Do you have the whole house surge protection? Your family’s safety should be your top priority, and a significant part of that is ensuring that your home is a safe living environment. If you are looking for an effective way to protect your home and everything (and everyone) inside of it, whole house surge protectors in Austin, Texas, might be just the key. The best way to leverage this protection is with a two-tiered approach that utilizes professionally installed whole home protectors and individual-use power strips. When you add both layers of protection, you ensure whole home coverage from voltage spikes that could otherwise destroy your electronics, cause costly damage, or start fires. 

In this blog, we will examine the question, are whole-house surge protectors worth it? In the process, we detail the benefits of installing them, outline our two-tiered approach to voltage protection, and uncover the root causes of spikes in electricity. By the end of this article, you will know everything you need to know about electrical surges and surge protection so that you can make the most educated decision for yourself, your family, and your home.

But first, let’s talk more about what a surge is and what it means to protect your home. 

Surges, or transients, are sudden spikes in voltage running through your circuits that can damage home appliances, electronics, and the wiring in your electrical system. It is not uncommon for devices that require a lot of power to turn on and off, like HVAC equipment, to cause minor surges throughout the day. The damage from these transients is not always noticeable; however, in time, it can accumulate. 

Surges can generate internally from sources such as: 

• Normal appliance operation
• Short Circuits or Tripped Breakers
• Old or Faulty Wiring
• Loose Connection

Or from external sources like:

• Lightning
• Power Outages
• Powerline Surges

Regardless of where the surge comes from, it can do a lot of damage and lead to unsafe living conditions. The best way to avoid this homeowner’s nightmare is to have a professional assess your home’s electrical system directly and take the necessary precautions against transients.

When it comes to protection against transient waves, a multi-step approach is key. Whole house surge protectors can provide general comfort that your home, electronics, and every appliance hard-wired into the electrical system will be safe from spikes in voltage. This involves having a professional install surge protection devices on the grounding system. It acts like a gatekeeper at the front door, only allowing a specific amount of electricity at a time and sending the rest to the ground. Still, sometimes it is not enough to cover all of your most important electronic devices.

You should also invest in high-quality power strips for areas like your home office and theater, where you have several high-value electronics. Using power strips in accordance with whole home surge protection ensures you are ready for any amount of electricity added to your electrical system. From minor power surges caused by your a/c to lightning strikes during a storm, you will have the confidence to know your devices will survive. Don’t wait until lightning strikes to start thinking about electrical safety– invest in surge protection for added security and peace of mind. 

One of the major benefits of whole-house surge protectors is that they safeguard against transient surges and boost the lifespan of electronic devices that would otherwise wear out due to the buildup of minor surge damage. We see this as a major win.

As with any other system, there are factors you should take into consideration. 

• Thorough Surge Protection, No Matter What – 80% of surges originate from inside of a system and cause damage to increase over time, slowly wearing it out. Surge protectors can catch this increased voltage and dispose of it before it has a chance to reach anything else plugged into the system. Additionally, although rare, lightning strikes and other major surge events may occur with the potential to cause immediate, large-scale damage without sufficient protection. Whole home surge protection is the only way to defend yourself against both types of surges and ensure your electronics continue to operate past their prime. 
• Lower Home Insurance Premium – Insurance companies love to see that you are taking preventative measures to reduce risk, and they will usually compensate you accordingly by offering discounts for safety upgrades. Power surges are a fire hazard, so many agencies will give you a discount for installing surge protectors. 

If you need whole home protection, the cost starts to even out, and it would be wise to make the extra investment in whole home protection. At the end of the day, powerstrips can only get you so far because they cannot help the appliances wired directly into the system, like a stove or dishwasher. 

Remember, nothing in life can be guaranteed. There will always be risks involved, but in the case of surge protection, there are not true downsides. The level of protection and confidence this installation offers outweighs everything else. Although there may be no such thing as 100% protection, we can say that our two-tiered whole home transient protection plan will greatly reduce your risk of damage and set your mind at ease; your family is safe, your belongings are protected, and you may even save some money on your electricity bill.  

If you are still wondering whether whole house surge protectors are worth it, the answer is yes– specifically if you have several areas of electronics that need protection and home appliances that are wired directly into your mainframe. When you follow our recommendations for multi-step precautions, you can have peace of mind knowing that you are proactively avoiding electrical issues. 

Power surges can occur anytime, anywhere, and cause significant damage to the most essential devices in your home. As we have discussed, whole home surge protection in tandem with individual-use power strips are the best things you can do to keep your electronics safe; however, we do have a few more tips on how you can go the extra mile in protecting your home. 

1. Ensure that your home is properly grounded with the help of an electrician. Surge protectors work by diverting excess voltage into the ground, and if it is not working properly, neither will the surge protector. 
2. Faulty wiring increases the likelihood of experiencing a surge, so have your electrical system inspected every few years to ensure your wiring is still good.
3. Unplug any electronic device or appliance you’re concerned about during severe storms to avoid any chance of lightning damage.
4. Replace old and damaged extension cords, and ensure electrical outlets are up-to-date.

At the end of the day, it is clear that our multi-step method for surge protection is the best way to avoid transient damage and the cost of replacing worn-out electronics. Professional installation of whole-house surge protectors provides the peace of mind that your electronics and home appliances will continue to operate effectively throughout their lifetime and that your home is not at risk for any electricity-related issues. 

Now that you have all of the information, it’s time you make the decision that is best for your family– if you need assistance, call us at (512) 886 – 9361.