Storm Season is Here! Protect Your Appliances
What to Do for Your Appliances Before, During, and After a Power Outage
Power outages have a way of arriving at the worst possible time. A storm rolls through, a transformer blows down the street, and suddenly the refrigerator stops humming and you're standing in the kitchen wondering what you're supposed to do next.
Most of the concern people have is about food, and rightfully so. But appliances themselves deserve a little attention too. The good news is that a little common sense goes a long way. Most appliances survive outages just fine. Knowing what to watch for before, during, and after can save you from an unnecessary repair call, or help you catch a real problem before it gets worse.
Why Outages Can Be Rough on Appliances
Modern appliances aren't just switches and motors anymore. Most of them have electronic control boards — essentially a small computer that tells the machine when to start, stop, heat, cool, drain, or lock. When power cuts out suddenly, that process gets interrupted. When it comes back, most appliances restart without a problem. Some may need a reset. A few might show an error code.
The bigger concern is a power surge — a brief spike in voltage that can happen when electricity is restored. Surges can damage sensitive electronics, which is why it's worth unplugging non-essential appliances before a major storm if you have the chance.
One more thing worth knowing: GFCI outlets (the kind with the little test and reset buttons, common in kitchens, laundry rooms, and garages) can trip during an outage. If an appliance isn't working after power comes back, check whether the outlet needs to be reset before assuming something is broken.
Before the Storm: The Short Version
Here's the honest truth about storm prep for appliances: most of it boils down to one rule — don't start appliances you don't need to.
Dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, and self-cleaning ovens all run long cycles. If a storm cuts the power mid-cycle, you could end up with a washer full of water and a locked door, a dishwasher that won't drain, or an oven stuck in a locked self-clean mode. None of those are catastrophic, but all of them are annoying and potentially expensive to sort out. If bad weather is on the way, just wait.
The one appliance that's the exception to that rule is your refrigerator, because you can't turn it off. Here's how to set it up to weather the storm:
Lower the temperature a degree or two before the outage hits, so it starts colder. If your freezer has open space, fill it with frozen water bottles or bags of ice. A full freezer holds its temperature significantly longer than a half-empty one. A packed freezer can stay cold for around 48 hours with the doors closed; a half-full one is closer to 24. Your refrigerator will hold for about 4 hours on its own.
It's also worth taking a quick photo of the model and serial number tags on your major appliances before storm season. If you need service afterward, that information helps the technician research parts and come prepared.
During the Outage: Keep the Doors Closed
Once the power is out, the single most important thing you can do for food safety is resist opening the refrigerator and freezer. Every time you open the door, cold air escapes and the clock on your food safety window shortens.
If you do need something from the refrigerator, decide what you want before you open it, grab it quickly, and close the door. Don't stand there browsing.
If the outage is going to last more than four hours, move the most important perishables (meat, dairy, eggs, leftovers) to a cooler with ice.
A few safety notes: never run a generator inside the home, in the garage, or near any windows. Carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless, and it's a genuine danger. And a gas oven or range is not a heating appliance. Don't use it to warm the house.
If the power flickers on and off before fully stabilizing, it's worth unplugging sensitive electronics and small appliances during the unstable period and waiting until power is steady before reconnecting them.
After Power Returns: What to Check
Give appliances a few minutes before deciding something is wrong. Refrigerators in particular may delay compressor startup to protect the system, and digital controls may need a moment to reset. Clocks will flash. That's all normal.
Before calling for service, check two things: your breaker box and your GFCI outlets. A tripped breaker or a tripped outlet accounts for a surprising number of "the appliance won't turn on" calls after a storm.
Refrigerator and freezer: Check the temperature with an appliance thermometer rather than relying on the settings or smell. If perishable food has been above 40°F for four or more hours, it needs to go. That's a frustrating reality, but food can be unsafe even when it looks and smells fine. When in doubt, throw it out.
After power returns, the refrigerator may run longer than usual as it works to cool back down. That's normal. What's not normal is if it's still warm several hours later, if it's tripping the breaker, or if it's making loud new noises.
Ice maker: Ice that melted and refroze during the outage tends to clump together and isn't something you want in your drinks. Dump the old ice, clean the bin if needed, and give it time to make a fresh batch.
Washers and dishwashers: If either stopped mid-cycle, try canceling or running a drain cycle once the power is stable. If the door is still locked, water won't drain, or you see water on the floor, that's a service call.
Ovens and ranges: Many ovens won't operate at all until the clock is reset. That's by design. Reset it first, then test. If the control panel is blank, the door is locked, or the oven won't heat, call for service. And if you smell gas at any point, leave the home and contact your gas provider before anything else.
When to Call Cavalry
A lot of what happens after a power outage is normal — clocks flashing, delayed cooling, longer run times. Don't panic over those.
But these are signs that something needs professional attention:
The appliance won't turn on even after you've checked the breaker and GFCI outlet
The breaker trips every time the appliance starts (don't keep resetting it)
The refrigerator or freezer isn't cooling several hours after power is restored
A washer or dishwasher won't drain or the door is stuck locked
You see water leaking from an appliance
You smell burning, see sparks, or hear unusual buzzing
A high-end appliance is showing a repeated fault code or service message
Power outages can create hidden issues inside appliances, things that may not be obvious at first. If something seems off, a diagnostic visit is worth it before a small problem becomes a bigger repair.
The Bottom Line
Most appliances come through outages without a scratch. A little preparation—keeping the fridge cold, leaving cycles unstarted, knowing where your breakers are—goes a long way. After the power's back, take a few minutes to reset controls, check temperatures, and listen for anything unusual.
Not sure if what you're hearing or seeing is normal? That's exactly what Cavalry is here for. We'd rather help you sort it out early than see a manageable problem turn into something bigger.