My refrigerator clicks but will not cool after the outage. What is wrong?

Usually the start relay or overload. It is a quick repair.

Should I unplug my refrigerator during a hurricane?

Only if you are evacuating or expect flooding. Otherwise leave it plugged in and keep the doors closed.

How do I know if food is safe after an outage?

If the freezer stayed below 40 degrees or food still has ice crystals, it is generally safe to refreeze. When in doubt, throw it out.

Can a surge damage a gas dryer?

Yes. Gas dryers have control boards and igniters that can be affected.

Will insurance cover surge damage?

Some policies do. We can describe in writing what failed if you plan to file a claim.

Checking Appliances After a Power Outage in Jacksonville

Quick answer

After a power outage, check that refrigerators and freezers restart and begin cooling, look for scrambled displays or error codes on electronic appliances, reset tripped breakers, and watch for appliances that stay dark. Restart and surge damage usually hits control boards, relays and fuses rather than motors.

Why outages are hard on appliances

Long outages are a real part of life here. When Hurricane Irma came through in 2017, about 284,000 JEA customers lost power at the peak and restoration took days. Shorter summer thunderstorm outages happen far more often.

The outage itself rarely hurts an appliance. The trouble comes when power returns: voltage can spike or sag, and every compressor in the neighborhood tries to start at the same time. Control boards, start relays and fuses take the hit.

First hour: refrigerators and freezers

Listen for the compressor and fans starting within a few minutes. Check that the freezer feels colder within an hour. If you hear a click every few minutes with no hum, the start relay or overload is struggling, which is a common post-outage failure.

Keep the doors closed until it is cold again. A full freezer kept shut holds food frozen for about two days, a half-full one about one, and a refrigerator about four hours. When in doubt about thawed food, throw it out.

Tripped breaker and GFCI outlet near a garage freezer

Electronic appliances that act strangely

Washers, dryers, dishwashers and ovens with digital controls sometimes come back with scrambled displays, lost settings or error codes. Turn the appliance off at the breaker for a minute and back on. That clears many glitches.

If the display stays dark, the appliance will not start or the same error returns, the control board or its power supply may be damaged. That is a repair for a technician.

Appliance dead after the storm? Check breakers first, then call. We answer 24/7.

Call (904) 907-8788

Breakers, outlets and GFCIs

Before assuming the appliance failed, check the breaker panel and any GFCI outlets nearby, especially in kitchens, laundry rooms and garages. A tripped GFCI in the garage is the most common reason a garage freezer stays off after a storm.

Electric ranges and dryers use double breakers; one half can trip while the other stays on, leaving the appliance partly working.

Protecting appliances before the next storm

Appliance-rated plug-in surge protectors help refrigerators, microwaves and washers. A whole-home surge protector installed at the panel by an electrician protects 240-volt appliances too. During a lightning storm, unplugging electronics and smaller appliances is sensible. Keep the refrigerator plugged in unless you are leaving.

If you need a hand