Florida has been deemed “the lightning capital of the United States” for good reason. With over 3,500 cloud to ground lightning strikes per day, our reputation for thunderstorms and severe weather is well founded. While the most major storms happen at the very hottest times of the year, lightning strikes can happen well into to the fall. These can cause power surges, which send spikes in electricity through your system. These spikes, and the subsequent turning on and off of current, can significantly damage computers, appliances, and fixtures in your home.
Most of us are familiar with smaller surge protectors which are often integrated into power strips. Many people who worked on home computers have their devices plugged into surge protectors as well. This is to protect the computer, laptop or tablet from being damaged by the power surge. This is especially important because not only can these devices (as well as many home appliances) be damaged or rendered useless due to a power surge, but your insurance policy may not cover power surges. This leaves you vulnerable to having to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket to repair or replace the items.
A Better Solution
It should make sense to homeowners and business owners in the Sarasota area that the combination of so many lightning strikes and the proliferation of electronic devices necessitates a better solution. Promise Electric has the solution you need to protect your entire home or business.
Power surges can originate from virtually anywhere in your home. This may include your electrical system, of course – but also your HVAC system, your pool electrical system your cable network, even your solar setup. Understanding the level of vulnerability is key to the right level of protection – a whole house surge protection system.
Whole house surge protectors are installed at your electrical panel, and function basically in the same way as a small, single unit surge protector. The electricity spikes are either blocked or cause a short which breaks the current. This prevents the surge in electricity from reaching the appliance, device or fixture, saving it from being “fried” by the electricity.
Small Surges are More Dangerous
Although power surges are often thought of as a major, massive “explosion” of electricity, these are more rare than the typical small surges in electricity that can happen much more often and may last a fraction of a second. These smaller surges are less dramatic, and may simply cause the power to flicker. But too many cycles of the electricity being interrupted can do damage to your electrical devices over time, rendering them just as useless when too much damage has been done. Installing whole home surge protection can prevent these small instances which can significantly decrease the life of your computers or appliances.
If you are interested in protecting your home or business from power surges, a great first step is contacting a local Sarasota electrician. They have extensive knowledge as to the historical surge activity in your specific area, and can assess and evaluate your particular situation against that backdrop. Understanding that not all surges originate at the electrical panel they can discuss protection of the incoming electrical service, as well as phone and cable TV lines. In addition to whole house surge protectors, they may also recommend point-of-use protection at your most sensitive – and expensive – appliances.
Call the professionals at Promise Electric today to discuss the steps you can take to protect your home against electrical surges.
