Welcome to the topic “Surge Protection in Athens.”
Investing in whole-house surge protection is the most excellent approach to safeguard your property against storm damage. Lightning isn’t the only thing that can harm your costly electrical equipment.
Power spikes can appear insignificant at times. That brief power outage in the kitchen passed you by so quickly that you almost missed it. Throughout the day, the average home encounters numerous tiny power surges (80 percent of power surges are internally generated). However, even minor surges in your wiring might have severe effects on your home’s gadgets.
Power Surges: Where Do They Come From?
A variety of factors can cause power surges. They can occur outside the home, such as during power grid switching and overvoltages on utility lines, or inside the home, such as when turning on and off major appliances.
Although significant power surges from sources such as lightning and downed power lines are unusual, tiny power surges occur on a daily basis when the electrical system is operated. These minor but frequent power surges can harm electronic devices and reduce their lifespans.
How to Safeguard Your Home and Electronics?
Whole-house surge protection devices (SPDs) provide the best protection against power surges of any size. They are usually connected to a home’s electrical service box but are placed in a more accessible location for quick access. Metal oxide varistors (MOVs) are used in modern surge protectors to shunt power spikes.
While point-of-use surge protectors are preferable to nothing, they are unlikely to be able to shunt big surges from external sources, such as lighting and other high-energy surges. Damage from direct lightning strikes will necessitate the installation of whole-home surge protection by an expert.
While A significant surge can damage MOVs in typical surge strips, those used in whole-house systems are designed to withstand big surges and last for years. Modern homes with expensive electrical systems frequently have whole-home surge protectors as standard equipment as an added safety measure.
How to Prevent Lighting Storm Damage to Your Home?
Keep your home and devices safe from lightning strikes.
If you do not have whole-home surge protection, here are some suggestions for preventing lightning storm damage to your Athens home:
- At the breaker box, turn off the power to your water well pump. If your pump is damaged, you may be left without water. In the event of a significant storm, turn off the power to your good pump for short-term annoyance but long-term peace of mind.
- Make sure that any electronics in your home are plugged into surge protectors. Surge protectors are the most excellent solution to secure all your equipment, including HVAC systems and freezers.
- When purchasing or replacing point-of-use surge protectors, look for the UL label or an equivalent independent testing laboratory seal. If it costs less than $10, it is unlikely to provide adequate protection.
- Consider purchasing a backup generator in case the electricity goes out. This is especially crucial in homes with children or the elderly, but it is also vital to consider convenience, safety, and security.
Reasons to Install Whole-House Surge Protection
There are several strong reasons to invest in whole-house surge protection if your home does not already have it:
- INNOVATION IN TECHNOLOGY
Electronic gadgets and electrical equipment are more prevalent in modern houses than ever before. Home appliances now contain circuit boards that must be surge-protected. New LED bulbs also include delicate microcircuit boards that an electrical surge can quickly harm.
The number of personal items owned by a household has expanded significantly during the last decade. Computers, tablets, and smartphones all contain vital information that must be safeguarded. Professional surge protection should be used to secure your data.
- 80% OF SURGES ARE CREATED INTERNALLY
Most power surges are brief (transitory) and originate in a home’s appliances (including motors in air conditioners). These minor surges may not cause severe damage, but they will degrade your appliances and devices’ performance (and shorten the lifespan) over time.
- DECORATIVE LAYERING
It is a good idea to consult with your electrical specialist about layering the whole-house surge protection, especially if you have an intricate home entertainment system or other costly electronic setups.
If an appliance in your home sends a surge through a shared (non-dedicated) circuit, the other outlets may be harmed. This is one of the reasons why a surge protector at the circuit panel is not sufficient. A multilayer system will be directly connected to the electrical panel and the point of usage. To address these shared circuits, a power conditioner with surge suppression is the best option.
- PROTECTION OF THE COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Though the primary role of a whole-house surge protector is to protect your home’s appliances and electronics, it also protects the entire electrical system. When a transient surge occurs from a household appliance on a dedicated circuit, it is routed back through the breaker panel and shunted, safeguarding all other electrical equipment in the home. Every outlet is protected with a whole-house surge protector.
Remember to test your GFCIs and AFCIs every 30 days to ensure your safety from your electrical system.
- POSSIBLE OUTCOMES
There are multiple whole-house systems available to meet a variety of voltage requirements. Homes with 120-volt service (the most common size) can use an 80kA-rated surge protector because surges over 50kA are uncommon. A surge of more than 10kA should never be sent to a typical dwelling.
A house with subpanels should seek protection equal to half the central unit’s kA rating. However, if you reside in a location that experiences many electrical storms each year, an 80kA surge protector would be a wise investment. Keep in mind the various brands (some are better than others) and their warranties (always opt for an extended one). A competent electrician can assist you in determining the best systems (and ratings).
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Also Read: What To Do When Some Of Your Electricity Isn’t Working- Before You Call An Athens Electrician
