Tips to Protect Yourself from Power Surges
We’ve probably all heard about the dangers of lightning storms on our electrical equipment. Some people recommend that we disconnect things like our computers and TVs during a powerful storm, as a nearby strike can cause a significant amount of electricity to come into our house through external wires and fry our electrical systems. This is an example of a power surge, but there are many more common ways that power surges can affect our homes.
During winter months, freezing ice and melting water can get into the electrical infrastructure, causing a short, shutting things down, or disrupting power. A power surge can then follow as power makes its way through again, or when the power company turns the power back on.
A power surge is a sudden increase in the flow of power coming into, or flowing through, a particular circuit in your home. A surge can happen when a device that uses a high amount of electricity starts up — like a refrigerator or an air conditioner — or when something like a microwave or a high-capacity space heater gets turned on. Power surges can also be caused by old or damaged wiring, some of which you may not even be able to see.
How Surges Can Damage Your Home
A strong power surge could wreck your home’s power outlets, an occurrence that has the potential to create a fire. Power surges can also damage microprocessors — the small chips in our computers and many modern appliances and gadgets that allow them to function. The damage to devices can happen in one surge or accumulate over time through the mini-surges that occur as devices, big and small, turn off and on.
How to Protect Yourself from Power Surges
Surging power in our homes is unavoidable, but it is possible to protect yourself from the adverse effects of a power surge. Some people turn to a surge-protected power bar for their home offices and entertainment spaces. Most consumer products like this provide only a minimal amount of protection and are unfortunately ineffective in the event of a power outage or massive surge. Some people carefully manage what can be turned on at the same time in their home — never using a particular outlet while the dishwasher is running. You don’t have to do this anymore. We can fix the issue.
From better ground wiring to individual room or whole-home surge protection systems, Cornerstone Services can work with you to find the right solution for the electrical problems you are experiencing — whether that’s flickering lights, tripping breakers, or malfunctioning devices.