What to do when Lightening Strikes your Phone System

Living in either Florida or Texas, residents will be very familiar with extreme weather. Besides ruining a day at the beach or a softball game, thunderstorms and weather related events can cause power interruptions and surges that wreck havoc on telecom, data equipment, and related devices. So what should a business do when a phone system is down or damaged by power issues of weather?

• Power Cycle your phone system– to begin with, you should turn the phone system off and then back on. Depending on what type of system you are using in your business, that may be accomplished several ways. If you have a Nortel/ Norstar/Meridian, consult this page for instructions.  For other systems, there is sometimes a power switch which can be flipped off, left for a moment, and then flipped back on. If that is not evident, then you can unplug your system at the wall outlet, leave for a minute or two, and then plug it back in. Sometimes these operations reset the system properly and it will come back up; however, if there is physical damage from the power interruption, this will not solve the issue.
• Call CSM South– After cycling your phone system, either give CSM South a call (813-961-9351) or email our Service Department, service@csmsouth.com. Our phone is monitored 24/7 and our email from 8-5 M-F.  A tech will be dispatched to access the situation and can advise what should be done next. It may be as simple as replacing some lightening protectors on your lines, which is very inexpensive, it could be replacing some parts on the telephone system such as line cards, station cards, or appliances. If more extensive damage is done, the system itself may need to be replaced. A technician can determine the best steps so that you can make an informed decision.
• Insurance– It should be noted at this point that most business insurance policies cover damage sustained from lightening or power surges. Organizations should consult their policies or insurance agents for additional information. If it is indeed determined that power or weather was related to your service issues, CSM is happy to write a letter or speak with insurance companies as required for your claim.

CSM South has been in business since 1984, assisting clients who have been affected by weather or power issues with service calls on their phone systems.  Please contact us if you are experiencing problems with your telephone system and you suspect that they may be damaged by lightening, power issues, or weather.

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