How to protect your restaurant against surges

Voltage spikes due to local area power outages or lightning strikes are a reality for most people. The surge of a power surge that occurs when electricity rushes through the electrical circuit can cause devastating results for businesses and restaurants.

Restaurants are constantly dependent on electricity as it affects the number of customers they get. If a restaurant closes due to a power surge that electrocutes all the kitchen equipment, it means that revenue is lost during that period. As a restaurant owner, you need to plan what you would do in such a case and how to prevent it.

The first thing you might do is install a surge protector. This surge protector can minimize the impact of a surge when lightning strikes. Therefore, electrical catering equipment will not receive that rapid surge of electricity that can cause a power failure. The consequences of a sudden electric shock can be devastating, as the electricity can burn or destroy the circuit board of an electrical appliance.

You might consider using gas-powered catering equipment, such as a gas stove and oven. For restaurants, there are 6 burner stovetop options available that allow you to cook more food at once. A gas stove and oven are not connected to an electrical outlet but to a gas cylinder. Therefore, during a power surge, this commercial catering equipment will be safe.

It is advisable to unplug your catering equipment when not in use during a storm. This way you can minimize the devastating effects of a storm. You can still continue restaurant duties using the minimum required catering equipment. Anything your staff isn’t using, unplug it while the storm is raging.

Check that your insurance covers the replacement of your kitchen equipment when lightning strikes. Most insurance companies cover this, but with others it is optional coverage. In the event that your catering equipment is damaged due to lightning, they should be able to replace it. However, take precautions anyway, because the time between the insurance payment and the electrical surge can be days or weeks apart and your restaurant still has to keep running.

The last thing you want is for all your electrical catering equipment to be damaged by lightning. Rather, take precautions before it happens and save yourself the burden and cost of having to replace catering equipment.