20 Jul Do You Need A Whole House Surge Protector?
Do your appliances suddenly stop working, even though you only got them a few years ago? Do you have dozens of power strips strewn around your house? Have you ever left a device plugged in during a thunderstorm, only for it to stop working?
It might be time to consider a whole-house surge protector. Power strips simply aren’t enough to protect your sensitive electronics.
New Light Electrical and Plumbing Services have the best staff of fully licensed electricians in Raleigh. We are one of the Triangle Area’s top electric service providers, and we provide a variety of residential electrical services.
We can help you assess whether a whole-house surge protector is the best choice for you, and, if it is, we will expertly install it.
What Causes Power Surges?
A power surge is a jolt of electricity that can damage your electrical devices. They often last less than a second, but they send tens of thousands of volts through your wiring.
Power surges are so powerful that they can fry circuit boards, devices like modems or phones, or even appliances like refrigerators or washing machines.
One of the most violent types of power surges is lightning-induced surges. If you’ve ever unplugged your devices during a thunderstorm, then you are familiar with them.
If you live in the Triangle area, you may have already called a Raleigh electrician to deal with a lightning power surge. After all, North Carolina ranks 6th in the nation for lightning strike damage.
However, lightning power surges are not as common as you might think. Lightning has to strike within less than a mile of your home to cause damage. The most common causes of power surges are less dramatic.
Downed power lines, electricity use at a nearby factory, or even energy-sucking devices like air conditioners, laser printers, or dryers cycling on and off can create a damaging power surge. You might not even notice that a power surge is happening.
Sometimes, these subtler power surges have immediate consequences, such as a fried circuit breaker. Sometimes, you don’t notice the power surge’s effects until an appliance stops working a year later.
What Is a Whole House Surge Protector?
A whole house surge protector, also known as a whole house suppressor, is like a superpowered power strip; it’s just hard-wired to your service panel, and it protects all of your home’s appliances.
Whole house surge protectors work by blocking or redirecting excess electrical currents.
To protect phone and cable lines, including devices such as fax machines, televisions, and modems, you may opt for a second, separate surge protector.
Whole house surge protectors are typically able to stop surges of 40,000 amps or more, but they are not completely infallible. Therefore, you should still combine a whole house surge protector with plug-in surge protectors.
As technology continues to advance, causing our devices to become more refined and sensitive, whole-house surge protectors are a necessity.
A coordinated surge protection strategy protects your home from power surges of all types, but it is not a DIY project. You will definitely need a local Raleigh, NC electrician like New Light to install it.
So to answer the question, “Do you need a whole house surge protector?” Yes.
Residential Electrical Services with New Light
When you have New Light install your whole house surge protector, you don’t just get our expert, licensed Raleigh electricians.
You also get our staunch commitment to customer service, reliable, professional work, follow-up visits, and warranties up to $70,000.
We are a local, family-owned company of Raleigh electricians and plumbing experts. We put you and your needs first, unlike some other electric service providers you may have dealt with.
That’s why all of our employees are paid hourly. They never receive any incentives to upsell you, and they will never try to talk you into something you don’t need.
Contact us today to get the best electricians in Raleigh, NC for your whole house surge protector and other electrical needs.
