Most people have more electronic devices than they have plugs. In fact, statistics show that the average American household has approximately 24 electronic devices. Often, these devices are plugged directly into a power outlet or power strips. But when power surges occur, your appliances can get damaged. This is where surge protectors come in handy. Do I need whole-home surge protection?

Do Surge Protectors Protect Against Brownouts?

Yes, surge protectors protect your appliances, computer, and anything else plugged into it from a brownout.

Computers are vulnerable to over-voltages and electrical surges. Electrical surges usually happen when the power cuts out for a moment, lightning strikes or when you turn on an electrical device that demands a lot of electricity. Your air conditioner is one of them. Notice that your lights flicker when you switch on the AC? This is because it puts a heavy load on your electrical current and can cause surges. This will significantly reduce the lifespan of your computer. Worse, you may even lose valuable and irretrievable data. Surge protectors will not only protect your computer against brownouts, power surges, and spikes; they will also prevent data loss. They can be a serious lifesaver.

Protect your appliances

Each home experiences more than 300 potentially dangerous electrical surges a year. Standard electrical outlets do not offer any protection against power spikes and surges.

When the voltage increases above the norm for at least 3 nanoseconds, the heat generated in the arc can fry your electronics and damage your electrical outlets. A surge protector evens out the sudden peaks of electricity; thus, protecting your electronic devices against random power spike damage.

Having a surge protector isn’t enough to protect your appliances from harm. You need to find one that suits your needs. Identifying the type and value of the equipment to be protected will help you determine the amount of protection you need.

Surge protectors offer protection in joules. Joule rating refers to the maximum amount of energy it can absorb before it fails. The higher the joule rating, the more energy it can absorb. For maximum protection, consider getting a surge protector with a joule rating of at least 600.

Peace of mind

As mentioned above, power surges can cause damage to your appliances and electrical outlets. They can be rendered useless in case of large power surges. In worst cases, a power surge can cause a house fire. With your home and belongings at risk, a surge protector will be a worthwhile investment.

Power surges may not be an everyday event, but we can’t tell when they will occur. With adequate protection in place, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that all your expensive electronic devices are protected.

For more helpful tips and information on protecting your home with surge protectors and other electronic devices, give the professionals at Absolute Plumbing, Electrical, Heating & Air a call!