Whole House Surge Protector Installation
How many times have you been working, cooking, or just relaxing at home and been interrupted by a power outage? Normally, these outages are little more than a minor inconvenience. But sometimes they are the result of a power surge that can fry your devices and render them useless.
A power surge can follow any wire in your home and threaten any device plugged in inside your house. Many homeowners have a false assumption that surge protection is simply a matter of plugging their devices into one of those low-cost, multi-outlet surge suppressors. But true protection must be hard-wired into your main electrical panel by a licensed electrician.
If you want to protect devices plugged into outlets everywhere in the home because you have a home office or because you own a lot of expensive electronics, schedule an appointment for whole house surge protector installation. It’s truly the most reliable way to preserve your devices and appliances.
What Is a Power Surge?
A power surge is a sudden increase in voltage that substantially exceeds the standard 120 volts. When a power surge happens, the wiring inside your devices overheats and starts to burn. This can be disastrous to complex devices, and in extreme cases can break them entirely.
Many modern homes have an abundance of important and expensive electronics and appliances, including computers, phones, stereos, televisions, and microwaves that can benefit from a whole house surge protector. In addition, many electronic devices have circuitry or microchips that are especially sensitive to fluctuations in voltage. Even a slight power surge can:
- Put a strain on the device
- Compromise its performance
- Destroy it
What Causes Power Surges?
One of the most common reasons for power surges is the operation of heavy-duty electrical devices. Refrigerators, air conditioners, and clothes dryers are just a few large appliances that require a significant amount of electricity to switch motors and compressors on and off. Devices that have heating elements, such as toaster ovens, electric kettles, and coffee makers, can also cause power surges on some circuits.
Toggling high-power electrical equipment and devices can create heavy demands for electricity that can disrupt the constant flow of voltage in the electrical system.
The following can also cause power surges:
- Faulty electrical wiring
- Downed power lines
- Problems with utility company’s lines, transformers, or other components
- In some cases, lightning can cause power surges. This is rare, though it does happen more often in areas with frequent thunderstorms. Lightning may increase electrical pressure in wiring by millions of volts, overwhelming even the best power strip style surge protector.
What Is a Surge Protector?
When you hear the words “surge protector,” you probably picture a power strip with several devices plugged into it. Surge protectors work by passing electrical current from an electrical outlet to the devices plugged into the strip. A surge or spike above the designated level causes the surge protector to automatically redirect the “extra” electricity into metal oxide varistors (MOVs) inside the power strip.
Household power strips do help protect against power surges, but they offer limited protection for devices and usually must be replaced after one power surge.
How Does a Whole House Surge Protector Work?
Whole house surge protectors work in much the same way as household power strips, but they are built to withstand multiple power surges over the course of many years. They also protect all the appliances and devices receiving power from the electrical panel it’s wired to.
Whole house surge protectors are a smart way to keep all your sensitive electronics and valuable appliances safe from electrical surge damage. (You can find out more on our blog about how they work and why you might want whole house surge protection.)
Schedule Your Whole House Surge Protector Installation
If you’re ready to upgrade your home’s surge protection, call Mr. Electric. We install whole house surge protectors in a fast and friendly manner. Before you know it, your whole house will be protected from power surges. Call (844) 866-1367 or click to request a quote from your local Mr. Electric.