If you have never suffered through an appliance-destroying power surge, chances are that you know somebody who has. Stories of people losing thousands, or even tens of thousands of dollars worth of appliances to a single, brief power surge are all too common. In the worst-case scenario, entire streets and neighborhoods in Pittsburgh are affected.
But often, it’s a single home that gets hit, and a single family that is suddenly without televisions, computers, stoves, refrigerators, and even lights, heat, and air conditioning.
A power surge is one of the most expensive mishaps that can befall a homeowner. Yet, many homes aren’t adequately protected.
If you have bought a new television or computer in the past few years, chances are that the salesperson tried to convince you to invest in a surge protector – a plug-in power strip designed to guard against sudden spikes in your home voltage. Surge protectors are a great idea, but alone, they’re not enough to truly guard your home against power surge disaster. For that, you also need a surge arrester installed near your home’s electric panel. The insurance companies agree.
A typical power strip-style surge protector will guard against electrical spikes of up to 6,000 volts. This is fine protection against the daily voltage fluctuations that a home power system experiences. A good surge protector will reduce most power surges to about 330 volts, which will protect sensitive electronics and other devices that plug into a standard wall outlet.
But what about power surges beyond 6,000 volts, like a lightning storm or big spike from your power company? Some power surges will actually fry your surge protector and then your appliances. And what about things like clothes dryers that don’t plug into standard outlets, or light fixtures, which don’t plug in at all?
For complete protection, you need a surge arrester at the point where electricity enters your home.This will guard against spikes of up to 20,000 volts, reducing them to about 600 volts. Your surge protector will then provide any additional voltage reduction required by sensitive electronics.
A surge arrester is connected directly to the point where electricity enters your home, and therefore should only be installed by a licensed electrician, preferably someone with experience working with surge arresters.
Keep in mind that surge arresters vary in price and quality, and it’s crucial to get a system that is right for your house. Gillece Services has a team of experienced electricians who can evaluate your electrical system to determine the best fit for your home and your budget.
Don’t put your home at risk during the next big summer storm. Call 1-888-66-BURGH now for same-day service.
