Surge Protection
Do I need to worry about surges?
Most homeowners today are using plug-in power strips or surge suppressing devices for their TVs and computers. These devices are readily available at your local home improvement store and easy to install. However, these devices are not truly protecting all the electronics in your home from voltage spikes.
When the voltage exceeds the normal level of electricity, this is considered a power surge, which is not the same as a spike from the power company. Power surges occur when an uninterrupted voltage increase lasts for more than a few seconds. These plug-in surge devices are not rated to protect against severe power surges occurring externally and traveling through the wires into your home.
Another consideration: Nearly all home appliances now utilize delicate circuit boards to power digital touch screens and control vital functions of the appliance – just think of the digital display on your washer and dryer, stove top, refrigerator, security system and more. These appliances are also vulnerable to power surge and are likely not protected by a plug-in surge device.
Things to consider:
Most surge-related damage is not caused by lightning. According to the Insurance Information Institute, lightning-caused insurance claims decreased in 2018, but the average cost per claim has gone up dramatically. This is likely due to the number of electronics, home security systems and smart home appliances installed in our homes.
Up to 80% of surges come from within, surges can be caused by major equipment cycling on and off. For example, when your air conditioner turns on, it creates a major draw. When the A/C cycles off, it causes a “switching” surge that is a tiny surge which does not cause instant damage like lightning, but instead causes cumulative damage over time to electronics across the same electrical system, which shortens their life span.
Do I really need whole house surge suppression?
Whole-house suppressors are hard-wired to the service panel, these circuit-breaker type devices need to be installed at the point of incoming voltage. Adding whole-house surge suppression to an existing electrical panel often requires an electrician to change the location of existing breakers and wires, this type of installation should only be performed by a licensed electrician. At a minimum, whole-house surge suppression systems should be rated to stop at least a 40,000-amp surge. You should look for a device that includes thermal fuses, and lights or alarms to indicate that the surge protection has been invoked and the device has taken a hit.
Whole-house surge suppressors don’t stop surges completely; some percentage of excess voltage may leak through. It is recommended to utilize a 2-tiered approach and protect vulnerable devices and appliances with “plug-in” surge protectors where practical, to provide a buffer between the device and the wall outlet.
Planning for the future…
Surge suppressive devices installed directly in your home’s electrical panel reduce surges that might otherwise overwhelm plug strips and damage connected household equipment. Surge suppression at the electrical panel also provides protection for important devices that are not easily installed with plug-in surge suppression or power strips like kitchen appliances, laundry systems, security systems and lighting. Whole-house surge suppression devices can also provide peace of mind: device manufacturers offer connected equipment coverage for a specific period of time.
You may also want to consider a secondary plug-in surge device to protect phone and cable lines in your home, because voltage surges can follow any path and any wire into your home.
And if you’re thinking of selling your home, making the choice to add surge suppression at the electrical panel ‘point of voltage entry’ can increase your home’s resale value. Keep in mind that as of June 2021, whole house surge protection is required by current NEC standards.
KCD Electric offers competitive pricing, flexible scheduling, and our work is always guaranteed.
Call us at 1 (719) 290-0800 for a consultation and free estimate, we will review your existing electrical panel and discuss the best way to protect your home from internal and external power surges. As a benefit to our customers, KCD Electric offers upgraded 50kA surge protective devices on all panel changes and service upgrades.
