Why whole house surge protection is important

As people continue to add more and more electronic components and devices in their homes, whole house surge protection is becoming increasingly more important.  Power surges and spikes not filtered can damage and, in some cases, destroy expensive electronic devices and equipment.  More importantly, spikes and surges can lead to home fires that can destroy entire homes.

Reasons for whole house surge protection

Believe it or not, the most frequent cause for power spikes or surges is due to lightening striking a home or the area close to a home.  As the strike enters the area it looks to disburse its energy.  Those homes found without whole house surge protection are especially susceptible.  Televisions, computers, telephones, and home entertainment systems, if not protected properly, are targets for this energy disbursement.

Another common cause for power surges and spikes can come from stray electric charges.  Stray electric charges can occur for numerous reasons including a faulty appliance being turned on or off, damage to power lines, or general power surges coming from the power grid.  Whole house surge protection attempts to protect against these occurrences.

A rigorous study done by a leading technology company in homes across the country found that on average, 128 disturbances occurred in each of the monitored homes every month.  These homes did not have whole house surge protection.  Although the majority of the power surges and spikes recorded did not pose an immediate threat, research found that these spikes and surges could contribute to equipment wear down over time.

Types of whole house surge protection

Although most electronic devices and components come with built in power surge protection, unfortunately the protection isn’t adequate enough to handle large power spikes and surges.  Moreover, as with small surge protectors, built in power surge protection can wear out without a consumer being aware.  As a result, surges and spikes can leave these devices unprotected.

To ensure whole house surge protection, make sure the home is adequately grounded. (Note that when a home is properly grounded, a power surge will never make it to the home.  Rather, power surges will be absorbed by the ground around the home.)  In many instances whole house surge protection systems are installed when the house is built or when a home’s water system is installed.  In the best case scenario, a whole house surge protection system protects all the electronic devices and gadgets in the home.  That said, when there are individual expensive electronic items inside the house, it is advisable to add a second layer of power surge protection.  An APC surge protector or a monster surge protector are two examples of secondary protection.  (An important tip to remember is to never daisy chain surge protectors.  To work properly, they must be plugged directly into a grounded outlet. Never plug a surge protector into another plug strip.)

While adding power surge protection for individual devices in the home is very important, with regard to whole house surge protection it is advisable to work with an electrician to help guide you through the process.