Electricity is part of our daily life and is a necessity we tend to take for granted. It is helpful but it can also be harmful when not properly contained. A power surge in your home can be damaging if there are no preventative measures in place.
So, how can you prevent power surges in your home?
Installing surge protectors, unplugging devices when not in use and regular inspections of wiring by an electrician can all help prevent power surges.
A power surge happens when too much voltage runs through your electrical lines. Your home is one of your biggest investments, so protecting it from surges should be a key part of your maintenance plan. Here are some causes of power surges and tips to help you prevent them.
What Causes Power Surges?
Surges in electricity can come in a variety of forms. Natural causes include storms and lightning that hit electrical equipment and cause a surge through the lines connected to it. Anything that disturbs the distribution of power through the grid can cause a surge. Overuse of large appliances or anything that needs a large amount of electricity can also cause a surge. Letting a window air conditioning unit run nonstop in the summer, for instance, could cause a spike.
The amount of electricity we use for devices today is substantially greater than twenty years ago. Newer houses are designed with modern needs in mind but if your house is older, then you need to have an electrician inspect your lines, take into consideration what appliances and devices you use, and rework your system to accommodate your needs safely.
Older electrical systems can create power surges when large amounts of power from your current devices run through lines not meant to handle it. Circuit breakers tripping and devices losing power are both signs of potential surges.
What are Tips to Help Prevent Surges?
You can prevent surges from coming into your home by hiring an electrician to install a whole-house surge protector that is connected to your fuse box. This is a strong choice to keep your home and everything in it as safe as possible from a power surge.
Another common form is a strip protector that you plug your devices into. The protection it offers is rated in joules and the higher the number, the larger the appliance or device you can plug into it. Transient voltage surge suppressors protect your home by being plugged into outlet boxes and are another way to help prevent surges.
Unplugging appliances and devices when not in use not only saves money from the continuous light displays most have but also helps discourage surges and will keep your home safe from outside surge sources.
Related Questions
What Should You do After a Power Surge?
After a power surge occurs, unplug your appliances and devices. Check your breaker box and reset what was tripped. If it continues to trip, do not try to reset it again, but instead call a professional for help. Wait about 30 minutes and start plugging your items back in gradually. Make sure your devices are in working order and haven’t been damaged by the increased power.
Can Power Surges Damage Electronic Devices?
The heat created by the electrical ark during a power surge can damage electronic devices. This is why it is so important to have some type of surge protector in place and regularly inspected as part of your home maintenance to ensure the safety of your devices.
Power Surge Protection
Your computer, dishwasher, and entertainment system are not just conveniences, they are part of your lifestyle and need to be protected from power surges. Unplugging things when not in use and having a whole-house surge protector installed will help prevent your possessions from being damaged if a surge does occur. These are steps you can take to care for yourself and your family’s home.
Bratcher Electric is Wayne is an electrical firm that provides electrical services to Michigan residents with customer care and safe practices. Is your home’s wiring up to date? Do you need a service upgrade? What about a back up power plan? If you have questions, call us for a Fee Consultation!