dependent).
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Testing to isolate causes
Testing to distinguish surge damage from moisture ingress, pre-existing faults, or other contributing factors.
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Clear explanation and options
You'll receive a plain-English explanation of what was found, and clear options for next steps before any additional work proceeds.
Proudly serving Adelaide metro and surrounding suburbs
We service all Adelaide metro areas north, south, east and west, including the Adelaide CBD, Norwood, West Lakes, North Adelaide, Henley Beach, Unley, Prospect, Mawson Lakes, Burnside and Glenelg.
Not sure if you are in range? Call and we will confirm.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What are common signs of storm-related electrical damage?
A: Repeated tripping, partial power loss, burning smells, buzzing/arcing, heat marks, or water exposure near electrical points can be warning signs. If anything feels unsafe, call immediately.
Q: Should I keep resetting a breaker/RCD after a storm?
A: If it trips again after one reset, don't keep resetting it. If there's any heat, burning smell, arcing, or water exposure, call immediately.
Q: Do I need surge protection after a storm?
A: Not always, but it can be worth discussing if your site is storm-exposed or you've had repeat issues. Surge protection is risk-reduction only and can't prevent all damage.
Q: Do you provide 24/7 emergency callouts?
A: Absolutely - at SA Metro Electrical our teams of expert electricians provide 24/7 emergency callouts to the majority of Adelaide metropolitan suburbs. Callout fees may apply depending on the scope of the job - if it's urgent, call us immediately any time of the day or night on 0422 453 425.