Protect Your Home with Surge Protection

Home surge protection is crucial for safeguarding your electronic devices and home’s electrical system from damaging power surges. A home power surge can occur for many reasons, such as lightning strikes, faulty wiring or power grid issues.

While you can’t control power surges from happening, you can do something to protect your home and the valuable electronics it contains. By understanding and implementing whole-home surge protection, you can prevent costly repairs to your electrical system, safeguard expensive electronics and extend the life of your electrical appliances.

Understanding Power Surges

Home power surges are sudden, extreme increases in voltage that can damage your electrical panel, electronic devices and home wiring. They can be triggered by lightning strikes, power outages or even when large appliances like refrigerators or air conditioners turn on and off. These surges can cause significant harm to sensitive electronics, causing them to malfunction or completely fail. They also can increase the risk of electrical fires in your home.

How House Surge Protectors Help

House surge protectors work by acting as a barrier between your electrical system and the high voltage that causes surges. They divert the excess electricity away from your devices and wiring, which prevents damage and ensures the safety of your home’s electrical system.

Potential Damage from Power Surges

Power surges can cause severe damage to your electronics and your home’s wiring. Appliances such as computers, televisions and refrigerators can be severely damaged or ruined by spikes in voltage. Surges also may require electric panel repair or degrade your home’s wiring over time, which not only shortens the life span of your electrical components but also increases the risk of electrical fires.

The impact of power surges can be costly and dangerous, which is why many people invest in whole-home surge protection in their home. Today’s homes typically have thousands of dollars in electronic devices and computer equipment, all of which can be destroyed by a power surge. Those who work from home are even more vulnerable to a power surge, as their work computers are their livelihoods and may contain valuable data that could be lost forever as the result of a power surge.

Different Types of Surge Protectors

There are several types of surge protection devices or systems available to suit different needs, including:

Whole-house surge protectors: The best surge protection available, whole-home surge protectors are installed at your electrical panel or main circuit breaker to protect all the wiring and devices in your home.
Point-of-use protectors: Plug into wall outlets and protect individual devices.
Power strip surge protectors: Include multiple outlets and are often used for home electronics, but do not offer the same level of protection as a whole-home surge protector.

How Whole-House Surge Protectors Work

A whole-house surge protector is installed directly into your home’s electrical panel. It monitors and diverts excess voltage away from your home’s electrical system, providing protection for all devices and appliances connected to your home’s power supply. This type of protection ensures that power surges are effectively managed before they can reach your electronics equipment and electrical system.

Benefits of Installing Surge Protection

Prevents costly repairs: Protects electronics from damage and reduces repair costs.
Extends appliance life span: Reduces wear and tear on devices caused by surges.
Enhances home safety: Minimizes the risk of electrical fires due to surges.
Provides peace of mind: Ensures your valuable electronics are safe.
Increases home value: Adds an extra layer of protection that can be attractive to potential buyers.

When to Consider Home Surge Protection

Installing home surge protection is a good idea if you live in an area prone to frequent storms, have a home with older wiring or own valuable electronic devices. Additionally, if you’ve experienced power surges or outages in the past, it may be a good time to invest in whole-home surge protection as surges can occur when power comes back on after an outage.

Choosing a Professional Electrician vs. DIY Installation

While DIY options for surge protection are available, it’s often best to hire a professional, certified electrician to handle the installation of whole-home surge protection. A professional ensures that the system is correctly installed and meets all safety standards, providing peace of mind and effective protection.