After the storm: the hidden home problems to check for

The storm's passed and the power's back, but the heating hasn't come on, the fridge is silent, or the drains are gurgling.

After a storm, most of us check the obvious things first: the fence, the roof tiles, the garden. But some of the most disruptive problems are the ones you can't see from the window. Power cuts, surges and heavy rain can leave your boiler, appliances, drains and electrics struggling long after the wind has dropped.

At Go Assist, our engineers see a rise in these call-outs every time a storm rolls through. Here's what to check, what you can safely sort yourself, and when it's time to call in an expert.

Boiler not working after a power cut?

Even gas boilers need electricity to run, so a power cut will always switch off your heating and hot water. Most boilers start up again on their own when the power returns. If yours doesn't, work through these checks.

Safety first. Don't touch your boiler if:

• You can smell gas. Turn off the gas at the meter if it's safe to, open windows, leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
• Your carbon monoxide alarm is sounding.
• There's water leaking from the boiler or around it.

If everything looks normal:

1. Check the display. A flashing light or fault code often means the boiler has locked out. Your manual will tell you what the code means and whether it's safe to reset.
2. Press the reset button once. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. If it locks out again, don't keep resetting it, as that can hide a real fault.
3. Check the timer and thermostat. A power cut can wipe the clock on your programmer, so your heating may simply be waiting for the wrong time of day.
4. Check the pressure gauge. Most boilers sit between 1 and 1.5 bar when the heating is off. If it's dropped below 1, your manual will explain how to top it up.
5. Look outside at the flue. High winds can blow leaves or debris against the flue terminal, the pipe where fumes leave your home. If it looks blocked or damaged, don't use the boiler until it's been checked.

If your heating still isn't working but your hot water is, our guide to central heating not working but hot water is fine walks you through the next steps. For anything else, our Gas Safe registered engineers can find the fault with a boiler repair visit.

Appliances not working after a power surge?

A power surge is a sudden spike in voltage. In a storm, it can happen when lightning strikes nearby or, more often, when the power comes back on after a cut. That spike can damage the electronics inside appliances, even ones that were switched off but still plugged in.

Signs an appliance may have been damaged:

• It won't switch on at all, or the display stays blank
• It shows an error code it didn't have before
• It starts but stops partway through a cycle
• There's a burning smell, or the plug or socket looks scorched

If you notice a burning smell or scorch marks, switch off at the wall, unplug the appliance and don't use it again until it's been checked.

Otherwise, try these simple checks:

1. Check the socket. Plug in something small, like a phone charger, to see if the socket itself is working.
2. Check the plug fuse. A surge can blow the fuse in the plug. Replacing it with one of the same rating is a quick fix.
3. Check your fridge freezer. Make sure it's cooling again within a few hours. If food has started to defrost, check the Food Standards Agency's guidance before refreezing.

If an appliance still won't behave, our engineers can repair most makes and models, from fridge freezers to washing machines, ovens and dishwashers.

Drains overflowing after heavy rain?

Heavy rain can push more water into your drains than they can handle, especially if they're already partly blocked with leaves, silt or grease. When that happens, water has nowhere to go but back up.

Signs your drains are struggling:

• Gurgling from sinks, baths or toilets
• Water draining slowly, or not at all
• Outside drains or gullies overflowing
• A bad smell from plugholes or outside drains

What you can safely check yourself:

1. Clear outside gullies. Wearing gloves, lift away leaves and debris from the grate over any outside drain.
2. Check your gutters and downpipes. If they're overflowing, they may be blocked higher up. Only clear them if you can reach safely from the ground.
3. Give it time. If the whole street's drains are struggling after a downpour, they may clear once the rain stops. If your drains are still slow a day later, the blockage is probably in your own pipes.

If you notice sewage backing up into your home, or a smell that won't go away, that needs looking at straight away. Our guide to a sewage smell in the house covers the common causes, and our plumbers can clear stubborn blockages with our drain unblocking service.

Electrics still tripping?

If your fuse box trips when the power comes back, or keeps tripping in wet weather, water may have found its way into an outdoor light, socket or cable. Don't keep resetting a switch that won't stay up, and never touch the fuse box if it's wet or you can smell burning.

Our guide to telling a power cut from a tripped fuse box walks you through resetting a tripped switch safely. If the fault won't clear, our electricians can trace it with our electrical fault finding service.

Before the next storm: a quick checklist

A few minutes now can save a lot of hassle later.

• Find your fuse box and stopcock so you're not searching in the dark.
• Clear gutters and outside drains of autumn leaves before heavy rain arrives.
• Save the 105 power cut number in your phone. It's free and puts you through to your local network operator.
• Keep a torch and spare batteries somewhere easy to reach, and use them instead of candles.
• Unplug sensitive electronics like TVs and computers if a storm is forecast, to protect them from surges.
• Get your boiler serviced so small faults are spotted before a cold snap. You can book a boiler service online in a couple of minutes.

Need an engineer?

Whether your boiler won't restart, an appliance has stopped working or your drains won't clear, our engineers can get things back to normal, often the same day or the next. Book online in a couple of minutes or call us on 0333 733 1234.