Imagine you’re deep into a thrilling movie on your brand-new home theater system, or you’re just about to finish a project that took you hours to perfect. Suddenly, lightning strikes, the power fluctuates, and your beloved electronics are fried. This scenario is quite common for property owners, and if it’s one you would like to avoid, then you might want to consider investing in surge protection. At Neighborhood Electric, we provide a wide selection of premium electrical services. We enjoy helping our clients get the most from their systems, and we want to help you as well. If you’re considering installing whole home surge protection, read below for information that can help you make the right choice.
What is a Surge Protector?
A surge protector is a device designed to protect electrical appliances from voltage spikes. These spikes, or surges, can occur for various reasons, such as lightning strikes, power outages, or major appliances like air conditioners cycling on and off. They increase the electrical potential energy flowing into your home, and thus, into your electronic devices. The excess electricity can damage or destroy sensitive electronics.
The Importance of Surge Protectors
Surge protectors act as a buffer between your devices and potentially destructive power surges. Damage from power surges can range from degraded performance over time to immediate, irreversible damage. Imagine losing a high-end gaming rig, or a home computer with priceless photos and important documents saved on it. A quality surge protector is a small investment compared to the cost of replacing your devices or losing your valuable information.
Types of Surge Protectors
Surge protectors most often come in two different varieties:
- Outlet strip surge protectors feature multiple outlets, and often a cord of varying length. They’re portable, convenient, and ideal for protecting clusters of devices, like your computer, monitor, and printer.
- Whole-house surge protectors are installed directly into your home’s electrical panel and protect all the electronics in your home from external surges.
Power of Whole Home Surge Protection vs. Outlet Strip Protectors
Whole home surge protection provides an elevated level of safety and security for all your home appliances and electronics as compared to outlet strip surge protectors. With whole home surge protection, a single device protects the entire home from power surges originating from both inside and outside the home. This is in contrast to outlet strip surge protectors that only provide protection to the specific electronics plugged into them. Whole home surge protection systems also possess higher joule ratings, meaning they can absorb larger surges without failure. They offer continuous, comprehensive protection, unlike outlet strip protectors that might fail after a single high-energy surge.
Are You Looking for an Experienced Electrician in Mastic, New York?
Surge protectors serve as a vital line of defense against unpredictable and potentially damaging power surges. If you’re ready to invest in whole-house surge protection, call Neighborhood Electric. Our team will answer all of your questions and schedule a convenient appointment with a qualified electrician in Mastic, NY, or a surrounding community.
