How Do You Prevent Power Surges from Damaging Electronics?

Do you think you could go a single day without the use of electricity in your home? Unfortunately, it can be hard to avoid when storms come through or when power lines are down. However, there are steps you can take to prevent short-term and long-term damage to your home and electronics. Our expert electricians at Five Star Home Services have put together some electrical safety tips to ensure your devices and appliances are damage free from power surges and outages.  

Should You Unplug Electronics During a Storm? 

Electronics can range in price from cheap to expensive, but no matter the cost, each device in your household plays an essential role in keeping your home running. To ensure your electronics are safe, the first step you can take is unplugging everything during storms. No matter how advanced your electrical system, devices, or appliances are in your home, lightning strikes will always be overwhelming for all of your electrical.  

How Do Surge Protectors Work? 

If you’re questioning whether you need a surge protector, the answer is yes! Although you can always unplug your essential electronics, what happens if you’re not home to disconnect those devices? When a power surge occurs in your home, the surge protector will reroute extra electricity voltages to prevent damage to your electrical devices and appliances.  

Follow the tips below to ensure you are correctly using your power strip-style surge protector: 

• Make sure to only plug in one surge protector per double-wall outlet.  
• Do not plug too many high-voltage devices into your surge protector  

• Do not put your surge protector anywhere near water or block airflow 
• Check-in on your surge protector to ensure it is not overheating or impaired 

What are the Benefits of a Whole-House Surge Protector? 

Although correctly using a power strip-style surge protector defends your smaller devices against power surges, what protects the bigger appliances in your home? Investing in a whole-home surge protector can protect your appliances by redirecting excess electricity into the ground before it even enters your home. The most significant benefit of whole-home surge protectors is that they are built to last, handling multiple surges and outages for years and protecting your home’s electrical devices and appliances. 

Do Surge Protectors Protect Against Lightning?  

Unfortunately, lighting has high-voltage that power strip-style surge protectors cannot protect. However, a whole-home surge protector can help minimize any damages. In addition, a whole-home surge protector can help redirect excess electricity during a storm as long as your home has the proper wiring and grounding. The only downside to a whole-home surge protector is it cannot protect your home against direct lightning strike effects.  

Should You Install a Whole-House Surge Protector in Your Home? 

At Five Star Home Services, we consider whole-home surge protection essential, and every home should have one to protect their home electrical system, appliances, and devices. Storms can have short-term and long-term effects on your home so take the extra step to protect your family and ensure they are safe for years to come. If you’re interested in whole-home surge protection, we are the team you can trust to install your equipment quickly, safely, and correctly the first time! So, call Five Star Home Services today at (833) 405-8009, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!