After a Gold Coast Storm: 5 Electrical Checks Every Homeowner Must Do

Let’s Be Real for a Second

You know how Gold Coast storms are, right? One minute you’re sitting outside, sun on your face. Next minute, the sky turns black, wind starts screaming, and rain comes down like someone tipped a bucket over your head. Then, just as fast, it’s over. Quiet. Birds come back out. You walk outside to check if the trampoline ended up in the neighbour’s yard again.

But here’s something most people forget – your electricity.

After heavy rain, water can get into places it shouldn’t. Inside walls, around power points, even near wiring. You might not notice it straight away, but it can turn into a real problem if left unchecked.

That’s why it’s a good idea to have an electrician Gold Coast locals trust take a look if anything seems off after a storm.

After the next big downpour, take 20 minutes and walk around your place. Look, smell, listen. You don’t need tools. Just pay attention. If something doesn’t feel right, get it checked.

Here are five simple things to look out for.

Check 1 – Stop and Smell. Seriously

This sounds silly, but trust me. Walk into each room. Stop. Take a breath through your nose.

What are you smelling for?

·         A fishy smell. Not from dinner. A weird, plastic-fish smell means wires are getting too hot.

·         A damp, musty smell near a power point. That usually means water snuck in behind the wall.

Now look around:

·         Any black or grey marks around a plug or light switch?

·         Melted plastic? Even a little bit?

·         Water stains on the wall under a power point?

·         A light fitting that looks crooked or has water drops inside?

If you see or smell any of that, don’t touch it. Don’t plug anything in. Don’t flick the switch to see if it works. Just call a licensed electrician.

I’ll tell you a quick story. My aunt lives in Runaway Bay. After a storm, she kept smelling something weird near her bedroom power point. She thought it was old carpet. A week later, the power point started buzzing. The electrician pulled it out and water poured from the wall. He said she was days away from a fire. So yeah. Trust your nose.

Check 2 – Push That Little Test Button

Okay, this one is so easy it almost feels silly. But almost nobody does it. I forget too, if I’m honest.

Go find your switchboard. It’s usually in the garage, laundry, or hallway. Look for little buttons marked “T” or “Test”. Those are your safety switches. Their job is to cut power if something goes wrong like if water gets into a power point and you touch it. They save lives.

Here’s all you do:

·         Push the test button on each safety switch.

·         It should click to the “off” position straight away.

·         Then flick it back to “on”.

That’s it.

But here’s the problem. If you push test and nothing happens? Or it won’t click back on? That switch is dead. You have no protection on that circuit. Don’t use any power points or appliances on that circuit until an electrician replaces it.

I know a bloke in Nerang who skipped this check. After a storm, his daughter got a zap from her bedside lamp. Just a small one, but enough to scare her. The safety switch never tripped. It had died during the lightning. He felt awful. A simple test would have told him something was wrong.

So please. Just push the buttons. Takes two minutes.

Check 3 – Look at Every Power Point That Got Wet

If water came inside your house – even just a little puddle – you need to be careful. Water gets into places you’d never guess.

Here’s what to do:

·         Don’t plug anything into a damp power point. I don’t care if it looks dry on the outside. Water seeps in from behind.

·         Don’t try to dry it with a hair dryer. I’ve seen people do this. Please don’t be one of them.

·         If you know which breaker controls that power point, turn it off.

·         Call an electrician to open it up and check inside.

What about appliances that got wet? Like your TV, toaster, or phone charger? Unplug them if it’s safe. Leave them unplugged in a dry room for at least two days. And honestly? Get an electrician to look at them before you use them again.

Why? Because water leaves minerals behind. Even after everything looks dry, those minerals can cause a short circuit. That can start a fire – sometimes a week later.

I learned this one myself. My shed got a little water in it after a big storm. I dried everything off. Thought it was fine. Three days later, my old radio started smoking. The electrician said water had gotten inside and left residue on the circuit board. Lucky I was standing there when it happened.

Check 4 – Look at Your Switchboard (But Keep Your Hands Off)

Your switchboard is the brain of your home’s electricity. Storms can hurt it even if your lights still turn on.

Just stand in front of it and look:

·         Any black soot or burn marks?

·         Melted plastic anywhere?

·         Rust or water stains on the metal box?

·         Hear any buzzing or crackling?

Now gently touch the front cover with the back of your hand. Is it warm? Hot? That’s not normal. Something inside is overheating.

If you see or feel any of that, do not open the switchboard. Do not touch the breakers. Call a licensed electrician Gold Coast locals know for storm callouts. They have the gear to do it safely.

I made this mistake once. After a storm, half my power was working and half wasn’t. No breakers had tripped. I almost opened the switchboard myself. Luckily, I called a sparky instead. He opened it up and found a lightning surge had melted the main connection inside. He said if I had touched it, I could have been badly hurt. That scared me straight.

Check 5 – Walk Around Outside

The outside of your house always gets hit hardest. And outdoor electrical stuff is the most dangerous after a storm.

Take a slow walk around your home. Look at:

·         Your air conditioner – any water inside the electrical panel?

·         Pool pump and timer box – any flood damage?

·         Outdoor power points – are the covers still sealed shut?

·         TV antenna or satellite dish – is it bent or hanging loose?

·         The power line that runs from the street to your house – any broken or hanging wires?

If you see a wire down on the ground or hanging low:

·         Stop. Do not go near it.

·         Keep your kids and pets away.

·         Call Energex on 13 19 62. They handle the main lines.

·         Then call an electrician.

One more thing – your garden tools. After a storm, everyone wants to clean up fallen branches. But if you use an electric chainsaw or hedge trimmer, check the cord first. If the cord is cut, frayed, or wet, don’t use it. And never use an electric tool on wet ground. That’s how people get killed. I’m not being dramatic. It happens.

When to Pick Up the Phone Right Now

Some things can wait until morning. Some things can’t.

Call someone immediately if:

·         You smell fish or burning plastic anywhere.

·         A safety switch won’t reset no matter how many times you try.

·         You see sparks or smoke from any power point, switch, or appliance.

·         A power point is wet and you can’t turn off the circuit.

·         You have no power but your neighbours all do.

It can wait until tomorrow if:

·         One power point is dead but everything else works fine.

·         A light globe blew and the fitting is completely dry.

·         One appliance stopped working but others on the same circuit are fine.

Even for the small stuff, book an electrician within the week. Hidden damage only gets worse.

A Quick Word about Handymen

I know a good handyman is worth their weight in gold. But please – don’t let a handyman touch your electrical system. In Queensland, it’s illegal for anyone but a licensed electrician to do electrical work. And if something goes wrong later – like a fire – your insurance won’t pay a cent. I’ve seen it happen. It’s not worth the risk.

If you’re unsure about anything, just call a licensed electrician Gold Coast locals trust. A service call might cost $150 to $200. That’s nothing compared to your house burning down or someone getting hurt.

Let’s Wrap This Up

Look, storms on the Gold Coast are just part of life. We can’t stop them. But we can be smart afterwards.

Don’t just check the fence and the garden. Take a few minutes. Walk through your home. Use your nose. Use your eyes. Push those test buttons. Look at your power points. Check your switchboard from the outside. And walk around outside.

Most of the time, you won’t find anything wrong. That’s great. But if you do find something, you’ve caught it early. And that could save your home. Or someone’s life.

Stay safe out there. And remember if you’re not sure, call a pro. Don’t guess with electricity. It’s not worth it.