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We often talk about electrical fire hazards Ting detects inside the home — things like faulty wiring, overheating outlets, or failing devices. But Ting also detects utility-related fire hazards that occur outside the home in damaged service lines, transformers, and other equipment. These hazards often follow storms, when electrical systems are put under stress.
Of the 20,000+ fire hazards Ting has detected to date, more than one in three were utility-related. Many of these were traced back to damage caused by severe storms or hurricanes.
High winds, heavy rain, and lightning can cause power surges, brownouts, and outages that leave behind hidden hazards both inside and outside your home. These problems can linger for days (or even weeks) after the skies clear and may not always be immediately visible or known to the utility until Ting brings them to light. Left unchecked, these hazards can put homes at serious risk for costly damage or fire.
Here are five common storm-related electrical fire hazards Ting has caught with steps you can take to help stay safe.
How can Ting help you stay safe during extreme weather? In addition to providing fire hazard alerts, the Ting App also sends notifications for severe weather warnings and important power updates (outages, brownouts, and surges) that may affect your home or neighborhood during storms. This helps keep you informed and safe if a lightning strike, downed power line, or water infiltration causes a dangerous fire hazard in your home.
1. Damaged or Loose Neutral Wires
After storms, Ting has detected countless hazards caused by loose, damaged, or disconnected neutral wires often from wind-damaged lines or fallen branches. These faults can cause dangerous voltage swings, putting your home and appliances at risk of failure or fire.
What you can do to help stay safe:
- If you notice persistent flickering lights, dimming, or unusually bright bulbs after a storm, contact your utility company immediately.
- Avoid using high-powered appliances until the cause is resolved.
- Contact your utility if there are trees and branches near your home’s power lines.
Ting alerted us of a potential issue with the neutral wire following a storm. Our house was exposed to repeated power surges for the next several days. We contacted our power company and told them do a beast test if nothing was resolved. Problem was fixed. If it weren’t for Ting, I wouldn’t have known the extent of the problem.
– Scott A. | Pennsylvania
2. Surge Damage from Lightning Strikes
Even if lightning doesn’t hit your home directly, it can travel through grid equipment and damage electrical panels, control boards, and other components. Ting has spotted hidden surge damage after severe storms, allowing repairs before bigger problems occurred.
What you can do to help stay safe:
- Unplug sensitive electronics during severe storms when possible.
- After storms and nearby lightning events, watch for unusual appliance behavior like strange noises, error codes, or failure to power on.
- Have a qualified electrician inspect your system if you suspect lightning damage.
We had a bad lightning storm at our home which caused damage. Ting started sending me text and messages warning about power surges. Finally, it gave me a warning about a fire hazard due to the voltage surges. My power company found that the lightning had damaged the transformer that feeds our house. They quickly changed it out and finally the voltage is back to normal. Ting saved our appliances, and possibly our home from burning down, that possibly saved our lives!
– William D. | Alabama
3. Overheated Panels and Breakers
Repeated outages, brownouts, or surges during and after storms can overheat wiring, breakers, and panel connections. Ting has alerted homeowners to burnt bus bars, fried breakers, and loose connections — hazards that can easily started a fire.
What you can do to help stay safe:
- Be alert to signs of overheating like a burning smell near your panel or warm-to-the-touch breakers.
- Schedule a professional inspection if your panel is more than 20 years old or shows signs of wear.
- Never reset a breaker repeatedly without finding the cause.
- Keep your panel area dry and free of obstructions to allow proper ventilation.
We had suspected we might have an electrical issue after lights would dim or flicker sporadically. It got worse after the last storm and power outage. Within hours, Ting alerted us to an arcing and voltage issue. Our electrician found severely fried breakers and a burnt-out bus. He had never heard of Ting and was super impressed with their knowledge when he talked with them by phone. We feel very lucky.
– Melissa W. | New Hampshire
4. Water Intrusion into Electrical Equipment
Heavy rain and flooding can cause water to find its way into panels, outlets, and exterior circuits. Ting has detected hazards caused by stormwater inside breaker boxes, corroded wiring, and even submerged outdoor light circuits.
What you can do to help stay safe:
- Check outdoor outlets, light fixtures, and service entrances for signs of water after storms.
- Seal any gaps where wiring enters your home to prevent water entry.
- Do not use electrical equipment and electronics that have been submerged in water, such as circuit breakers, fuses, outlets, or plugs – have your licensed electrician inspect any water-damaged equipment.
- Never step into a flooded basement if water may be in contact with electrical outlets, appliances, or cords.
- Consider elevating outdoor electrical equipment in flood-prone areas.
Water from a rainstorm was getting into my electrical panel from an opening in an outside cable. Ting alerted us to the problem. An electrical contractor came and swapped out our old panel and brought everything up to code. The problem is now resolved and I’m very happy with the Ting team’s service and response.
– Kevin M. | Michigan
5. Utility Equipment Failures
Storms can damage transformers, meters, and service lines; problems that often go unnoticed until Ting flags repeated surges, brownouts, or abnormal voltage patterns. These alerts have led to utility crews replacing damaged equipment before it caused major damage.
What you can do to help stay safe:
- Document the timing and nature of the problem to help utility crews diagnose faster.
- Avoid DIY repairs — utility crews should handle it.
Ting notified me that I was having power surges and brownouts immediately following a severe storm and then notified me of a fire hazard. I contacted my utility company. It turned out that the main electric wire from the pole to the house was deteriorated. The wire between the neighbor and myself was also in the same condition. Both 70-year-old wires were replaced. I am very grateful to Ting.
– Carolyn K. | Pennsylvania
While you can’t avoid severe weather, you can help protect your home from the silent electrical hazards it leaves behind. Ting is on the lookout for these dangers 24/7 and works with you to get them resolved quickly, helping prevent costly damage and keeping your home’s electrical system safe.
Your role is just as important: stay alert to warning signs, take action when something doesn’t seem right, and follow proper safety precautions before, during, and after a storm.
Ting is designed to detect early signs of electrical hazards before they become fires. But like all safety tools, it has limits. If Ting loses power during an outage, it can’t detect hazards until electricity is restored — and it can’t prevent sudden, catastrophic events like lightning strikes or power surges that cause instant damage. While it’s proven to prevent 4 out of 5 electrical fires, always trust your senses. If you see, hear, or smell something that concerns you, reach out to us right away.
