Most homeowners think of power surges as dramatic events caused by lightning strikes. While lightning is certainly one cause, the reality is that most power surges are much smaller and more frequent. These everyday surges come from within your own home — every time a large appliance like your air conditioner, refrigerator, or washing machine cycles on and off, it creates a small surge on your electrical system.
What Is a Power Surge?
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A power surge is a brief spike in voltage that exceeds the normal 120 volts delivered to your home. These spikes can last only a fraction of a second, but they can damage or degrade the sensitive electronic components inside your appliances, computers, televisions, and smart home devices. Over time, repeated small surges can shorten the lifespan of your electronics significantly.
Common Causes of Power Surges
Power surges can come from several sources:
- Lightning strikes near power lines
- Utility company power grid switching
- Large appliances cycling on and off inside your home
- Power restoration after an outage
- Downed trees or accidents affecting power lines
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How Whole-Home Surge Protection Works
A whole-home surge protector is installed at your electrical panel and acts as a gatekeeper for all the electricity entering your home. When it detects a voltage spike, it diverts the excess energy to the ground wire, preventing it from reaching your circuits and devices. This provides protection for every outlet in your home, unlike plug-in surge protectors that only protect the devices plugged directly into them.
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Plug-in power strips labeled as surge protectors provide limited protection and degrade over time. They should be used as a secondary layer of defense, not as your only protection against surges.
Need Professional Help?
Protecting your home from power surges is a relatively affordable investment that can save thousands of dollars in damaged electronics and appliances. a licensed electrician installs whole-home surge protection systems that safeguard your entire electrical system.
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