Protect Your Home from Power Surges
Published
on Friday, September 5, 2025
in
Electric
Has anyone ever told you to unplug appliances during a storm? The reason is power surges—brief spikes in electric voltage that can damage your devices in a matter of seconds.
It’s true that lightning strikes are a well-known cause of surges, but as outlined in the BobVila.com article, “Solved! What Is a Power Surge?,” other causes are more common, including faulty wiring and plugging too many devices into an extension cord.
Types of Surge Protectors
The best way to protect your home and devices is to invest in a surge protector.
Single-outlet protectors and multi-outlet power strip protectors are usually cost-effective (about $20–$70) and allow you to prevent damage to specific appliances. However, they may stop functioning properly after multiple surges, or even one particularly strong one, requiring you to replace them more often.
Whole-house protectors are more expensive ($100–$200 or more) and require professional installation (an added fee), but provide much greater protection. They’re wired into your electrical service panel to shield your whole home from surges.
Purchasing a Surge Protector
This Old House, in its article, “How Effective Are Surge Protectors?,” recommends paying attention to the following when shopping:
- Response Time and Clamping Voltage: The lower these numbers are, the better the protection.
- Joule Rating: Protectors with higher ratings are better at absorbing surges over time.
- UL Certification: Devices that are certified for UL Standard 1449 (second edition or later) meet the most up-to-date safety and performance standards.
- Indicator Lights and Alarms: These will tell you if your surge protector needs to be replaced.
Other Ways to Prevent Surges
While surge protectors provide the most protection, there are other ways to address the causes of power surges.
A home inspection can let you know if your home’s wiring needs to be updated. A certified electrician can thoroughly check your electric system.
Finally, try to limit the number of appliances that are plugged in at the same time, especially in the same outlet. Lots of devices drawing energy all at once can make the voltage in your electric system less stable overall.