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Do you need a whole house surge protector?

By October 29, 2019December 14th, 2023Homeowner Tips, Judi's Blog

Protect your home from damaging electrical surges with a whole house surge protector.

Whole house surge protector | Judi Wright Team | Best Residential Realtor

A massive storm is brewing outside, and it’s just a matter of time before the lights go out. Suddenly, a loud crack echoes in the sky, and you later discover that several of your electronics were affected by the lightning.

 

Texas lightning can be devasting for your home’s appliances

Texas is well-known for the unpredictable weather, as well as robust displays of electrical energy, aka lightening.

 

Did you know that Texas led the nation with 3.3 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes in 2017?

 

Electrical storms are scary and can wreak havoc on your home’s appliances by causing surges of electricity. VAISALA reports that a single bolt of lightning can carry over 100 million volts of electricity –and get to temperatures of 53,000 degrees. Whew!

whole house surge protector | Lightning Report | Judi Wright Team | Top Residential Realtor

Texas led the nation with 3.3 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes in 2017.

 

And it’s not just the big flashes of lightning that can cause damage to your house. A local electrical company estimates that 80% of surges can be generated from in-home appliances such as air conditioners and refrigerators cycling on and off.

 

While some home appliances have built-in surge protectors, they may not be enough to withstand large surges caused by lightning strikes or the constant ‘mini’ surges that happen inside the home. And, electrical surges can completely wipe out expensive LED lighting since surge protectors aren’t usually found in the fixtures. A close friend just spent $1,200 replacing her ceiling LED lighting recently taken out in an electrical storm.

 

So, could your home benefit from protection? Keep reading to discover how a whole house surge protector can help save you thousands of dollars in damages to your critical appliances and fixtures.

 

Benefits of a Whole House Surge Protector

Many homeowners incorrectly assume that protecting their appliances, computers, and other electronics from surges is as easy as using a dollar-store power strip. Unfortunately, power strips only provide a minimal level of protection against surges.

 

Having a whole home surge protector will give you peace of mind in knowing that all of your electronics are safe, and sound and your house is protected.

 

What is a whole house surge protector?

A whole-house surge protector is a device that works by limiting the voltage spikes that occur in your home. Think of it like pressure relief for your electricity. When it gets too high, the whole house surge protector blocks it from overflowing into the house.

Do whole house surge protectors work?

Short answer: yes. Now in saying that, it’s important to understand what whole-home surge protectors do and do not do. A whole house surge protector protects your home from high-voltage surges. Therefore, there are a few smaller surges that can still leak through the “cracks” and potentially damage smaller appliances.  In this case, having those power strips can come in handy.

While your whole-house surge protector will keep the big surges from affecting your valuable electronics, the power strip will help to protect your things from the smaller surges that get past the whole-home surge protector.

How much does a home surge protector cost?

Like all useful home additions, the cost of a whole-house surge protector varies across the board with some as low as $50 and others as high as $250. The price is ultimately determined by the size, response time, durability, and other significant factors.

 

Where can I get a whole house surge protector?

Whole-house surge protectors can be found at any home improvement store such as Home Depot or Lowes. You can also get one from Amazon or Walmart if you don’t have a home improvement store nearby.  If you’re looking for one, they aren’t too hard to find.

 

Can I install a whole home surge protector myself?

Unless you’re an electrician, it is not recommended to install a whole-house surge protector by yourself. Although a professional can probably have one installed within 1-2 hours, you don’t want to play around with electricity on your own for the sake of saving a few bucks. You can start a fire or even shock yourself if you’re not careful. Hiring a professional electrician for the installation is definitely your best bet.

 

How do I pick the best whole house surge protector?

When selecting your whole house surge protector, it’s best to get one with a low VPR, or voltage protective rating. Lower is better. Lower VPRs provide better coverage for all surges, not just when a huge power surge occurs. You will get the best protection from a whole-house surge protector when the VPR is under 600V.

 

We hope you’ve enjoyed your crash course on whole house surge protectors and realize the importance of having one in your home. Not having one can cause damages to your appliances and even start small fires. A $200-$300 investment could save you a lot of money in the future, so make sure you get your whole house surge protector this holiday season.


About the Judi Wright Team

Judi Wright/The Judi Wright Team is a real estate group specializing in the suburbs of Frisco, Plano, and surrounding areas. Named the “Best Realtor in Dallas,” by D Magazine thirteen times and a Five Star Realtor with Texas Monthly eight timesJudi is also a Company-Wide Top Performer with Ebby Halliday, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate.

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