Voltage spikes can shorten the life of every electronic device plugged into your outlets. Many surges actually start inside the home, from motors and compressors cycling on and off. Others come from the grid, lightning, or utility switching. Even running the dryer and dishwasher at the same time can cause a small surge. A whole-house surge protector installed at your panel can stop most of these before they reach your devices.
A rise and fall in power can cause considerable wear and tear on your electronic devices. Those with microchip processors are often the most vulnerable, as are smaller electronics such as laptops, kitchen appliances, and TVs.
How do storms cause electrical damage?
Heavy storms bring wind and rain that can disrupt the power in your home. The result can be hours without power and damaged electrical devices. Before the next storm threatens your electronics, have our electricians check your system.
How does whole-home surge protection work?
Point-of-use surge protection sits between the wall outlet and the device, protecting it from damage. You can even protect your phone and data lines from surges. For broader coverage, a whole-house surge protection device installs at your electrical panel and helps shield everything downstream.
What are the benefits of whole-home surge protection?
A whole-house device sits at your panel and clamps voltage spikes before they travel through your circuits. That protects:
- Appliances with sensitive electronics (dishwashers, refrigerators, HVAC control boards)
- Computers, TVs, and anything storing data
- Smaller devices that a plug-in strip might miss
Most whole-house surge protectors cost between $200 and $500 for the device, plus installation. Compare that to replacing a $1,500 HVAC control board or a $2,000 refrigerator.
Safety
A large enough voltage spike can arc across wiring and start a fire. A surge protector at the panel reduces that risk by diverting excess voltage to ground before it reaches your circuits.
Which appliances are at risk from power surges?
Many of today's appliances can be damaged by a surge. A spike can permanently disable electronics. Common targets include:
- Dishwasher
- Dryer
- Washer
- Television
- HVAC system
- Printer or fax machine
If you want to protect the personal information stored on your PC and other devices, we can help. Reach out to Peach Electric for a free, upfront estimate on whole-house surge protection.