Do you have sophisticated appliances and electronics in your home? In the world we live in today, everyone has them and it is likely that you do to. If this is the case, you should safeguard your electronics from potential surges using whole house surge protectors.
Consider the times that you’ve seen lights flickering in your house, or your computer locking up for no good reason! It turns out that it takes as short as a millisecond for a power surge to take place which is just a fraction of the time your eyes take to blink. Unfortunately, we often take these little spikes lightly, but what we do not know is that, the spikes are capable of greater damage to a home than we can’t often fathom unless it has happened to your before.
Now, you might be wondering “what can I do to prevent power surge issues?”. The best, most affordable and simple way to avoid these losses is to install a whole house surge protector in your home. Below, you will find more information on how whole house surge protectors work and what they do.
Protecting electronics before a surge
Fact: Most dangerous surges originate from appliances and systems like AC units and not from the breaker itself. This may cause you to ask yourself “Then, why would I need a whole house surge protector at the breaker panel?”. The answer to this is actually fairly simple. Appliances like an air conditioning unit are on a dedicated circuit which pushes power surges straight to the breaker itself which is the cause of damaging distribution of electricity. Essentially, if a surge effects one appliance, it can effect the others as well.
This is where whole house surge protectors comes in and blocks the surge stemming from the appliance or system in order to protect everything else in your house. Comforting, right?
Which grade surge protector do I need?
If you want to go the safe route, an 80kA-rated surge protector can efficiently protect most homes with a volt service of 120. As a standard rule for homes with subpanels, you should ensure that you have added half the main kA protection of the unit. But, if you are located in an area that is prone to lightning strikes and heavier storms, you should install a surge protector with a 80kA rating or better. You should also do the same for houses located in close proximity to heavy machinery.
Coverage beyond the whole house surge protector
Whole house surge protectors are are specifically designed to stave off the damage that can be triggered by power surges. But, did you know that surge protection is not only needed at the panel, but also at the point of origination? Did you know that if you have a device or appliance that is sending surges through a certain circuit that is not dedicated but is shared with other devices, it can make the other devices susceptible to power surges? It’s important to speak to your electrician about proper electrical wiring, other preventative methods and information related to this topic to ensure you are well informed and protected when it matters the most.
If you’d like more information on whole house surge protectors or how you can further protect your home from surge related damages, contact colonial electrical services today at (757) 347-8820. Or, fill out our quick contact form with details related to your inquiry.