Just picture losing thousands of dollars in electronics in one second. That’s the kind of damage a power surge can cause.
A power surge happens when there is a sudden spike in electrical voltage. This can come from lightning, utility, or transformer failures, or even a short in your property’s wiring.
In rural Northern Arizona, the risk is higher. Lightning during monsoons, instability in the grid, and utility fluctuations all raise the chance of surges.
Below, we dive into the topic of surge protecting a property, including explaining what the process entails, why many older homes are susceptible to power surges, and the signs that indicate you may need protection.
If you’re concerned about power surges at your home or place of work, reach out to NAES – the Northern Arizona electricians who can effectively surge-protect your property and safeguard your possessions without breaking the bank.
What is Whole-Home Surge Protection?
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Whole-home surge protection is designed to stop excess voltage from entering your electrical system. These systems mount on or inside your main electrical panel.
Unlike consumer power strips with surge protection, whole-home systems protect every circuit and outlet in your house. When a surge strikes, the system redirects excess energy safely to the ground before it can damage electronics or appliances.
An individual power strip only protects what is plugged into it. A whole-home unit protects your electronics, HVAC, kitchen appliances, and more.
Why Are Northern Arizona Homes at Higher Risk of Electrical Surges?
If you live in Northern Arizona, here’s why your property has a higher chance of experiencing an electrical power surge:
- During Arizona’s monsoon season, storms are common, along with frequent lightning strikes that can create massive surges in power lines.
- Another issue is that many of Northern Arizona’s homes are connected to older electrical grids, which tend to have more outages and voltage swings.
- While not directly a Northern Arizona issue alone, homes these days depend more and more on power from everyday electronics like smart thermostats, security systems, monitoring devices, personal computers, and even medical devices – increasing the likelihood of a power surge.
Electronics can be damaged when they are subjected to sudden spikes in voltage and just one lighting strike or surge from the grid could destroy them instantly.
What’s the Role of Whole-Home Surge Protection Units?
The benefit of having surge protection on homes throughout Northern Arizona is that it prevents significant damage to many, often costly, electronics in the home. These include flat-screen TVs, computers, gaming systems, refrigerators, and even heating and cooling systems from a sudden surge.
Whole-home surge protection also decreases the chances that overloaded circuits will cause an electrical fire.
Preventing surges from entering the home also reduces wear on wiring in the walls and can extend the life of the property’s electrical panel, wiring, and circuits throughout the home.
Surge protection is an insurance policy that could save money in the long run by avoiding the need to repair or replace items damaged by surges.
What Are the Signs My Home Needs Surge Protection?
Your residence may already show signs of needing protection. For example:
- Frequent breaker trips generally indicate voltage instability
- Lights that suddenly get brighter or dimmer (especially incandescent types) when the air conditioner kicks on are signs of potential surges in your circuit
- Burnt outlets or a distinct electrical burning odor also signify surge damage
Pro tip: If you notice any of these signs and have high-value electronics or expensive appliances that you depend on and can’t afford to lose in an instant, you should reevaluate your house’s protection. It is always best to get in front of electrical issues so larger losses or more costly repairs don’t come back to bite you.
Does a Home Surge Protector Have to be Professionally Installed?
Whole-home surge protectors must be installed directly at the electrical panel. This requires working on live high-voltage wiring. A licensed electrician enables the surge protector unit to be properly installed within safety codes and integrated with your existing electrical panel.
Northern Arizona Electrical Solutions has the experience and training to install these systems safely. We configure the system to fully protect your home from incoming surges.
How Do I Get Started With Home Surge Protection in Northern Arizona?
If you live nearby, begin by getting a complimentary home electrical inspection offered by Northern Arizona Electrical Solutions!
We fully evaluate your property’s electrical wiring, breaker panel, and risk for a surge in your house. Using this information, we provide you with a custom surge protection plan that is tailored to your home’s needs.
Northern Arizona homeowners can call and schedule an assessment and installation today to rest easy knowing their electronic devices and appliances won’t need to be replaced anytime soon.
A quick visit is all it takes to protect your home from the next power surge. Click here to get started!
Peace of Mind for Every Storm Season
Whole-home surge protection gives your home another layer of protection against unexpected electrical spikes. Since storms are always around the corner, it’s an effortless way to safeguard your investment.
Call Northern Arizona Electrical Solutions now for reliable electrical surge protection Flagstaff families rely on.
