Power surges can be dramatic, as when lightning strikes or an electrical transformer blows. But they can also be silent and invisible, such as when a large appliance like a refrigerator or air conditioner cycles on or off.
The damage from such small surges won’t often be noticeable – but repeated exposure can lead to “electronic rust,” shortening the lifespan of sensitive components over time1. This can cause problems with appliances and even electrical wiring.
Install a Surge Protector
Power surges are the sudden jolts of electricity that can carry thousands of volts through your home’s electrical system, damaging appliances and devices. They can also cause a house fire, leaving you with costly repairs or even a total loss of your belongings. Fortunately, it’s possible to prevent power surges by installing whole-house and individual circuit surge suppressors.
A surge protector works by taming big power spikes and diverting excess voltage to the ground wire, preventing it from impacting other devices in your home. Unlike fuses, which often melt when they’re overloaded, surge protectors react in less than a nanosecond to divert excess electricity.
Most people think of lightning strikes and blown transformers when they think of power surges, but the truth is that your house experiences power surges about 20 times a day, according to studies. Internal sources are the most common reason for these small-scale power surges, such as when electronic devices with motors and compressors (like hairdryers, space heaters, and power tools) turn on or off, causing a circuit overload.
Power surges can also be caused by a faulty wiring problem, problems with your utility lines, or from a lightening strike. Whatever the source, these jolts of electricity can damage your appliances and cause your house to short out or even catch on fire.
You can protect your home from power surges by using surge protectors and updating old wiring, if necessary. You can also reduce the risk by ensuring that large appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators, and dryers are on a separate circuit from smaller appliances and devices. And you should unplug electronics and devices when they’re not in use to further reduce the risk of a surge.
Whole-house surge protection is the best way to tame big power spikes, says the DGEC in Fife. These surge protection devices are installed on your electrical meter or in your home’s panel box and can be expensive, but they can save you from costly repair bills later. It’s important to note that installing a surge protector requires working with electricity, so it’s not a job for the average homeowner without prior experience. It’s a good idea to hire an electrician near you to handle this installation.
Check Your Electrical Outlets
As modern homes have more electronic devices and appliances plugged into their electrical systems than ever before, power surges are more common than they used to be. These spikes of high electrical voltage can damage the appliances and electronics that are plugged into your home. If the devices aren’t protected by surge protectors, they could overheat and break down. In some cases, they may even catch fire.
Electrical surges can be caused by internal or external sources. Lightning strikes, physical damage to transformers or power lines, and changes to the electricity grid can all lead to a sudden burst of high electrical current that could damage your devices and appliances. Internal surges can also occur when large appliances like air conditioners or refrigerators cycle on and off.
Internal causes of power surges can be more difficult to recognize than those caused by external factors. However, there are certain signs that you should look out for. Fuses that blow frequently, circuit breakers that trip often, or lights flickering when a fridge or air conditioner turns on can all be indicators of faulty wiring. If you suspect that your wiring is faulty, contact a residential electrician in Vancouver to inspect and repair or replace it as needed.
Another common cause of surges is overloading outlets. Many homeowners make the mistake of plugging too many devices into a single outlet or using extension cords to add more outlets to a room. This can lead to overheating and a tangled web of wires that is dangerous when there are power fluctuations.
When you notice that an outlet feels hot to the touch or you see marks on it, this is a sign that it has overheated due to overloading. If this happens, it’s important to immediately unplug all of the devices that are plugged into that outlet and consult an electrician for repairs or replacements as needed.
Another sign of an overheated outlet is if the outlet is emitting a burning smell or has become discolored. If you notice either of these, it’s important to immediately remove all devices from the outlet and have it replaced by an electrician.
Inspect Your Wiring
Power surges can damage electronic devices plugged into outlets by sending an overwhelming amount of electricity through them at once. This can cause them to overheat or break down, as well as create serious fire risks. While some types of electrical surges are unavoidable, it is possible to take steps to prevent them from happening in your home.
You should inspect your home’s wiring periodically to spot potential problems and address them before they lead to a power surge. Flickering lights, buzzing sounds, and scorched marks around electrical outlets are all warning signs of a potential surge problem. These issues are often caused by old, frayed or damaged wiring. The best way to check the quality of your wiring is to hire a licensed electrician. They can inspect your wiring, test it for proper voltage supply and tighten any loose connections.
It’s not necessary to hire a professional for every electrical inspection, but you should do it occasionally to catch problems before they become serious. The system that flows electricity evenly and reliably into your home consists of generators, lines, transformers, monitoring points and circuits. If one of these malfunctions, the voltage can jump hundreds or thousands of volts. This is too much for most appliances and electronic devices to handle, and it can also cause a fire if the faulty wiring gets hot for a long period of time.
Some of the most common causes of a power surge include lightning strikes, power outages, and faulty electrical equipment. However, the electrical system in your home can also experience a power surge if you overload it with too many high-demand devices.
You can protect your appliances and electronics from power surges by taking precautionary measures and using surge protection devices. You can also unplug any devices not in use and limit the number of items plugged into each circuit. Additionally, you should unplug your electronics during severe thunderstorms to reduce the risk of lightning-related power surges. If you notice any of the warning signs of a power surge, it is essential to act quickly.
Check Your Electrical System
The system that flows electricity into your home contains many generators, lines, transformers and monitoring points. Any of these could be subject to a power surge at any time. It’s important to understand the root causes of power surges so that you can take preventative measures to protect your equipment from damage and ensure that the systems in your home are running smoothly.
Surges are the result of sudden increases in voltage that exceed what plugged-in devices can handle. The excess power can cause heat and electrical arcs that damage or ruin equipment. Some surges are sudden and dramatic, but others are subtle and occur over a long period of time.
While the most common causes of power surges are lightning strikes, other factors also play a role. In some cases, the problem is caused by a change in your local electric grid or a failure within one of your appliances. Other times, the issue is due to a power outage that allows electricity to flow back into other areas of your house.
Other issues can include things like tree limbs that grow into or over power lines and the restoration of electricity after a blackout. In some cases, the cause is simply a result of overusing high-power appliances or using them while they are plugged in.
In some cases, you may not even be aware of the damage that has been done. This is because small power surges that last a microsecond or less can be incredibly damaging to electronics and appliances that are left plugged in.
The best way to identify the effects of an electrical surge is by checking the circuit breaker panel and inspecting your appliances for signs of damage, such as burnt wires, melted insulation or no longer working. If you notice any of these problems, contact a professional electrician to perform a thorough inspection. A licensed electrician will be able to spot any potential issues and offer repairs or replacements to protect your devices from future power surges. You may be able to get some of this work covered by equipment breakdown coverage, which is an optional addition to homeowner’s insurance policies.
