Refrigerators and Helco

[maud gonne]

We've had several small blackouts (brownouts?) from Helco in the last few weeks. Now my relatively new refrigerator seems to be running constantly. Does anyone know if there's a relationship (i.e. damage caused by)between blackouts and fridges running? Not that helco would admit it or pay for it...

[opihikao]

Sorry to hear that, maud.

HELCO does have a form for claims potentially resulting from surges due to blackouts, etc. Maybe you should just file a claim and see what happens. I haven't done one in a long while, but it might be worth the time.

Hopefully you have it still under warranty?

[Seeb]

get a volt meter, recording type if can or just something you can leave pluged in. its like a roller coaster.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

I submitted a clain to HELCO for a computer that blew a motherboard and hard drive in one of the many recent outages. HELCO first sent a line inspector to make sure it wasn't my wiring, then claimed under PUC Rule # 16 they "excercised reasonable diligence and care." They also replaced the transformer outside my house the week after it happened (coincidence?) so I'm pursuing the claim.

[terracore]

Get extended warranty through appliance seller.

[Green]

I had a tree cut down and so had helco come out and drop the power lines that were in the way. A week or so later the circuit breaker box at the house had a meltdown, coincidence ?
Anyway Helco denied my claim.

[maud gonne]

Thanks for the tip Opihikao, I will file a grievance, and see if Helco will do the right thing - although I have my doubts. The refrigerator just passed its one year warranty. But I have heard from appliance salesmen that damage caused by power surges from power companies are not covered. If it's not too late, I'm thinking of getting an appliance surge protector if there is such a thing. BTW, the last blackout was caused by yesterday's geothermal eruption I believe.

[ericlp]

thinking of getting an appliance surge protector ...

Well, yes there such things. But mostly in Hilo Brown out's are the problems around here.

Just so you know a surge protector won't do anything for brown outs or bumps in the line. A surge only protects against spikes in the power.

The only way to be sure is a UPS but whole house UPS's are expensive since you'd need a bank of batteries and smart switches to shut things down safely after a power failure. I am sure they make refrigerator UPS but it's probably expensive. At that rout you might as well get on Solar. And not grid tie. Helco has the worst power around and I just built a new computer with no UPS. I am thinking of putting it on solar tho. So. I might hold out on buying a UPS.

You should check out this site.

http://www.dansdata.com/diyups.htm An interesting read.