Picture this – you’re sitting at home watching your favorite TV show when suddenly… the power goes out. You wait a few minutes, and when the power comes back on, you notice that your TV won’t turn on anymore. After some investigation, you find out that a power surge caused by a thunderstorm fried your TV’s circuit board!
Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common, and power surges can cause significant damage to your home’s electrical equipment. The good news is that there is a simple solution that protects you much better than just buying a power strip: a whole-home surge protector.
Our pros at Veteran Air explain how a whole-home surge protector helps keep your electronics safe. Does this all sound good enough already? Schedule your appointment today by giving us a call!
What is a Power Surge?
A power surge occurs when voltage abruptly increases, potentially causing damage to your property’s electrical infrastructure.
Although storms usually come to mind, they can be caused by various things, including:
- Lightning strikes
- Power outages
- Faulty wiring in your home
- High-power appliances
In all these cases, there is a sharp increase in electrical voltage. This causes an excess amount of energy to flow through your home’s electrical system, which can damage or destroy electrical devices.
In the case of a lightning strike, the massive amount of electricity generated by the lightning can travel through power lines and cause a power surge.
What Damage Can They Cause?
The damage caused by power surges can vary depending on the severity and duration of the surge. In some cases, a power surge can cause immediate damage, such as a blown fuse or circuit breaker. Whereas in other cases, the damage may be subtle, such as reduced lifespan or degradation of your home’s electrical equipment over time.
Power surges don’t just affect devices you plug into an outlet, they can cause damage to your HVAC system, major appliances, and other electrical equipment that can’t be plugged into a traditional power strip. This is where the whole-home surge protector can help!
What is a Whole-Home Surge Protector?
A whole-home surge protector is a device that is installed on your electrical panel and acts as a barrier between your home’s wiring and the outside world. Whole-home surge protectors are designed to prevent power surges from entering your home’s electrical system in the first place, preventing damage to your electrical equipment.
How Do Whole-Home Surge Protectors Work?
A whole-home surge protector monitors the electrical current flowing through your home’s electrical system. When the surge protector detects a sudden increase in voltage, it activates and begins to redirect the excess energy away from your home’s wiring and into the ground.
These devices typically use one of two methods to redirect the excess energy:
- The diversion method – The excess energy is diverted into a metal oxide varistor (MOV) that absorbs the energy and shunts it away from your home’s electrical system.
- The blocking method – The excess energy is blocked from flowing into your home’s electrical system by using a series of switches.
Benefits of Installing a Whole-Home Surge Protector
As you can imagine, there are several benefits to installing a whole-home surge protector in your home. Here are just a few:
Protection for Your Electrical Equipment
As previously mentioned, a whole-home surge protector protects your home’s electrical equipment from damage caused by power surges. By preventing damage from power surges, you’ll save yourself the hassle and expense of having to replace damaged equipment.
Improved Safety
A whole-home surge protector can also improve the overall safety of your home’s electrical system. By preventing power surges from entering your home’s wiring, you’ll reduce the risk of electrical fires and other hazards.
Increased Home Value
In today’s world, more and more homeowners are becoming aware of the importance of surge protection. Having a whole-home surge protector installed can be a selling point if you ever decide to sell your home.
Additionally, having a whole-home surge protector shows that you take the safety and maintenance of your home seriously. As you should!
Protect Your Home with Veteran Air
It’s a no-brainer, whole-home surge protectors are a simple yet effective solution that can protect your home’s electrical equipment from power surges, improve the overall safety of your home’s electrical system, and increase the value of your home.
If you’re interested in having a whole-home surge protector installed in your home, be sure to contact a professional electrician, like us here at Veteran Air. Our team of experts can help you choose the right surge protector for your home and have it installed quickly and efficiently. Don’t wait – protect your home today with Veteran Air!
