Ways to Protect Your Home from Power Surges
A power surge is one of the most common electrical disasters. Your home’s electrical system, on its own, is highly vulnerable to surges. Unless you put some security measures in place, your appliances are at a high risk of being damaged by power surges. There are a few different causes of a power surge occurring in your home, both natural and manmade; it’s important to note that while some surges are deadlier than others, every single one can be damaging to your home.
Every disaster has its protocol that must be followed once the problem has been detected. For example, when it comes to what we should do in case of gas leakage, vacating the area is the top priority so that everyone can be safe even in case of an accident. Similarly, you must be prepared for a power surge, regardless of its source.
The following are some ways for you to protect your family and appliances in case of a power surge. These tips can help you either lessen the impact of a power surge or even avoid it altogether.
Inspect Wiring
Faulty wiring is one of the main causes of a power surge. The reason why it’s relatively more dangerous is that this type of damage is difficult to detect. Wires are usually behind walls, which means you cannot spot the damage at once. Power surges are much more likely to occur with damaged or exposed wires, which is why it’s important to inspect your home’s wiring every once in a while.
By making sure the wiring is in good condition, you can protect your appliances in case of a voltage spike. Faulty wiring can also cause problems such as electrocution. If you have children or pets in your home, this can be extremely dangerous and result in a terrible accident, which makes it an absolute necessity to fix it as soon as you find the issue. If you lack basic knowledge of electrical work, it’s best to consult a professional or hire them to inspect your home’s wiring for you.
Install Whole-Home Surge Protection
The most fool-proof way to keep your home safe against a surge is by getting a whole-home surge protection service. Unlike individual surge protectors, this service will make every outlet in your home much safer in case of a voltage spike. This means that all gadgets in your home, regardless of which outlet they’re plugged in, will be safe.
This type of surge protection works by grounding the excess voltage flowing into your home before it has the chance to reach any of your electronics. While it cannot provide complete protection against surges, it makes your home relatively much safer. With this service, your home becomes much less vulnerable, and the likelihood of accidents such as fires is significantly reduced. If the home where you’re currently living is permanent and you don’t plan on moving anytime soon, whole-home surge protection is an excellent investment that’s bound to benefit you in the long run.
Disconnect Major Appliances
During a power surge, the major appliances in your home are most at risk. These gadgets are already consuming a lot of energy, and when a power surge occurs, the excess current that flows into them is just as intense. Appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners should be disconnected as soon as you begin to see signs of voltage fluctuation in your home; this can help you avoid potentially irreversible damage to a lot of expensive electronics in your home.
When you disconnect your most important appliances, there’s no longer a need to cut off the main power supply to your home. This way, you can continue to use smaller gadgets that you may need, such as lamps or small kitchen appliances. You can also continue to use the internet, which is essential for getting updates and contacting people during a power outage.
Do Not Overload Outlets
One of the biggest mistakes a homeowner can make is overcrowding an extension or power outlet. Not only can this be a health hazard, but it’s also very harmful to your appliances. Every outlet in your home has a power load limit, and connecting several appliances to a single power strip can easily exceed this threshold and cause a mishap.
If you connect too many appliances to a single power source, more electricity will be forced out of it. This, in turn, will result in a power surge that will affect every single appliance connected at that time. Even with a perfectly functioning electrical system in your home, the likelihood of damage from overloading outlets is always quite high.
Power surges can also occur due to power outages. When electricity is cut off and then suddenly reestablished, it can draw a lot more current from the power source than is needed. An overcrowded power strip or outlet is also at risk in this situation. Especially when it comes to the larger appliances in your home, they should never be connected to a single power source.
Increasing Internal Security
No home is complete without proper security. Your home is meant to protect your family and belongings, which means you must maximize security both within and around it to the best of your ability.
Due to the dependency of every modern home on its electrical system, electrical disasters are one of the most commonly occurring accidents. If you’re a homeowner, your house is likely to have already experienced power surges a few times. It’s important to always be prepared for a surge, and the previously mentioned tips may help.
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Ways to Protect Your Home from Power Surges