Have you experienced that sinking feeling when there’s a big thunderstorm rolling through, and you’re just waiting for the lights to flicker or a power surge to fry your electronics? It’s one of the worst feelings – especially if you have a lot of pricey gadgets and appliances to worry about.
It’s becoming more and more important to shield our homes from power spikes because we have more smart TVs, computers, fridges, and appliances than ever before. That’s where whole house surge protectors come into play as a potential solution.
Rather than using separate protectors for each device, these heavy-duty units get hardwired directly into your home’s main electrical panel. From there, they’re supposed to act like a force field, safeguarding every single appliance and gadget against any incoming surges before damage can occur.
But are whole house protectors really worth all the investment? Do the benefits outweigh the costs?
To help you decide if upgrading is the right move for your home, we will go into the nitty-gritty pros and cons of whole house surge protectors. We’ll cover how they function, what kind of protection you actually get, any potential downsides, and more. Read on for the full scoop!
Understanding Whole House Surge Protectors
Let’s get on the same page about what these whole house surge protector systems really are before diving into the pros and cons. Grasping how they operate helps explain if they’re truly worth considering for your place or not.
The Basics
The core idea is whole house surge protectors act as bodyguards for your home’s complete electrical system and every device plugged into it. These rugged units get hardwired straight into your home’s main electrical panel or breaker box.
From this central hub, the protector keeps close watch on the incoming electrical currents. If it detects a potentially dangerous power surge inbound, it takes the hit by rerouting and safely dissipating that surge before it can fry your home’s wiring and appliances.
How They Differ from Power Strip Protectors
You might think, don’t those typical surge protector power strips already do a similar job of shielding electronics?
While partly true, there are some major differences:
- Power strips only protect whatever is directly plugged into that specific strip
- Whole house protectors have your entire home’s back – safeguarding every hardwired appliance and circuit
- Power strips degrade and need replacing over time, while hardwired protectors are permanent installations
- Whole house units are built tough to withstand and divert much larger surges than small plug-in protectors
Installation Process
Of course, getting one of these whole house protector systems properly installed is crucial for it to actually function right. These aren’t plug-and-play devices you can just set up yourself. Hiring a licensed pro electrician is mandatory.
The electrician will hardwire the protector at two key points – connecting it to your home’s main electrical service panel to monitor currents, and then properly grounding it to provide a safe path to disperse any surges. Ensuring proper grounding is vital.
They’ll also inspect if your home’s existing electrical panel and wiring are up to code and capable of handling the new protector system. The pro will guide you on protector models and make sure you get the right heavy-duty unit for your home’s electrical needs.
So in a nutshell, whole house surge protectors act as burly security details monitoring your home’s total electrical system 24/7 and deflecting any potentially damaging power spikes before they can wreak havoc. While more robust than basic power strip protectors, they require professional hardwiring to truly function effectively.
Pros of Whole House Surge Protectors
Alright, now that we’ve covered what these systems actually do, let’s dive into some of the major plusses of installing whole home surge protection. There are definitely some solid upsides that make them worth seriously considering.
Complete Protection Blanket
The biggest pro is right there in the name – whole house protectors provide a comprehensive security blanket for literally every appliance, electronic device, and electrical circuit throughout your home. From the TV and computer setup to the fridge, washer/dryer, smart home gadgets – it’s all shielded from potentially destructive power surges.
Avoid Pricey Replacements
We’re talking about some serious damage prevention here. Power spikes can instantly fry expensive electronics and appliances, leaving you stuck footing the bill for costly replacements or repairs. Having that heavy-duty whole house protection can flat out save you from those painful, budget-busting headaches.
Peace of Mind 24/7
Then there’s the straightforward peace of mind factor. With a quality protector system installed, you never have to stress about thunderstorms, power outages, or utility issues putting your investments at risk. You can just relax knowing your entire home’s electrical system is safeguarded around the clock.
Boost Your Home Value
For homeowners thinking long-term, having professional surge protection installed can legitimately increase your property’s value and appeal. Security-conscious buyers appreciate that it’s an added safety feature already in place to protect their investment.
Extend Product Lifespans
You know all those fancy kitchen appliances and smart home setups you dropped serious cash on? Shielding them from power surges doesn’t just prevent catastrophic failures – it can also help extend their overall usable lifespan and keep them running smoothly for years longer.
There are definitely a lot of advantages for getting your whole house surge protected. But of course, every pro tends to have a potential downside as well…
Cons of Whole House Surge Protectors
Unfortunately, nothing is perfect. Even the best protection systems have downsides. Before you can make the best decision for your home, you need to weigh the cons of whole house surge protectors as well.
Upfront Expense
The most obvious downside is the cost. Frankly, it isn’t cheap. Once you factor in the cost of the heavy-duty protector unit itself plus hiring a licensed pro to handle the installation, you’re easily looking at shelling out several hundred bucks at the very minimum. For many homes it could be up to four digits or more.
Ongoing Maintenance Costs
And it’s not just a one-and-done purchase either. These protectors require routine professional maintenance and inspections on a regular basis to keep them operating at peak performance long-term. You’ll need to keep budgeting for those recurring service calls and checkups every couple of years.
Not 100% Flawless
While extremely capable overall, it’s important to understand that no surge protector can 100% guarantee complete, flawless protection from every single power surge situation imaginable. For example, when lightning directly hits your property, this could potentially overpower your surge protection system and damage your appliances.
Overconfidence Pitfalls
Having a heavy-duty protection installed might also make homeowners overly-confident. They could get lax and neglect other crucial safety precautions they should still be taking. It’s still essential to unplug devices during intense storms and take protective steps.
Older Home Roadblocks
Lastly, homes with seriously outdated or subpar electrical systems and wiring may face some roadblocks when trying to install a new whole house surge protector. You might first have to upgrade your panels and wires to meet current safety codes and make sure that your electrical system is fully compatible.
We’re not telling you these cons to discourage you from installing a whole house surge protection system, but so that you will know what exactly you are getting into if you do. Weight these potential drawbacks carefully against the pros to decide if whole home protection is truly worth it for your situation.
Is a Whole House Surge Protector Right for You?
So, is investing in comprehensive whole home surge protection the right move for you? You’ll have to decide for yourself based on your own situation and needs.
But here are some key things to help you think through it:
Evaluate Your Protection Needs
Start by taking an honest look at just how vulnerable your home truly is to potential power surges. If electrical storms, power outages, or grid issues that could trigger surges, are common in your area, you might want to consider whole house protection. This is also true if you’ve got an older home with aging wiring that could be more susceptible to issues.
However the need may not be so pressing if you’re in a relatively surge-free zone with a newer home and electrical system that’s up to date.
But you should also consider the total value of electronics and appliances you’d be safeguarding. If you have a lot of expensive equipment and gadgets, the more that blanket coverage could pay off.
Consider Alternatives
If whole house protection is still not in the books for you, you could also consider other options to safeguard your electronics. You can make use of individual plug-in protector power strips. This is a cheaper alternative but will only cover whatever is connected to that specific strip.
You could also unplug devices during storms. This is not as convenient, but it is also an age-old free solution. You can also consider combining plug-in protectors for key devices with unplugging habits.
But if you want more peace of mind, especially in surge-prone areas with lots of expensive gear, going with the whole house protector route might prove more worthwhile in the long run.
At the end of the day, only you can make the best decision for your home. For some it’s an easy choice, for others not so much. But hopefully this guide has you well-equipped to make the right decision for your specific situation!
Don’t Let Power Surges Fry Your Favorite Gadgets
Look, we all know the pain of having an expensive TV, computer, or appliance get fried by a power surge. It’s enough to make you want to chuck your hair dryer across the room! Investing in whole house surge protection can help you avoid those meltdown moments (both literal and figurative) by safeguarding all your home’s beloved tech.
While it requires an upfront cost, it could save you big bucks down the road – especially if you live in a surge-happy area with lots of pricey gear to protect. If you’re ready to get serious about comprehensive protection, don’t DIY it. Call the pros at Bassett Services at (317) 360-0054. We’ve been the surge experts for over 40 years!
