Surges are brief, frequent and cumulative
Most surges are small and unnoticed. Over time they wear down the components inside televisions, computers, furnaces and appliances. A larger event during a thunderstorm can destroy several devices at once.
Plug in power strips protect only what is plugged into them, and their protection wears out. A device at the panel covers every circuit in the building, including hardwired equipment that no strip can reach.
What installation includes
- Selecting a protective device suited to the panel and service
- Mounting at or next to the main panel with short, tidy connections
- Connecting to a dedicated breaker space as the device requires
- Checking grounding at the panel so the device can do its job
- Reading the status indicator and explaining what it means
- Advising on point of use protection for sensitive electronics
A short, well planned installation
Inspect the panel
Available space, grounding and the condition of the equipment are checked before a device is chosen.
Choose the device
Protection is matched to the service type and the equipment you want to protect.
Install and connect
The device is mounted close to the panel and wired with the shortest practical conductors.
Confirm status
The indicator is checked and you learn what a healthy or depleted device looks like.
What surge protection can and cannot do
A whole house device reduces the size of spikes entering through the service. It does not make a building immune to a direct lightning strike, and it works best alongside good grounding and sensible point of use protection.
The device also wears with each event. A status light tells you when it has done its work and needs replacement, which is a good reason to check it after a major storm.
Common questions about whole house surge protection
Do I still need power strips?
Surge rated strips are still useful for sensitive electronics. The panel device and the strip work together in layers.
Does it protect during a power outage?
It addresses spikes, not outages. It does not replace backup power.