Ever experienced your lights flickering during a storm, or perhaps appliances mysteriously shutting down? You might have encountered a power surge.
While often misunderstood, power surges are a natural phenomenon involving a sudden increase in the electrical current flowing through your home’s wiring.
A power surge can originate outside your home due to lightning strikes, utility company switching, or
other external causes. They can also occur due to internal factors like the operation of large appliances
with motors that switch on and off. Understanding what causes these surges is crucial, as they can lead
to significant and costly damages.
Follow along as our electricians at Integrity Home Solutions share what homeowners in Tampa Bay need
to know about power surges and how whole home surge protectors can safeguard their homes.
Common Causes of Power Surges in Homes
Understanding why power surges happen can help you better protect your home and devices. Often,
power surges are the result of electrical overloads that occur when too many appliances or devices are
drawing electricity from the same circuit. This situation can push the circuit’s capacity beyond its limit,
leading to a surge.
Lightning strikes are another dramatic, although less common, cause. When lightning hits a power line,
it injects an overwhelming amount of electricity into the system, creating a sudden increase in voltage
that can rush into your home. It’s not just external forces at play, though—poorly executed or faulty
wiring inside your home can also be a culprit. This type of wiring is often unable to handle normal
electrical flow, making your home susceptible to surges.
Finally, the restoration of power after an outage can sometimes result in surges. When power suddenly
returns, electrical currents can abruptly spike, potentially impacting any device that’s plugged in at the
time.
Protecting Your Electronics from Power Surges
Installing a whole home surge protector is a robust measure that can safeguard your electronics from
unexpected power surges. These devices are typically installed at your electrical panel and provide a
critical line of defense by blocking or grounding excess voltage before it can damage your home’s wiring.
Unlike individual plug-in surge protectors that defend only specific devices, a whole home system offers comprehensive coverage.
These systems act as a shield for all electrical devices within your home, from sophisticated electronics
like computers and home entertainment systems to essential appliances like refrigerators and washing
machines.
The benefits of whole home surge protectors include:
● Comprehensive Protection: Safeguards all electronic devices and appliances throughout your
home from voltage spikes.
● Enhanced Safety: Prevents electrical fires caused by overheating and sudden surges.
● Peace of Mind: Ensures reliable protection against power surges from various sources, including
lightning strikes and utility grid issues.
● Increases Appliance Longevity: Helps extend the lifespan of your electronic devices by
maintaining consistent power levels.
● Convenience: Offers a one-time installation that protects everything plugged into your home’s
electrical system.
They can also complement point-of-use protectors. While individual surge protectors offer a secondary
layer of protection at the outlet level, the whole home surge protector handles surges right at the
source, ensuring a more integrated defense strategy.
Maintaining Your Surge Protection System
At Integrity Home Solutions, we understand that maintaining your surge protection system is key to
ensuring the safety and longevity of your home’s electrical infrastructure. Our skilled electricians are
here to help you with regular inspections and evaluations to make sure your surge protection is always
at its best. By taking proactive steps and providing expert advice, we can assist in identifying any signs of
wear or damage in your system.
Beyond just regular check-ups, we offer support to upgrade your protection gear and replace old
equipment as needed. It’s essential to keep your surge protection system updated and in good working
condition, especially after any significant power events like a hurricane.
Shield Your Home from Power Surges
While power surges might seem like a minor nuisance, they have the potential to cause significant
damage to your home’s electrical system and invaluable electronics. Whether it’s from lightning strikes,
downed power lines, or unexpected grid fluctuations, protecting your home with a whole home surge
protector can provide the peace of mind you deserve.
Don’t leave your home’s protection to chance. Contact Integrity Home Solutions today to get a quote for
installing a whole home surge protector. Around here, the details matter, and we want to ensure your
home is protected from top to bottom!
