Arizona's monsoon season runs from June through September, bringing dramatic lightning storms, microbursts, and flash flooding. Each of these poses specific risks to your home's electrical system. Here's how to prepare and respond.
Before the Storm
- Install whole-home surge protection. Lightning-induced surges are the #1 cause of appliance damage during monsoon season. A panel-mounted surge protector costs $300-$500 and protects everything.
- Check outdoor outlets and fixtures. Make sure outdoor outlet covers are the in-use type (not flat flip covers), and that all outdoor circuits have GFCI protection.
- Trim trees near power lines. Falling branches on overhead service lines cause most residential outages during monsoons.
- Consider a standby generator. If you lose power for more than a few hours in July, your home becomes dangerously hot. A generator keeps the AC running.
During the Storm
- Unplug sensitive electronics if you don't have whole-home surge protection
- Avoid touching electrical equipment if there's standing water nearby
- If your power goes out, check if neighbors have power too — if they do, the problem may be your service line
After the Storm
- Check for damage to your electrical service mast (the pipe running up the side of your house to the power lines)
- If you smell burning or see scorch marks near outlets, shut off the circuit and call an electrician
- If floodwater entered your home, do not restore power until an electrician has inspected the affected circuits
Monsoon damage to electrical systems isn't always visible. If your home took a nearby lightning strike or experienced flooding, schedule an inspection even if everything seems to be working.