If you have appliances or electronics that are set up in your home or office, it’s a common problem to run out of available outlets. Two devices are often used so that additional devices can be installed:
Power strips and Surge Protectors
Power strips and surge protectors may look similar, but they have separate functionality and purpose.
Power Strips Functionality and Purpose
Power strips add more outlets to the outlet that they are plugged into. In essence, they are extension cords that allow several devices to share the same power source. You can commonly find power strips used in residential homes, office buildings, and even workshops when the number of outlets is limited.
Unlike using a surge protector, using a power strip doesn’t offer any additional protection against a voltage spike. Beyond outlet extension, power strips can come with various additional features like on and off switches, USB charging ports, and internal circuit breakers.
The primary purpose of a power strip is the convenience that it provides. Using a power strip is ideal for devices that don’t draw much power and situations where you wouldn’t need surge protection. They are useful if you are looking to manage and organize multiple devices, but they shouldn’t be used for sensitive electronics or large appliances.
Surge Protectors Functionality and Purpose
While they can sometimes look similar, surge protectors are more specialized than power strips. Surge protectors, as the name suggests, protect any gadgets or appliances that are plugged into them from power voltage spikes. These voltage spikes, or power surges, can happen because of various reasons like power outages, lightning strikes, or appliances having a sudden change in power consumption.
A surge protector can detect any excess voltage. When this excess voltage is detected, it is then diverted safely to the ground wire of the home. This process is due to metal oxide varistors (MOVs) that are inside of surge protectors. When the voltage increases past a certain amount, the MOVs are what redirect the surge to the ground.
Surge protectors essentially work to shield any sensitive gadgets or electronics that are plugged into a home. These sensitive devices can be:
- Televisions
- Computers
- Gaming consoles
- High-end stereo equipment
- And more
Whole-home Surge Protection
Using surge protectors for your devices can be useful. However, a more robust form of protection is whole-home surge protection. These systems are designed to protect every part of your home from power surges instead of just a few devices plugged into a small surge protector. Whole-home surge protectors are professionally installed at the main electrical panel of the home. This location allows them to be one of the first lines of defense when a power surge tries to enter the home’s electrical system.
Whole-home surge protectors function similarly to smaller surge protectors used on outlets. A whole-home surge protector monitors any of the income voltage in the electrical system. If excess voltage is detected, it is diverted away, protecting the wiring system of the home.
Unlike a smaller surge protection device that’s plugged into outlets, whole-home protection is more comprehensive. It ensures that all electrical systems, devices, appliances, and gadgets are shielded against damage. Whole-home surge protectors protect HVAC systems, larger appliances, and other built-in home systems.
Protection Against External Surges
Whole-home surge protectors can defend every device and electrical system in your home from all types of external surges. This includes fluctuations in the power grid, lightning strikes, and more. Whole-home surge protection is ideal for areas that are prone to severe weather.
Preventing Data Loss
Without surge protection, certain devices affected by a surge can lead to corrupt data or data loss. This includes computers, network storage systems, or any other devices that store data. By installing a whole-home surge protector in your home, all devices that store data are protected against data loss.
Financial Savings
While installation of whole-home surge protection comes with a cost, this cost should be seen as an investment that can save you money in the long run. Power surges can result in significant damage to expensive electrical devices or appliances. Particularly bad power surges can even damage your home’s electrical systems. Replacing and repairing these devices and systems can be expensive. While some devices may be covered by warranties or insurance, claims may be denied if the terms stipulate that surge protection must be used.
Downtime Reduction
Some people work from home. Whether they work from home full-time or take some work home with them occasionally, electrical systems must be reliable so work isn’t disrupted. Whole-home surge protection helps to increase reliability and reduce any disruption.
Convenience
One advantage of whole-home surge protection is that it is more convenient. It eliminates the need to use smaller surge protection devices around your home for your electronics. If additional low-power devices need to be plugged into an outlet, you can use a power strip rather than a plug-in surge protector. Power strips tend to be a cheaper option.
Easy Maintenance
Whole-home surge protection requires professional installation. However, once the system is installed in your home, it requires very little maintenance. This makes whole-home surge protection a hassle-free solution.
Insurance Benefits
If you install whole-home surge protection in your home, you may qualify for insurance benefits. Some insurance companies have policies that offer discounts or other benefits when whole-home surge protection is used because of the reduced risk of electrical damage. You can check with your home insurance company to see if they offer these benefits or incentives.
Increased Property Value
Another great benefit of whole-home surge protection is that it can increase the property value of your home. Homes that have whole-home surge protection can be seen as more desirable and may command a higher market value if you ever sell your home. Additionally, whole-home surge protection may also help increase your home value if you ever choose to refinance your mortgage.
Enhanced Safety
Power surges can be dangerous. They can cause electrical fires in some cases after wiring or circuits are damaged. By installing whole-home surge protection in your home, you are mitigating the risk of this happening and making your home a safer environment.
Warning: Avoid DIY
Don’t attempt to install whole-home surge protection yourself. It should always be installed by professional electricians who are qualified to do it safely while complying with all regulations and codes. Attempting to install whole-home surge protectors yourself can be extremely dangerous and can result in property damage and severe personal injury.
Do you live in Canton, OH, or the surrounding areas, and want whole-home surge protection installed in your home? At Beck Electric, Generators & Plumbing we take pride in protecting our customers’ homes from dangerous electrical surges. In addition to whole-home surge protection, we also offer extensive electrical services. Our experienced electricians can help with repairs, upgrades, and more.
Our electrical services are available to both residential and commercial customers. We can also help with generators, propane tank installation, and plumbing services. If you’re interested in hearing more about whole-home surge protection or any of our other services, contact Beck Electric, Generators & Plumbing today!
