Surge protection isn’t something the average homeowner spends a whole lot of time thinking about. And, much as we’d like to say otherwise, a lot of business owners and property managers don’t seem to place as much importance on it as they should. That all changes when the big one comes along, though, and a power surge fries the electronics throughout the building.

Washing machines. Refrigerators. Computer servers. HVAC systems. Anything that is plugged into an outlet or hardwired into the electrical system is at risk.

We know at least a couple of people reading this are thinking, “Well, I’m glad I bought those power strips.” Don’t let those devices, handy as they may be, give you a false sense of security, though. Because chances are you don’t have them in every outlet throughout the house or commercial space – and, even if you do, they don’t offer any protection for hardwired electrical equipment.

Here’s what you need to know about power surges and how you can protect your sensitive electronics from damage.

What causes power surges?

Everyone thinks of the same thing, right off the bat. Lightning strikes. And yes, that can certainly cause the type of power surge that puts electronics and appliances at risk. Again, don’t let a false sense of security creep in, though. Because even if you don’t live somewhere where lightning storms are common, power surges can still happen.

Wherever there are power lines, there is the potential for damaged power lines. Even if you could completely rule out a lightning strike, you can’t rule out power line issues – and if you don’t have any power lines, you probably don’t have much use for this post! Even overloaded circuits or faulty wiring in the home can result in a damaging power surge.

Why do I need full-facility coverage?

As mentioned above, point-of-use surge protectors like the power strips you buy at the office supply store just aren’t going to cut it if you’re looking for whole-home or full commercial facility coverage. Are they better than nothing? Sure – at least for the electronics plugged directly into them. The best protection you can get is to continue using those throughout your home or building, but pairing them with more comprehensive coverage.

It’s important to note that power surges can come into your home or commercial property in a few different ways. Sure, the electrical system is the most obvious and probably most likely one. But surges can also enter through telephone landlines and even your cable TV line. Considering the amount you’ve invested in your appliances, electronics, and other equipment running off of electricity, it really makes sense to cover all of your bases.

How do I install a whole-facility surge protector?

You don’t – not unless you happen to be a professional, licensed electrician, anyway. You obviously don’t need anyone to go around the house plugging power strips with surge protection into your outlets. But you do need a professional to install a whole-house or whole-facility system. When a power surge happens, the surge protector needs to immediately detect excessive current and divert that excess current through the building’s grounding path.

No amount of online instructional videos or search engine diving will teach how to do all of this safely. And safety is the underlying element to all of this. Don’t get us wrong – we’d be heartbroken to see our own high-end audio systems and home theater equipment get fried by a power surge. That type of loss pales in comparison to the real threat of bodily harm that electricity poses when not routed properly throughout a building. Don’t take any chances by overlooking the need for surge protection – and don’t take any chances when it comes to having any necessary work done by professionals, either.

How do I know if I am protected?

Maybe you just bought your home or moved into a new commercial facility, and you’re not quite sure what type of surge protection you have in place. Maybe you have questions about specific pieces of equipment, and how best to protect them. Whatever the case, we’re happy to come and take a look. We take a lot of pride in the quality of the equipment we sell and install – take a look through our showroom to see what we mean – and we want to make sure that equipment is protected.

It’s not just about your home theater system and tower speakers, either. What happens if a power surge fries the automation system you depend on so much? Or if the security systems that let you sleep or work safely at night go down due to a surge? There’s a lot more at stake here than some people realize – though hopefully now you have a better understanding of just how critical comprehensive surge protection really is.

Protect Your Investments with Reliable Surge Protection

Our goal at Cloud MIS isn’t just to sell top-of-the-line electronics equipment to homeowners and businesses. We do that, of course, but it’s not our sole focus.

We also want to help our clients get the most from those systems and electronics. That’s why we call ourselves a technology integration company.

We don’t want to see your equipment get fried any more than you do, and we want to play as active a role as possible in ensuring you know how to protect your equipment. If you have any questions about what you’ve read, or you’d like us to come out and evaluate your system to determine the best path forward for your surge protection needs, get in touch. We’ll sleep easier knowing your electronics are protected, too.

Images borrowed from Qmotion Shades.