Important Pointers to Know Before Buying a Surge Protector

The electricity you draw from the grid doesn’t always come in neat and uniform waves. Sometimes, there are fluctuations in voltage levels that could damage your electrical appliances. When voltage spikes, the sudden surge could blow fuses, fry circuits or overheat many of your running devices. Luckily, you can protect yourself from these types of problems by using a surge protector.

There are many types of surge protectors available today, and every single one has its own set of pros and cons. 

What Is a Surge Protector?

Modern homes used to depend on fuse boxes to protect against power surges. Today, these boxes have been replaced by more practical and resilient circuit breakers. In any case, surge protectors function similarly to a fuse in that they absorb excess voltage, creating a steady and consistent supply for your appliances.

Power Strips and Surge Protectors

Power strips or surge suppressors are not the same as surge protectors. Functionally, a power strip is just an extension cord for your outlets. They do not offer protection against spikes in voltage. However, some newer power strips have “surge suppression” capabilities built into them that can handle limited fluctuations in your electrical supply. If you’re buying a power strip, make sure it lists surge suppression as one of its features.

Choosing the Right Surge Protector

The amount of protection given by surge protectors are usually measured in Joules (J). The higher the joules, the more energy a surge protector can handle without problems. This can mean it can withstand one big surge or multiple smaller surges spaced out over several years.

Power Conditioners

There are devices that promise to “condition” the power that goes into your appliances. For the most part, this actually isn’t needed as electrical appliances already have this functionality on their own. Unless you live in an extremely rural area with bizarre power fluctuations, you want to avoid “power conditioners” at all costs.

Learn more about how to protect your home by talking to the experts at Handyman Connection® of Grapevine. Give us a call at (817) 527-3600, or fill out our contact form to request an estimate today.