Upgrade Your Safety with a Whole Home Surge Protector

Your home has many sensitive electronics now. There are smart appliances and home office gear everywhere. These need to be safe from power surges. A plug-in surge protector is good for one place. But if you get a surge protection device on your electrical panel, you can guard your whole home. This kind of protector works with your whole electrical system. It keeps every circuit safe from too much voltage before it does harm. Are you ready to upgrade and keep your home's electrical safety up to date?

Understanding Whole Home Surge Protectors

A whole-home surge protector is a device that helps keep your home’s electrical system safe. It sits at the main breaker box and keeps big power surges from getting into your home. This kind of surge protection is often the first and best way to stop damage from happening.

The surge protector does this by watching the voltage coming into your house. If it sees a sudden jump in power, it takes the extra energy and sends it safely to the ground. This helps your devices and wiring stay safe. Now, let’s see what this surge protection device is and how it keeps your home safe from surges.

What Is a Whole-Home Surge Protector?

A whole-home surge protector is a device that gets wired right into your home's main electrical panel. It is different from the small power strips you plug into a wall. This type of protector works to keep your entire electrical system safe from the main hub of power in your house. It becomes a key part of your home's setup.

This protector is your first line of defense against big electrical issues. It deals with surges that come from outside, like those from the power grid or nearby lightning, before they have a chance to move through your house.

You can think of this surge protector as a guard for your electrical panel. It always checks the power coming into the house. When you put in a house surge protector, you set up a wall that keeps not only your plug-in electronics safe, but also your bigger, hardwired appliances. This includes your HVAC system, oven, and washer.

Related: Learn more about the difference between a fuse box and a circuit breaker.

How Does It Protect Your Home’s Electrical System?

Charred electrical panel

The main job of a surge protector in a breaker box is surge suppression. It works by using metal oxide varistors, also called MOVs. These parts help to absorb the extra voltage and send it away. During normal times, the MOVs stay off, and the electricity just goes through them as usual to reach the rest of your home. The protector works alongside your main breaker to keep things safe.

If a power surge happens, the voltage in your electrical system goes way up. The MOVs in the surge protector know when the voltage is too high. When this happens, the MOVs act quickly. They take in the excess voltage and send it away through the ground wire. This stops the harmful spike from moving further through your home's circuits.

With this process, everything in your electrical system is kept safe. This includes the outlets on your walls and the circuits that power your main appliances. By handling the surge right as it arrives, the protector makes sure only normal, clean power is sent to your devices.

Key Benefits of Installing a Whole-Home Surge Protector

Putting in a whole-home surge protector gives you peace of mind. It helps make sure you have surge protection over your whole home. This means all the electronics and appliances you own get shielded from power surges both inside and outside. Getting this kind of surge protector can keep your things safe from sudden spikes in voltage that might damage your expensive items quickly.

Your house may have electronics worth thousands that do not get protection. In the next parts, you will see how one upgrade, the whole-house surge protector, helps take care of your computer and fridge. It gives strong surge protection and helps guard your appliances from big electrical surges.

According to the National Electrical Code (NEC) 2020 and newer versions, a whole-home surge protector is required when replacing or adding electrical panels to prevent damage to circuit boards and sensitive equipment. Currently, in Wisconsin, we are in the NEC 2017 version, and surge protection is not required, but is highly recommended.

Related: Considering an upgrade to your living room ambience? LED wafer lights are a great way to improve any living area.

Safeguarding Appliances and Electronics

Modern homes have many different kinds of electronic equipment. Most of these have sensitive parts called microprocessors. A whole-house surge protector will shield all the electronic equipment in your home, not just the ones you plug into a power strip. This is true for big appliances in your electrical system that you can’t just unplug.

Today, a lot of devices have delicate circuits. These can get damaged by little changes in power. A surge protector at the electrical panel helps make sure your home’s electronics get clean power. This can help keep your sensitive electronics working well and for a long time. You can protect electronic equipment you may forget about, like:

• HVAC systems and smart thermostats

• Washers, dryers, and dishwashers

• LED lighting and home security systems

  
  

When you do not use a protector, your most costly appliances in the electrical system are not safe from surges. Surges can ruin them fast or hurt them little by little. Why leave important appliances in your home at risk?

Protection Against Lightning Strikes and Major Surges

One of the main reasons you should install a whole-home surge protector is that it deals with big power surges. A direct lightning strike on your home cannot be stopped by any device. Still, a whole-house surge protector can protect against the usual electrical issues the most.

These surge protection devices are made to take care of excess voltage that comes into your home’s wiring from a lightning strike nearby. The surge protector also defends your home from other powerful surges, such as:

• Utility company grid switching

• Downed power lines in your area

• Power coming back on after an outage

  
  

Smaller surges often happen when big appliances turn on and off inside the house. These can slowly damage your electronics over time. Using a whole-house surge protector helps with these little, regular surges. With this breaker and surge protection system, your home will have a better way to keep all your electronics safe from excess voltage and power surges.

Breaker Box Surge Protectors vs. Plug-In Models

When you plan surge protection for your house, you need to know the difference between whole-house protectors and simple plug-in models. Both of these are types of surge protectors, but they do not protect in the same way. A breaker box unit is made to give full and strong protection for the whole house. Plug-in models, on the other hand, give more focused help for certain devices and act as a backup.

For better surge protection, many experts say you should use both types. A two-stage method will keep your electronics safe. Below, you will see how each type is used and what is good and bad about them. This will help you set up the best surge protector system for your needs.

Differences in Coverage and Application

The big difference between these two kinds of surge protection is in how much they cover. The whole-home surge protector sits at the electrical panel of your house. It shields all the circuit breakers and outlets, stopping large surges from getting into your wiring. This means every part of your home is covered.

On the other hand, plug-in surge protector models take care of only the devices you plug into them. They work well to add extra protection for the most important and fragile electronics in your home. Here is what to know:

• Whole Home Surge Protector: Gives whole-home surge protection to every device, including things that are hard-wired.

• Plug-In Models: Bring protection right where you plug them for items like computers and TVs.

• 
  

A whole-house surge protector blocks big surges that come from outside. Plug-in strips help hold back smaller surges made by your appliances. This makes both types of surge protectors important for your safety and the security of your breaker and appliances.

Common Drawbacks and Considerations

A whole-home surge protector safeguards your home from power spikes. But there are a few things you need to think about before you get one. The biggest things to know are that this device will only last for some years, and it’s best if a professional, licensed electrician installs the unit. Knowing about these limits can help you have the right hopes for how this will work and how to plan for the future.

Potential Limitations and Lifespan of SPDs

Like a helmet, a surge protector gives up itself to keep your important things. The parts inside Surge Protective Devices (SPDs) wear down as they block power surges. Every time a surge happens, no matter if it is big or small, the protective parts inside get a bit weaker. So, this device may need to be replaced over time. Look at the indicator lights from time to time to see if the device still works. If the light is off, call Home and Business Electric to replace your surge protector.

Why Professional Installation from Home and Business Electric Is Recommended

Professional installation of a whole-home surge protector is needed for your safety and to make sure it works properly. The job means getting into your home's main electrical panel. It can be dangerous to touch wiring in the panel, even when the main breaker is turned off. Only a licensed electrician should do this work. They have the training, the right tools, and know how to stay safe. That is where Home and Business Electric comes in!

We will make sure that the surge protector gets wired the correct way, and we follow the manufacturer’s instructions and all code requirements. If the surge protector is not put in the right way, it can fail to work. Worse, it could cause a fire or harm your whole electrical system. Do not take any risk with this.

When you hire us, you know the job will get done right. You will feel safe knowing your home and all of your electronics are protected by a surge protector installed the right way in your electrical panel.

Related: While we specialize in whole-home surge protector installation, we also do EV charger installations to help you keep your electric vehicles fully charged!

Whole-Home Surge Protector Conclusion

Upgrading your safety with a whole-home surge protector is a smart way to protect your electrical system. The right protector helps guard your home from sudden surges and lightning strikes. It can protect appliances, electronics, and other items.

Knowing the benefits, how to install it, and the difference between whole-home surge protector models and plug-in units is important. This lets you make a good choice for your home and get the surge protector that fits what you need.

Your safety, and the safety of those in your family, matters a lot. Don’t risk losing all the work you have put into your home. If you want to learn more about which surge protector is best for you, call Home and Business Electric today.