Surge protection gets sold with a lot of hype, so it's fair to ask whether it's worth the money. The short answer is that it's a reasonable, relatively inexpensive layer of protection for a home full of electronics and modern appliances.
What a surge is
A surge is a brief spike in voltage. Some come from outside your home, such as utility switching or storms. Many come from inside, when large motors like the air conditioner or refrigerator cycle on and off.
What whole-home protection does
A whole-home surge protector is installed at your electrical panel. It limits the voltage spikes that travel through your wiring to every outlet and appliance in the house, including things you can't plug into a power strip, such as hardwired appliances, HVAC equipment, and smart home devices.
What it doesn't do
- It won't protect against a direct lightning strike
- It doesn't replace power strips for sensitive electronics
- It doesn't last forever. Surge protectors wear out after absorbing surges, so many have an indicator light to show whether they're still working.
When it's worth it
- You have expensive electronics, a home office, or lots of smart devices
- You're installing a new heat pump, EV charger, or other high-value equipment
- You're already having the panel worked on or upgraded, when adding protection is inexpensive
- You've had electronics fail without an obvious reason
The layered approach
The best protection uses two layers: a whole-home protector at the panel, plus quality surge-protected power strips at the point of use for your computers and entertainment gear.
If you're already upgrading your panel, whole-home surge protection is one of the most cost-effective additions you can make. An electrician can install it and tell you whether your current protection, if any, is doing its job.
Want a professional opinion?
Call us any time, day or night, at (425) 615-5000, or book online. Written pricing before any work begins.
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