How Do I Know What Size Surge Protector I Need?
An electrical power surge may not be one of your top concerns, but it should be. An excessive amount of electricity running through your home can cause serious damage. While you can’t predict when a surge will happen, you can prepare for this potentially damaging event. A whole-house surge protector provides the protection that your home needs.
What Is a Surge Protector?
In many homes, specific electronics or appliances already have surge protection. For example, you might have a surge protection box attached to your computer or television. However, every electronic device in your home could be fried by a powerful surge of electricity. Whole-house protection is essential, and the best way to do this is by blocking an electrical surge before it enters your home. This is done with a whole-house surge protector, which is installed on a dedicated breaker at your home’s main electrical panel.
Why Do You Need a Surge Protector?
Electrical power surges are commonly caused by faulty electrical wiring and lightning storms. Whole-house surge protection features a grounding wire. This wire channels excess electricity away from the house, so the electricity won’t damage your belongings. While such damage to appliances and electronics could cost tens of thousands of dollars in a typical home, there is another concern. Power surges are known to cause devastating electrical fires.
What Size of Surge Protector Do You Need?
The cost of a whole house protector depends on the size of the house, but it generally costs up to $1,000. One of the factors that drives cost is the size of the protector. A 200-amp service panel is often installed in larger homes with higher electricity demands. These homes may require surge protection rated at 100kA to 120kA.
If you have an average-sized home and don’t have multiple HVAC units or high-end electronics, a 60kA to 80kA protector may be suitable. Smaller houses with lower electricity demands can be serviced by a 40kA to 60kA protector.
What Other Factors Should Be Considered?
When you purchase whole-house surge protection, there are a few factors to keep in mind. The type of appliances and electronics in your home, for example, should be considered. If you have several computers and televisions, premium appliances or a smart home system, choose a protector with a higher kA rating.
Also consider how frequently your home is impacted by power surges and outages. Areas that are prone to thunderstorms with frequent lightning would benefit from a more powerful protector. An area with frequent power outages may indicate the need for a more powerful protector as well.
Not all surge protectors are the same. One that carries a UL 1449 certification passes industry standards for performance and safety. Look at the NEMA rating as well. The higher the rating, the greater the protection. Whole-house system ratings range from one to four.
In addition, the clamping voltage requires attention. Lower clamping voltage is preferred. This indicates that the equipment activates more quickly when a surge is detected. The absorption rate indicates how much power will be stopped by the system. At minimum, a whole-house system should be rated for at least 40,000 amps. After a surge, some systems also have an alert system that notifies you if it continues to be functional.
Why Do You Need Professional Installation?
When you purchase a plug-in surge protector, such as for a single appliance, the installation is simple. Typically, you just plug the protector into the wall and plug the appliance cord into the protector. Installing a whole-house protection system, however, is not a do-it-yourself project. In many locations, building codes apply to surge protection equipment. Proper installation also plays a critical role in the overall functionality of the system.
Learn More Today
You never know when the next power surge or lightning storm will strike, so the time to prepare for such an event is now. Our licensed electricians can help you find the right surge protection for you home and provide safe, fast installation service. Don’t put up with any malarky. Call Mister Sparky.
