If you answered – Yes, because I have everything plugged into power strips you are making a potentially costly assumption.
Firstly, not all surge strips are made equal. Many are not designed for real protection, they are really just fancied up extension cords.
Secondly, surges do not just enter your home through electrical wiring. Surges will follow any conductible path into your home. This means ANY & ALL wires are potential conduits including phone & cable lines.
Lastly, your computer is not the only hi-tech device in your home. Many appliances rely on circuit boards to control their many new and complex functions. They can easily be damaged by an electrical surge.
There are two types of surges that can affect your home
Lightning – These surges occur, as the name implies, when a lightning bolt strikes the earth. The direct protection from lightning is to ensure you have properly placed ground rods. However, grounded lightning rods will not protect or prevent surges to your wiring.
Minor Power Fluctuations – These surges are less noticeable and can have a more delayed result. These surges occur when electrical loads are turned off/on by yourself or the power company. These repeated surges can slowly degrade the electronic components of your appliances until they mysteriously stop working.
Two Ways to Ensure you are Defended Against Power Surges
Install a Whole House Surge Protector – Whole house surge protectors are designed to divert excess voltage from your home. Most insurance claims for this damage exceed $10,000. However, the $250 price tag for a main service panel surge protector installed by our electricians will easily pay for itself.
Point-of-use Surge Protection – While these units are not adequate protection on their own, they provide a great fail safe to your whole house surge protector. Bear in mind that these power strips are also only capable of absorbing a few significant hits before they wear out.
Buying Guide
We will install a whole house surge protector for $250 completely installed.
When purchasing a power strip or point of use surge protector, not all are created equal in protection, so make sure you are label savvy when you are shopping. Make sure to buy strips that have the following:
Has a UL rating of 1449. On the label, it may just say “Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor”.
Clamping voltage – Less is better in terms of clamping voltage. Close to 120 volts is safer, but UL standards are 330 volts.
Absorbs at the very least 600 Joules of energy
Look for “L-N, L-G, N-G.” – This will protect all the lines entering your home: hot, neutral & ground
Alarm lights to indicate when the strip is functioning and when it needs to be replaced.
