Do Brownouts Harm Electronics? How to Protect Your Appliances

Brownouts are one of the lesser-known electrical problems you might encounter compared to blackouts. Brownouts still leave you with some electricity in your home, but they can potentially damage your appliances and devices due to the lower voltage levels. While it’s hard to determine when exactly they might happen, there are a couple of ways you can better prepare your home and appliances for them.

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What Are Brownouts?

Brownouts are a drop in voltage in your home’s electrical system. The main difference between a brownout and a blackout is that blackouts completely eliminate the power in your home, while brownouts simply reduce the available supply. You might notice a brownout when the lights in your home start to flicker and dim, appliances turn on and off randomly and some areas of your house have power while others do not. While it may seem that brownouts are a preferable issue to deal with, they can have long-term consequences for your appliances and lead to damage if you aren’t prepared for them.

Brownouts are sometimes done deliberately by power suppliers to avoid a complete blackout during emergencies due to power grid overload. As a result, brownouts can last for a specific amount of time, whereas blackouts are hard to determine since repairs may be needed first. Unfortunately, there isn’t a direct way to prevent brownouts since that’s likely determined by the power grid in your area and emergency situations. However, there are steps and devices you can get to reduce the damage they cause.

How Brownouts Damage Appliances

Appliances and devices in your home typically require a certain voltage level to function correctly. During a brownout, your appliances won’t always get the sufficient electric supply needed. In some circumstances, it just means you won’t be able to use them at all, but in others it might cause overheating. Overheating can occur when the motor in appliances like washing machines or air conditioners attempts to draw more power even though it’s not there, leading to heat buildup. Brownouts can also be a possible fire hazard. Overheated or damaged electrical components and a sudden power surge once a brownout is finished can cause fires.

If your home is experiencing a brownout, disconnect all devices and appliances unless absolutely needed. The low voltage and the power surge after the brownout ends can harm devices, which is why it’s sometimes best to simply disconnect them even if they’re still usable. Perhaps just keep one lamp plugged in so you know when the brownout ends. If you aren’t sure whether you’re experiencing a brownout or if it’s another electrical issue around your system, call your utility company to confirm.

While you might not need to worry too much about lights and lamps, other appliances like your televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and computers are a different story. Since these devices have a higher demand for electricity than others, the risk of damage is much higher. It’s best to unplug them from power if possible to prevent damage from power surges.

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How You Can Protect Appliances From Brownouts and Power Surges

While it’s hard to tell when brownouts will happen during emergencies, there are a few ways to protect your appliances from brownouts when and after they happen. Homeowners and business owners who handle sensitive equipment will find it beneficial to be prepared ahead of time.

Uninterruptible power supplies are one of the most common ways to protect appliances from brownouts. They act as a power backup for your home's essential appliances and keep things working when you can’t rely on the power grid. These devices also have voltage monitoring that detects low voltage and switches the supply to battery power to protect them. Uninterruptible power supplies can be used for both blackouts and brownouts. These short-term energy solutions can provide battery power anywhere from five minutes to an hour, and you’ll find products for home devices to industrial-level equipment.

Installing surge protectors can keep your appliances safe from the aftermath of brownouts. Surge protectors take up any excess voltage from a power surge that can occur after a brownout. While it won’t do much to protect the low voltage your device receives while a brownout is happening, it’s more of a protection for excess voltage. You can buy surge protectors for appliances individually, but investing in a whole-house surge protector might be more cost-effective.

Homeowners can also use voltage regulators, which are another form of brownout protection device that is slightly different from uninterrupted power supplies. Voltage regulators measure the voltage levels for appliances and adjust them as needed by either increasing or decreasing the voltage using a transformer. They will keep voltage levels stable, but they aren’t a power supply.

Getting a routine electrical inspection from a trusted professional is another way to ensure your home is prepared for any electrical issues. An electrician can inspect your wires and panels to ensure they’re in good condition and can safely handle brownouts if needed. They can also help you determine if any of your electrical components, like your breaker box, wires or outlets, need replacement or repairs. They can also let you know if you need to upgrade your electrical system to handle the additional demand from modern appliances.

Buying more modern appliances can be worth it as well. Apart from being more energy efficient, some latest appliances have a built-in voltage detection system that can shut off power going to the device if the voltage is too low or too high.