It is essential in today’s world to have an electrically powered home. Almost everything in your home runs on electricity. That being said, it is crucial to have an efficient, uninterrupted supply to support your electrical needs. Even with all of the necessary implementations that your power company provides to make sure your service flows smoothly, power surges still happen and can disrupt your process.
Let’s now dig deeper into finding out what a power surge actually is, why it occurs, and how to take the proper measures to help prevent one from occurring in your home.
What is a power surge?
A power surge is when you have larger than normal amounts of electrical power. Our homes typically run on an average of 120 volts. When a power surge happens, more than 170 volts pass through the wires to the devices they are connected to. This results in reduced performance or even complete damage to your devices and/or home.
What can cause a power surge?
There are several reasons why a power surge happens. Here are the most common:
Lightning strikes can cause a power surge, especially if the strike is near your home. When the lightning bolt hits the electrical system, it will disrupt the flow of electricity. There is a high chance of damaging any appliances that are in use when this occurs. This results from the massive amount of heat that is generated during the strike which melts your electrical equipment. Unplugging your appliances during a thunder and lightning storm will help protect your devices.
Overwhelming your power circuit by overloading the circuit. This can occur when you connect a large number of extension cords to one circuit, plugging too many devices in a single outlet, or using an appliance that is above the circuit’s amp rating. When doing this, you are having the circuit receive more surge than it is able to tolerate and this will result in a power surge.
Faulty wiring can also trigger a power surge in your wires if they are not properly grounded or they are exposed. Ways to identify if your wires may be faulty are if the outlets having burn marks, burning smell, buzzing, and your breaker trips frequently. If any of these signs are present you should contact your electrician immediately.
Signs to look for in a power surge
There are a few tell-tale signs to be on the lookout for when checking for evidence of a power surge.
- You may smell a burnt or even acidic smell near your power source that is infected.
- A buzzing or low humming sound from the outlet.
- Your lights have flickered, but have not completely turned off.
- Warm or vibrating electrical outlets.
How to prevent a power surge
Adequate protection against a power surge is not a reactive measure, but more of a proactive way to prevent one from damaging your devices in the first place. There are companies that can help with installing a protector at your primary breaker. This will work as a gateway for the currents coming into your electrical system. When there is a spike in the voltage, the protector will shut off the power while also redirecting that excess electricity to an underground wire. Therefore protecting your home.
While it is a great option to have the whole house surge protector, you should have an added layer of protection to your more sensitive electronics. You can do this by finding your local company that offers surge stations, UPS stations to protect your computers, or the use of a power strip.
Be smart about where you plug in your devices. For instance, do not have your computers share the same outlet or power strip with items such as laser printers or air conditioners. Appliances that have a large electronic pull are not compatible with the more sensitive electronics and therefore put them at risk. This is where you can have mini surges that escalate over time damaging your products.
If you need further assistance in inspecting and protecting your house against power surges, contact Anchor Electric of Florida Inc today to schedule your in-home appointment.