All About Whole-Home Surge Protectors
Electricity is necessary in every home for comfort and safety. Avoiding interruptions in electrical service and protecting devices is imperative all year, including during the holidays. One of the hazards that threatens to interrupt holiday plans is power surges. Here is a guide to preventing damage from power surges, discussing surge protector installation.
How Power Surges Cause Damage
Despite what people may think, the power in the home is not perfectly consistent. Powering a grid means that available power must be constantly changing to meet the demands of houses, factories, and businesses tied to the grid. When demand drops suddenly, excess power is available from the grid and flows into homes and businesses. This event is called a power surge, an increase in voltage.
Another common cause of power surges is lightning strikes that overpower the grid and cause massive damage to power lines and homes. When all that extra power flows into a home, it can easily damage sensitive electronics and appliances. It can also expose weaknesses in wiring, outlets, or the grounding system in the house. Luckily, there is a way to stop the damage from power surges without relying on numerous power strips and unplugging every electronic device and appliance that is not in use.
Benefits of Whole-Home Surge Protectors
A whole-home surge protector is the easiest and most effective way to protect a home from power surges. These devices are installed in the breaker panel, so when excess power threatens to pour into the house, they trip and stop the flow so that it won’t cause damage.
Whole house surge protectors do a great job protecting devices and appliances plugged into a home’s electrical outlets as well as those that are hardwired into the home, so homeowners don’t have to worry about power surge damage and the cost of replacing damaged electronics and appliances.
When to Replace Old Surge Protectors
Surge protectors do their job for years before they need replacing. But after around three to five years, they often need to be replaced, depending on the number of power surges they have experienced. If areas are more prone to power surges, they will require replacement more often.
One way to tell if surge protector replacement is needed is if the warning light that indicates it has reached the limit of joules it can absorb turns on. If homeowners suspect that their whole home surge protector is reaching the end of its lifespan or see the indicator light turn on, they should call an electrician to check if it needs replacement.
About Southwest Florida Electric Inc.
Southwest Florida Electric Inc. is a family-owned and operated company serving Fort Myers, FL, and the surrounding areas. They provide upfront pricing, the latest technology, and attention to detail. Call them today for a whole home surge protector installation in Fort Myers, FL.
