10 Things That Break First When the Power Goes Out

When the power cuts out, you’re usually thinking about food, flashlights, or maybe your fridge. But certain appliances and systems are more vulnerable than you’d think—especially if the outage happens during a storm or surge. If you’re not prepared, you could be looking at some expensive repairs before the lights even come back on.

These are the first things that tend to give out when the grid goes down, and it’s worth knowing what you can do now to protect them.

Your Fridge Compressor

The fridge isn’t just about keeping food cold—it’s also one of the first appliances to get stressed by a sudden loss of power. The compressor can wear out fast if the unit is cycling on and off too much during flickers or brownouts.

When the power comes back, a surge can hit it hard, especially if you don’t have a surge protector. If your fridge starts running loud or doesn’t cool evenly after an outage, this is probably why.

HVAC System

Heating and cooling systems don’t handle power cuts well, especially if it’s the middle of summer or winter. If your system was running at full blast when the outage hit, that hard stop can put strain on the motor and internal electronics.

When power returns, an unprotected HVAC system can take the brunt of any voltage spikes. That’s why surge protectors and smart thermostats with recovery delay settings are worth it.

Internet Router and Modem

Routers and modems may not seem fragile, but they’re usually plugged in 24/7 with zero protection. A power surge—either right before or right after the outage—can fry them fast.

If your internet never comes back online after the lights do, this is probably where the damage is. A battery backup or surge-protecting power strip can make all the difference.

Well Pump

If you rely on a well, the power going out means no water—and your pump might not bounce back as easily as flipping a switch. Power loss mid-cycle can short the motor or damage the pressure switch.

Some well systems have overload protection, but not all. If your water doesn’t come back after power does, your pump may have taken the hit.

Garage Door Opener

Garage door openers are more delicate than you’d think. If the outage cuts power during a cycle, it can throw off the internal programming or cause the motor to stall.

If your opener doesn’t respond afterward or makes a weird noise, you’re not imagining things. Manual release levers help, but consistent power surges can shorten the lifespan of the unit.

TVs and Gaming Consoles

Flat screens and gaming systems aren’t essential, but they’re known for being fragile. If they were on during the outage, or connected to an unprotected outlet, they’re easy targets for power surges.

Even if they still power on, weird screen flickers or random shut-offs can point to internal damage. Unplugging them during storms or outages can save you a headache.

Freezer

Like the fridge, your standalone freezer takes a hit when the power cuts out, especially if it’s older or packed full. The temperature swings can be rough on the compressor and internal sensors.

If your freezer won’t get cold again after a long outage, or the alarm keeps going off, it might’ve burned out. A surge protector or backup power source helps extend its life.

Water Heater (Electric)

An electric water heater is out of commission during an outage—but if it’s not protected from surges, it can be permanently damaged. Heating elements and thermostats are especially vulnerable.

You might not notice the problem until hours or days later when the water still isn’t heating. If your model has a reset button, try that first—but don’t assume it’s working fine after a storm.

Security Cameras and Smart Systems

Anything smart in your house—cameras, thermostats, or smoke detectors—tends to be sensitive to sudden power cuts and spikes. Some systems don’t automatically reboot, or they lose settings altogether.

If your cameras aren’t responding or your smart home is acting weird, the outage probably scrambled something. Battery backups or hardwired surge protection help keep things stable.

Sump Pump

If your sump pump runs on electricity and the power goes out during a heavy rain, that’s a recipe for flooding. And if it tries to start up after the power returns but the motor’s damaged, you might not even realize it failed until it’s too late.

Battery backups or water-powered sump systems can give you some insurance. You don’t want to be in the middle of cleanup before realizing your pump didn’t come back online.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.