In southern Florida residents are used to living through thunderstorms on an almost weekly basis; so much so that the state is the lightning capitol of the country. Living through so many lightning strikes every year might make you blasé about the dangers they pose to your property, but your home and business both need and deserve surge protection. Whether it’s from power starting up after a blackout or lightning striking a nearby transformer, electrical surges can do thousands of dollars’ worth of damage unless you’ve got a surge protector installed.
What is Surge Protection?
So, what is surge protection and why do you need it? The term “surge” refers to fluctuations in the amount of electricity running through a line. This can vary, and if it suddenly peaks at a very high level, it can burn out or damage multiple systems in your home or business. Surge protection is a way to even out the effects of the electricity, keeping the power running without sending spikes of power to your appliances. Surge protectors absorb the brunt of the shock, allowing it to stop before it moves on to damage your expensive electronic equipment.
Computers
If your business is current in the digital age, the biggest danger you may find in thunderstorms is with your computers. Without a surge protector, one lightning strike can shut down your entire computer system, wiping out memory and frying hard drives. A dedicated protector places between your computer and its power source will keep your data from disappearing, and an advanced version will even supply 30 minutes of power or more to give you the opportunity to shut everything down before it suffers any damage.
HVAC Systems
You might think of adding surge protection between your computer and its power source, but what about a more expensive system, your home HVAC complex? Electrical surges can silently kill air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and even furnaces, leaving you with hot and humid Florida weather in your house and a large repair bill. Call someone with electrical contracting experience to have them inspect your HVAC system. He’ll recommend what type of improvements you need, if any.
Appliances
When you think of power surges burning out appliances, you might picture hair dryers and televisions, but the massive surges that are common in Florida can take out your kitchen appliances as well as the smaller items in your house. An up-to-date appliance surge protector is crucial for protecting the larger appliances in your house that represent such a big investment in your home, as well as for your daughter’s beloved planetarium nightlight.
The Warranty
Many reputable manufacturers of surge protector power strips offer a home warranty covering any equipment plugged into its outlets. In fact, one U.S. Model offers a $300,000 warranty for anything you have plugged into their surge protector during power surges. That may be the least expensive homeowner’s insurance addition you’ll ever find.
Power Surges Over Multiple Wires
You may have most of your home covered by a circuit breaker and multiple power strips, but power surges can come through cable and phone wires as well as the major power cables. Make sure you have surge protection with the ability to connect with these wires, to give extra protection to televisions, telephones, and computers.
For more information on your home or business surge protection requirements, call us today for a free consultation.
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