Lightning & Surge Suppression

Did you know the average home gets hit twice a day with a surge?

According to Nema Surge Protection Institute, “In general a surge is a transient wave of current, voltage or power in an electric circuit.”

In other words, it is an oversupply of power for a short period of time, often a second or less.

If you ever experienced a surge, then you know the devasting effects that one can have.

What causes Surges?

Surges can be caused by several things but some of the common reasons include…

• Damaged or Exposed Wiring
• Lightning Strikes…your home does not have to be directly hit by a lightning strike to experience a surge. A lightning strike near you can cause a surge.
• Power Outages…Typically the power going out will not cause a surge, but when the power is restored a surge can happen.
• Air Conditioners, refrigerators and other appliances that pull a lot of power can cause a surge when they turn on, especially if there is faulty wiring within your home.

What are the effects of Surges?

Surges can “damage, degrade or destroy electronic equipment within any home.” (Nema)

With more and more electronics powering homes today, a surge can be very costly.

Depending on how the surge happened your homeowner’s insurance policy may help cover the cost of appliances and electronics that are damaged or destroyed by a surge.

What can I do to prevent losing everything?

To start, you can install power strips that contain surge protection (note…not all power strips have surge protection) for as many electronics as possible, such as your TV and computer.

But what about appliances where you cannot install a power strip…Washer/Dryer, Refrigerator, etc.?

You can also install a Whole Home Surge Protection Device.

There are various types of Whole Home Surge Protection devices ranging from thousands of dollars to a few hundred dollars.

These devices are panel specific and can be installed at your panel to “reduce surges that might otherwise overwhelm plug strips and damaged connected household equipment.” These devices can also provide “surge suppression for important items that are not compatible with plug strips such as washer, dryers, refrigerators, stoves, and lighting.” (Schneider Electric)