How to Prevent Surges from Damaging Electronics

The event where power disappears for a split section and repeatedly returns for a couple of seconds is called a power surge. Although there are parts of the country where such events are common, they can cause significant damage to your home and electronics. Since it is impossible to predict when a power surge will occur, the professional team at Mr. Electric has come up with safety tips that can help keep your property safe from power surges and outages.

Keep Your Electronics Unplugged During a Storm

Electronics are convenient appliances that hold personal significance and happen to be very expensive. During a storm, power outages and surges are common, and the most effective way of protecting them from damage is by simply unplugging them. Regardless of how modern your technology is, a single lightning strike is enough to render them useless. So, rather than waiting on the worst-case scenario, you can ensure the safety of all the gadgets in your home by unplugging all power lines.

What is a Surge Protector Used for?

If a storm brews when you are not at home, chances are you won’t make it in time to unplug your electronics. That’s why a surge protector is recommended since it guarantees the safety of your devices by redirecting extra voltage into the metal oxide varistors (MOVs), where the jolt of electricity is suppressed. Our expert electricians can help you with whole house surge protection so that all the electronics in your home are safe.

Benefits of Whole-House Surge Protector

Although a power strip-style surge protector is an effective protection device from power surges, your home has many devices plugged in most of the time. These surge protectors can’t guarantee the safety of all the electronics and can result in long-term damage due to constant small surges. The most effective and efficient solution to this problem is to install a whole-house surge protector.

Like the power strip-style surge protector, a whole house surge protector redirects excess power to the ground rather than the MOVs. All this happens before it even gets to your home, which guarantees the safety of your property. Whole-house surge protectors are designed to handle multiple surges, which makes them more effective.

In the event of a storm and lightning strikes, a power strip-style protector might not withstand the voltage of lighting. However, a whole-house surge protector is the most effective solution, especially if your home has proper wiring and grounding. Regardless of the surge protector you install, a direct hit from lightning can still result in damage. It is advisable to consult an expert electrician before installing a surge protector to ensure that you have all the facts.

Since most of the appliances in your home use electricity, you should take the necessary precautions to ensure that they are safe. Our expert electricians can ensure that your whole-house surge protector is installed perfectly, so you don’t have to worry about the next storm. Get in touch with us at Mr. Electric, and enjoy peace of mind knowing your home is safe.