How to Protect Your Appliances from Load-Shedding and Power Surges

The outage itself rarely breaks anything. It's the moment the power comes back, sometimes with a spike, sometimes flickering on and off, that kills control boards and compressors. A few habits and the right protection prevent most of what we repair after an outage.

Written by the Absolute Repairs & HVAC technicians, from repairs we do every week across Gauteng · Updated 20 October 2026

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Quick answer

To protect appliances from load-shedding, switch off or unplug big appliances like aircons, washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers when the power goes, and wait a few minutes after it returns before switching them back on. Use good plug-in surge protectors on the fridge, TV and computer, and ideally fit a surge arrester at the distribution board to protect the whole house. If an appliance dies after an outage, unplug it and have it tested. It's often a repairable board, relay or fuse.

Why outages damage appliances

Spikes when power returns: the grid can come back with a surge that's too much for sensitive electronics.
Flickering on and off: rapid on-off cycles are hard on compressors and power supplies.
Everything starting at once: fridges, geysers, pumps and aircons all starting together cause a dip, then a spike.
Fridge compressors restarting too soon: a compressor that restarts before its gas pressures have settled can struggle, overheat and trip its protection.

Appliance by appliance

Fridges & freezers

Plug them into a surge protector, ideally one with a short delay before restoring power. Keep the doors shut during outages and the food stays cold for hours.

Aircons

Switch them off at the remote or isolator when the power goes, then wait a few minutes after it returns before switching on. Inverter boards are especially sensitive. See inverter vs non-inverter.

Washing machines, dishwashers & dryers

Don't start a cycle shortly before load-shedding. If the power cuts mid-cycle, switch off at the wall, wait for the power to settle, then restart.

Stoves & ovens

Switch off at the isolator during outages so nothing comes on unexpectedly. Elements can also trip the earth leakage when power returns. See stove tripping the power.

Which surge protection actually helps?

Type	What it does	Best for
Plug-in surge protector	Absorbs spikes at the plug	Fridges, TVs, computers, routers
Plug with a power-return delay	Waits a few minutes before restoring power after an outage	Fridges, freezers and aircons, to protect compressors
Surge arrester at the distribution board	Protects the whole house from incoming spikes, fitted by an electrician	Every home, especially in storm-prone areas

A surge arrester at the board plus plug-in protection on the most valuable appliances is the best combination.

If an appliance dies after an outage

Unplug it and don't keep switching it on to test it.
Check the obvious: the plug, the socket, and whether the earth leakage or a breaker has tripped.
Note the date and time of the outage, and photograph the appliance and its rating plate.
Have it tested. Surge damage is often a control board, relay, fuse or power supply, not the whole appliance.
Claiming insurance? Most insurers want a technician's report. We do surge damage reports for R850 plus the R350 call-out.

Recent examples from our jobs: a KIC fridge in Kyalami with a surge-damaged compressor, and a Smeg oven in Randburg with a burnt control board.

Frequently asked questions

How do I protect my fridge from load-shedding?

Plug it into a surge protector, ideally one with a delay before power is restored, keep the door closed during outages, and consider a surge arrester at your distribution board.

Should I switch off appliances during load-shedding?

Yes for aircons, washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers and stoves. Switch them off, then wait a few minutes after the power returns before switching back on. Fridges can stay plugged in through a surge protector.

Does load-shedding damage appliances?

The outage itself rarely does. The spike or flickering when power returns can damage control boards, power supplies and compressors.

My appliance stopped working after load-shedding. Can it be fixed?

Often, yes. Surge damage is usually a board, relay, fuse or power supply. We test it and give you a fixed repair price.

Will insurance pay for appliances damaged by a power surge?

Many policies cover it, but it varies. Your insurer will usually want a technician's report. Check your policy and ask us for a surge damage report.

Appliance dead after an outage?

WhatsApp us what stopped working, when the outage happened, and the model number. If you're claiming insurance, tell us and we'll do a surge report. Monday to Saturday, 07:30–17:30.