Here’s How…
Stop us if you’ve heard this story…
There’s a thunderstorm. Lightning strikes nearby. The power cuts out for a moment, then returns. But when you try to switch on your computer or TV, it doesn’t seem to work.
Why?
Electrical surges can instantly overload and short out the circuitry of home electronics and anything else plugged into the wall, or they can degrade them over time. Learning more about surges can help save money and how to protect your property.
Where do they come from?
Power surges can originate from the electric utility company during power grid switching. Another common cause of power surges – especially the most powerful ones – is lightning. Power surges can also originate inside a home when large appliances, like air conditioners and refrigerator motors turn on and off. Power surges can enter a home through several pathways. In the case of lightning, it can take the path of the cable TV or satellite dish cable, through the incoming telephone lines, or through the incoming electrical service line.
How can I protect my property?
It may be hard to believe but most homes can experience over 300 potentially damaging electrical surges in a year. Which is why it’s so important to plug electronics into surge protectors rather than the home’s electrical sockets. Electronic devices depend on a consistent voltage supply and electrical sockets can experience sudden increases in voltage, electrical sockets are not always the most reliable power source.
Surge protectors protect electronics by using a system that diverts energy over a safe threshold to protective component, ensuring only a safe amount of electricity passes through each device. You can also install special electrical outlets that offer surge protection. Surge protection outlets are useful in locations where there isn’t room for a plug-in surge protector, such as near a countertop microwave oven.
With years of experience, the team of electricians at Stack Electric understands how much damage power surges can cause to electronics. We are proud to offer a wide range of residential and commercial electrical services that can help protect your electronics from preventable damage.
Give us a call. We’ll quickly send over one of our expert electricians to visit your home or business to provide an honest and fair estimate. Available 24/7, we invite you to contact us anytime for your entire residential and commercial electrical service needs.
Service is our business and we will make you feel more at home…in your home!