Most of the electric device damages that take place in households are mainly due to power surges. Power surges are more common then we think they are and can destroy your sensitive and expensive appliances without any warning. 

So, if you have electrical devices or appliances in your home that are prone to damage by power surges then hire a local electrician in Jupiter and get a whole house surge protection. Here is everything that you need to know about power surges.
 

What is a power surge?

A power surge is a sudden burst of a high amount of electricity through the electrical system in your house. A power surge can be caused by a number of reasons and can destroy expensive electrical appliances if proper protection is not taken.
 

What causes power surges?

Power surges are caused by various reasons and can cause severe damage to your appliances. The following are some causes of power surges.
 

- Lighting strikes

This is one of the most common reasons for a power surge. When lightning strikes an electrical system, the system absorbs an excessive amount of current and this leads to the creation of a power surge.
 

- Faulty wiring

Electrical wiring transfers electricity throughout your house and when the wiring is damaged or its casing is exposed, it can lead to a power surge in the absence of electrical resistance.
 

- Electrical overload

Power surges can also be caused by an electrical overload. Electrical overloads can occur when you draw too much power from a single circuit. When a circuit is overloaded, it is prone to receive a massive spike in current and thus leads to a surge.
 

- Damage in utility lines

Another cause of a power surge is damage to the utility lines and these damages can be caused either by human errors or due to natural forces. 
 

- Power restoration

Power surges can also occur when the power is restored after an outage. When the power is restored for an entire street or neighborhood, the sudden bursts of energy can lead to power surges.
 

How to protect electrical appliances from electrical surges?

A power surge can occur very unexpectedly and cause severe damage to your electrical appliances, which is why it is necessary to take adequate preventive measures to protect your house against surges. The following are some tips to protect your home against power surges.
 

- Install a whole house surge protection

Whole house surge suppressors protect your house from unwanted leaps in the electricity levels. These suppressors are generally connected to the service panel and act as a gateway for the flow of electricity. When the electricity levels go too high, the suppressor shuts off the power and directs the electric flow towards the ground. These types of electrical installations are pretty complex and you will need the assistance of electrical contractors in Palm City to install it.
 

- Unplug electrical appliances during a storm

Lighting strikes are a common cause of electric surges and can potentially destroy your expensive and sensitive devices. When there is a thunderstorm is raging outside, you should unplug all the devices from the outlets and do not unplug it until the storm has passed.
 

- Get extra protection for certain devices

Some electronic devices are more sensitive than others and they are more at risk of damage from a power surge. These devices need extra protection to prevent them from being damaged. Install surge stations for the cable lines and phone stations, use power strips and use uninterruptible power stations as well.
 

- Upgrade the air conditioner

Sometimes an older AC unit can also cause power surges. AC units that restart several times a day increases the current consumption and thus can lead to a surge. Upgrading the AC unit to an energy-efficient one can protect your house against surges.
 

- Inspect the electrical wiring

Inspect the electrical wiring for any signs of damage, if you spot that the wiring is damaged or its casing is exposed then replace the wiring immediately. Some common signs of wiring damage are a buzzing noise coming from the outlets, visible burns or burning smells from the outlets and regular tripping of the circuit breaker.
 

- Don’t overload circuits

Connecting too many plugs in a single circuit can result in a power surge and cause damage to the delicate electronic devices. Avoid plugging sensitive devices in the same outlet as that of high power-consuming appliances as they can cause mini-surges of their own and damage the sensitive devices.