Many of today’s Texas homes have whole-house surge protection, and with good reason. A whole-house surge protector will protect the electrical devices and appliances in your home from destructive power surges.
Perhaps you’re wondering just how vital whole-house surge protection is. Many homeowners mistakenly believe that the power strips they’ve purchased and plugged their devices into are sufficient. For smaller surges and certain devices, it might be in the short term. Sometimes it’s the small power surges that accumulate over time that do the real damage.
Another important factor to point out is that whole-house surge protection begins in the electrical panel. A whole-house surge protector will safeguard your home from surges created by lightning.
As a Texas resident, you know all too well that lightning is a common occurrence in our great state. In fact, Texas leads the country in most lightning strikes per year, and in 2019 alone recorded more than 47 million lightning strikes.
But, did you know that up to 80% of power surges that happen in the home actually come from within your home. These types of surges happen when your major appliances cycle off and on.
If you leave your home unprotected from surges, you’re taking a considerable risk. Electronics and appliances are expensive investments. Whole-house surge protection is the best way to protect those investments. The National Fire Protection Association and the Electrical Safety Foundation International recommend whole house surge protection for your home.
More Specifically, What Does a Whole-House Surge Protector Do?
Bursts of energy created from the cycling of your appliances happen all day, every day, in your home. Lighting strikes and downed utility lines also create power surges. These bursts accumulate over time to degrade the lifespan of your home’s electronics and appliances.
When you consider that many people are working from home these days on computers, power surges are something you really want to avoid.
Voltage increases can fry your circuit boards and causes your devices to stop working, resulting in more expensive repairs and replacements.
Occasionally, a power surge is so large that it can result in more severe and sudden damage to your home or its electronics. Power surges can even cause a fire of your home and endanger the lives of your family.
A whole-house surge protector shields and prevents these things from happening. There may be an investment at the initial outset of installing the surge protector, but at least you can rest assured that your home, your family, and your devices, electronics, and appliances are protected from power surges.
Can I Install a Power Surge Protector Myself?
It’s a good idea to let the experts handle installing a power surge protector. Only a professional electrician can offer the peace of mind and safe installation you need.
A whole-house surge protector has many moving parts in the installation process. It’s a complex task that involves installing the primary device on the electric panel and individual attention to your home’s large appliances and electronics.
Electricity is nothing to fool around with. Installation of a power surge protector means contact with a live electric panel. Wiring is complex and in unskilled hands can result in an electrical malfunction at the least.
More importantly, it can be a hazard and cause a fire or electrical shock.
It’s strongly suggested that a local professional who understands the local codes and regulations in the Houston area install your home’s power surge protector.
The Takeaway
Without a whole-house surge protector, chances are damage is occurring to your home’s electrical devices and appliances right now. Electrical devices incur constant surges over time, which can result in huge losses for you.
Time is of the essence when it comes to protecting your home and its devices. It’s best to avoid waiting until a vital piece of electronics or one of your expensive appliances receives major damage.
Whole house surge protection will save you money in the long run and offer peace of mind.
Contact the electrical experts at Illuminations Lighting Design to inquire about a whole-house surge protector for your Texas home. We look forward to meeting with you!
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