A power surge is a sudden, temporary increase in the voltage of the current flowing through an electrical system. Some surges originate within the electrical grid, while others are confined to a building's electrical system. Surges from an issue such as a lightning strike can be extremely powerful, but luckily, this type of surge is quite rare. A more common type of surge can occur when the power in the local grid is restored after an outage. Once the power comes back on, the voltage in the grid can temporarily be higher than it should be. The most common type of surge is when the voltage within a home's electrical system suddenly increases as a result of a high-power appliance like a refrigerator, air conditioner, or heat pump shutting off. Power surges can be extremely dangerous, which is why surge protection is so important.

1. Protecting Your Appliances and Electronics

Any type of power surge has the potential to damage or completely destroy appliances, TVs, stereo systems, computers, and other sensitive electronic devices. This is one reason why surge protectors are essential: They can help the things in your home last longer and prevent you from having to repair or replace various appliances and electronics. All the electrical circuits, wiring, and appliances in a home are designed to work with either 120 or 240 volts. Nonetheless, appliances and electronic devices have a built-in tolerance level that enables them to continue working if the voltage is slightly higher or lower than it should be. Minor voltage fluctuations are quite common and usually don't pose a threat. The issue is when the voltage flowing into anything like a TV, refrigerator, or air conditioner is much higher and exceeds the device's tolerance level. When this happens, it often results in damage to microprocessors and other sensitive electronic components. Surges within a building's electrical system can happen multiple times a day and usually just cause damage over time, resulting in an appliance or device having a shortened lifespan. In cases where there's a major voltage spike, you can end up with sensitive electronic components instantly getting fried and the appliance or device no longer working.

2. Preventing Damage to Your Electrical System

A major surge in the grid also has the potential to cause extensive damage to various parts of your electrical system. That's because a high-voltage spike can knock out things like power outlets, circuit breakers, light switches, and light fixtures, resulting in them no longer working and needing to be replaced. You can also end up with some of your electrical wiring getting damaged, forcing you to have some of your electrical circuits rewired. These issues are why whole-home surge protection is so important since it can help prevent you from paying for expensive repairs to your electrical system.

3. Reducing the Risk of Electrical Fires

One of the biggest concerns from lightning and strikes and other major surges in the grid is that they can lead to a fire starting inside your house. Wiring and electrical components can get extremely hot when the voltage flowing through them is too high. The extreme heat can lead to components in an appliance or an electronic device catching on fire. It can also cause wiring within a wall, ceiling, or floor to start melting, leading to the internal copper wires being exposed. This is a serious concern since the bare wires can then touch and start producing sparks that have the potential to catch wood studs, joists, and beams on fire. If any of these issues were to happen and you don't immediately put the fire out, the flames could quickly spread and cause severe damage to parts of your house or even completely burn it down. This is yet another reason why surge protector strips and whole-home surge protectors are essential. They prevent voltage spikes from flowing through your electrical system and your appliances and electronics to ensure a surge doesn't result in a fire.

Understanding How Surge Protection Works

Many people believe surge protectors work the same way as circuit breakers by shutting off the flow of electricity, but this technically isn't the case. Instead, the way a surge protector works is that it diverts the excess voltage flowing through a live wire into a circuit or outlet's ground wire. In the case of a whole-home surge protector, it blocks the surge from entering your electrical system by diverting the excess voltage into the grounding rod connected to your electrical service panel. The technical term for this process is clamping, and all surge protectors are designed to clamp when the electricity flowing through them increases above a certain voltage. Let's say you have your TV plugged into a surge protector strip that's set to clamp at 600 volts. If there's a spike and the voltage increases to 700 volts, the strip would only divert 100 volts into the ground wire within the outlet it's plugged into. That means 600 volts would still flow out of the strip into your TV, which is still more than the TV can likely handle without experiencing at least some damage. This is why you want to choose surge protectors that clamp at a fairly low voltage since they will divert more power away from your devices or your electrical system in case of a whole-home surge protector.

Protect Your Entire Home with Whole-Home Surge Protection

A whole-home surge protector is your best defense against power surges, offering comprehensive protection for your home’s electrical system and everything connected to it. Unlike surge strips that only safeguard specific devices, whole-home surge protectors shield your entire home from external surges caused by lightning strikes, power grid fluctuations, or outages. Installing a whole-home surge protector ensures critical systems like HVAC systems, refrigerators, and washers are safe, reducing the risk of costly repairs or replacements. Additionally, combining a whole-home surge protector with surge strips for sensitive electronics like TVs and computers creates a layered defense that provides unmatched security against both external and internal voltage spikes. This simple yet vital investment protects your home, saves money over time, and gives you peace of mind during storms or unexpected outages.

Your Surge Protection Experts

Mister Sparky® is the one-stop shop for all your electrical needs. We're a locally-owned team you can trust to provide quality work at a fair price. Our licensed electricians specialize in surge protection and can also safely and professionally help with any other installations and repairs. We provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all work we perform and are available 24/7 for any electrical emergencies. If you want to ensure your home is safe from power surges, contact us today to schedule an appointment for a whole-home surge protector installation.