Protect your home and appliances from power surges
Power surges – a sudden, often invisible spike in your electrical current can wreak havoc on the valuable electronics in your home. The electricians at Mauro Electric in Bothell, WA get asked all the time, “what is a power surge?” and they empower their customers with knowledge and information to understand what a surge is and how to keep their electrical systems safe.
What is a power surge?
A power surge is an unexpected, brief increase in voltage that flows through your electrical system. While the standard voltage in most homes is around 120 volts, a power surge can send hundreds – maybe even thousands – of volts surging through the wiring that can fry your television, computers, smart appliances and more.
What causes a power surge?
A power surge can come from a variety of sources, both inside and outside your home or commercial building.
- Utility grid issues or problems at the power company, such as switching operations or downed power lines can cause a fluctuation in voltage and a surge in your home’s electricity.
- Lightning strikes are one of the most drastic causes of a power surge. A direct lightning strike can send a massive surge through a power line and into your home.
- Large appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners and others can create a small surge when they cycle on and off. These surges are usually small, but can accumulate and cause damage over time.
- Faulty wiring such as damaged insulation or loose connections can cause a surge.
What damage can a surge cause?
- A surge can damage electronics like computers, televisions, gaming consoles and smart home appliances. A surge can fry the internal components and lead to malfunctions or complete failures. These surges can also corrupt data on your computers and external drives and cause data loss.
- Even a minor surge can reduce the lifespan of your appliances. Continued surges degrade the internal components of appliances and reduce their lifespan.
- Electrical fires . A severe power surge can cause an electrical fire.
How can you protect your home from a power surge?
- There are several steps homeowners and commercial building owners can take to protect their homes and businesses.
- Invest in a surge protector. Their low price point brings big benefits when it comes to saving your valuable electronics and appliances. A surge protector diverts excess voltage – a surge – away from the equipment that’s plugged into the surge protector.
- If you are looking for comprehensive protection, ask us about installing a whole-house surge protector into your electrical panel. These systems safeguard your entire electrical system, including your electronics and appliances.
Have Mauro Electric, Inc.
Inspect your electrical system to ensure it’s properly grounded. This will help divert power surges. Schedule regular inspections with a qualified electrician in Bothell to identify any potential wiring issues before they can cause any problems.
Mauro Electric, Inc. is your electrical safety partner and is committed to providing reliable and professional electrical services to protect your home or commercial property. We can help with:
- Installing whole-house surge protectors
- Inspecting and upgrading electrical systems
- Ensuring proper grounding
- Providing expert advice on electrical safety and offering proactive support and service
Don’t wait until a power surge damages your valuable electronics and appliances. Contact Mauro Electric, Inc . and schedule an electrical inspection today.
