Surge protection shields electrical systems and devices from sudden spikes in voltage. Spikes, more commonly known as power surges, can happen during storm season when lightning strikes, strong winds or heavy precipitation hit buildings and power systems. Without proper protection, surges may damage electronics, appliances, electrical components and wiring. Storm season brings increased risks of power interruptions and fluctuations, making surge protection critical. By diverting excess electricity away from your devices, surge protection mitigates the risk of damage significantly. Investing in surge protection at your home or business cuts the risk of costly repairs and downtime.
Definitions
A surge protector is a system that stands between devices and voltage spikes. Voltage spikes often occur due to lightning strikes, power outages or sudden changes in electricity flow. Surge protectors detect excess voltage and redirect it safely to the ground before the excess voltage can damage your devices. For example, a typical lightning strike might impart more than 5,000 volts into a home system that’s only rated at 120 volts.
There are two main types of surge protectors, whole-house and point-of-use. Whole-house surge protectors connect to your home’s electrical panel, providing broad protection for everything on the system. Similar options are available for whole-building protection at businesses. Point-of-use surge protectors, most commonly power strips, safeguard specific devices, such as computers or TVs.
A whole-house surge protector has the advantage of providing a significantly greater capacity. It also provides blanket coverage and peace of mind. Point-of-use systems are cheaper and lend themselves to DIY solutions in most cases. However, many aren’t rated for high-capacity devices or large surges.
Using surge protectors helps extend the lifespan of your electronics by shielding them from harmful power surges. They also reduce the risk of costly repairs or replacements. Whether you’re worried about high-end appliances or everyday devices, surge protectors are the best way to protect your investment.
Benefits of Surge Protection
Power surges during storms may have severe effects on electronic devices and appliances. When excess voltage flows through electrical circuits, it can overheat sensitive components, cause short circuits or even destroy wiring. Worse, the damage isn’t always immediately evident. You might only notice the damage days or weeks later when a system stops working. In extreme cases, damaged devices can even cause fires.
Common appliances vulnerable to power surges include computers, televisions, refrigerators, HVAC units, phones on chargers and home entertainment systems. These devices rely on delicate circuits that are easily overwhelmed by a sudden surge of power. For example, a lightning strike could fry the motherboard of a computer or cause a refrigerator’s compressor to burn out. Even smaller electronics, like microwaves and routers, can suffer damage from voltage spikes.
The impact of a power surge goes beyond the immediate loss of equipment. It can lead to expensive repairs, replacements or even the loss of valuable data. Likewise, damaged communications equipment could cut you off from phone and internet connectivity. In areas with frequent storms or unreliable power grids, surge protection is essential.
How Storms Threaten Electrical Systems
During storm season, multiple electrical issues can disrupt homes and businesses. Lightning strikes are among the most dangerous, causing voltage surges that can damage electronics and appliances. Strong winds and heavy rain can knock down power lines, leading to outages that might last for hours or days. Snow and ice can weigh down power lines, causing them to disconnect. Flooding can also cause short circuits in electrical systems on your property or out on the grid.
Notably, efforts to recover from a storm can threaten your electrical systems just as much as the storm itself. As the electric company reconnects sections of the grid and lines, there is always a tiny risk of a surge going through the system and hitting your location. Also, there are risks while the system is down associated with backup power systems in your neighborhood. If a neighbor incorrectly connects their backup power in a way that feeds energy into the grid, it can trigger a surge when the main power returns. The electricity will find somewhere to go, and that somewhere could be your place.
Large blackouts are notable risks, too. If multiple grid sections and power companies have to restore power, the various parties have to carefully restore each section. In some cases, they even have to briefly disconnect power in grid sections that didn’t suffer outages from the initial event. Every step of this careful restoration of power carries the risk of triggering a voltage surge.
Preparedness is essential. Our electricians can configure your home or business with a series of systems like grounding, whole-building surge protection and a backup generator to maximize electric availability and minimize safety risks.
Choosing Surge Protection Solutions
When choosing a surge protection solution, consider factors like the coverage area and the type of devices you want to protect. If you’re looking to protect an entire home or business, a whole-house surge protector is the simplest and likely cheapest option. It connects directly to your electrical panel, safeguarding all your building’s circuits and connected devices from power surges. Also, a whole-house surge protector provides the most possible capacity, making it ideal for protecting HVAC units and other high-capacity systems.
Conversely, point-of-use surge protectors are suited to defending a handful of smaller devices like computers, televisions and small appliances. These protectors plug directly into outlets. They are also best for locations that don’t have many high-value systems. However, be careful in choosing a point-of-use system. Check the protector’s rating to ensure it’s a good match for everything you’ll plug into it. Also, test the grounding in the outlet you plan to use to verify that it’s operational.
Long-Term Considerations
Maintaining a surge protection system long-term is important. Surge protectors wear out over time, especially after absorbing multiple surges. Check the system’s indicator light to confirm that its status is still fully operational. Keep the manual around so you can quickly check what the different indicator lights mean.
If the protector shows signs of wear or damage, replace it promptly to avoid risks. Burn marks, heat discoloration and odd smells all indicate that something may have happened. The protector’s housing could also develop cracks. Any exposed wiring is a bad sign, too.
If you have whole-house surge protection, we can schedule periodic inspections. A good rule of thumb is to schedule an inspection at least once every three years. However, you should also schedule an inspection if you suspect there was a recent surge. For example, a business may want to arrange an inspection after a major storm just to be sure.
Black Lion Heating & Air Conditioning performs both residential and commercial electrical work at locations in King and Snohomish Counties, WA, and parts of Pierce County. Our electricians are prepared to handle installations, repairs, maintenance, inspections and upgrades. We perform work on breaker boxes, electrical panels, outlets, switches, whole-home generators, lighting fixtures and fans.
If you need help with a surge protection system at your home or business, contact Black Lion Heating & Air Conditioning today.