What Causes Electrical Power Surges In a Home?
Major storms in Birmingham, Alabama, can often leave homeowners rushing to clean up tree branches and other debris. But, severe wind and lightning could also leave you dealing with electrical damage inside your home.
Power surges occur within mere seconds, but the damage they leave in their wake could leave you dealing with replacing costly home appliances and repairing electrical wiring. In a worst-case scenario, a major surge could cause a house fire.
Understanding what causes electrical surges and how our electricians can help you prevent them can make the next sudden thunderstorm less stressful.
Quick Takeaways
- A power surge can range from one volt over the maximum to thousands of volts.
- Older electrical wiring can’t always handle the demand from new, smart home appliances.
- Aging infrastructure in Birmingham contributes to higher electrical surge risks.
- Whole-home surge protection is a fast, effective solution to electrical surges.
What Exactly Is a Power Surge?
A power surge occurs when there is a sudden increase in the electrical voltage that runs through your home’s electrical system. When this happens, the surge can send thousands of extra volts running through home appliances. You might also notice issues such as flickering lights as the system struggles to manage the surge.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Electrical Surges in a Home?
Electrical surges can happen from issues that occur within your home. Or, they might be linked to issues with the community power supply or damage that happens on the exterior part of your property.
Know the Risk of Lightning Strikes
If you’ve lived in Birmingham for long, then you are likely familiar with the powerful storm systems that move quickly through the area. A single lightning strike near or to your home can easily cause major surges, along with power failures.
Watch Out for Electrical Overloads
Our electricians frequently see homeowners using extension cords to power more electronics than there are outlets to support. Smart home appliances also draw large amounts of power that can lead to dangerous surges.
Be Wary of Utility Company Malfunctions and Power Grid Switching
Sometimes, the local power grid has issues that can send extra voltage flowing through nearby homes. This can happen when a power company chooses to reroute electricity during routine maintenance or repairs.
Inspect for Outdated or Faulty Wiring
Weak points in the electrical system can develop over time. Older homes in Birmingham might also have aging wiring that needs updating. Our friendly electricians can inspect old wiring to find out if your house could benefit from a panel update, along with a new surge protection system.
Avoid Faulty Circuit Installations
DIY electrical work can be dangerous when someone hasn’t received the proper training and met licensing requirements. If you’re concerned about the professionalism of existing wiring in your home, then calling for an inspection can give you greater peace of mind.
Guard Against Tree and Wind Damage
Downed power lines and tree branches are a major hazard to electrical systems. Try to keep branches trimmed back from power lines and your home’s exterior.
How Do You Prevent Damage From Power Surges?
Knowing your home’s risk for electrical damage from voltage spikes is the first step toward finding effective solutions to safeguard your appliances. During a surge protection assessment, an electrician can inspect the electrical panel, wiring and take a look at your home’s power demand to develop a personalized plan.
Most homeowners benefit from installing a whole-home surge protection system that covers all of the major appliances. This option can also help you protect hardwired pool equipment and other systems from damage.
What Are the Signs of Having a High Risk for Electrical Surges?
During a major storm, you might notice a sudden change in your home’s electrical flow. But, other signs of power surges are less obvious. Watching for these issues lets you know when to call our electrician out for a home inspection.
- Seeing flickering lights
- Noticing home appliances are malfunctioning
- Discovering a discolored or scorched outlet
- Hearing buzzing sounds coming from the panel or outlets
- Having an old electrical panel and wiring
How Does Whole-Home Surge Protection Work?
Whole-home surge protectors are hardwired into your home’s electrical panel. They provide worry-free protection to all of the circuits that run through your house, and you can expect one to last for 10 years or more.
You can also choose to install point-of-use protectors that serve as a final guard against electrical damage. We often recommend this option for people who have medical equipment or other valuable electronics that would be difficult to replace.
FAQs
Is a power strip good enough to protect pricy electronics from power surges?
No, power strips provide only minimal protection for electronics, and they cannot protect hardwired ones such as your home’s HVAC system.
Can a new home appliance cause frequent electrical problems?
Yes, electrical issues that arise soon after you install a new appliance could point to an issue with the power supply.
How do I protect my home from lightning strikes?
Whole-home surge protection guards against electrical surges that commonly occur with major storms.
How long does it take to install whole-home surge protection systems?
Most whole-home surge protection systems take around an hour to install, but it might take longer for an electrician to complete inspections and perform other essential tasks.
Protect Your Home From Hazardous Power Surges Today
A single power surge could leave you dealing with thousands of dollars’ worth of damage. If you’re tired of worrying about pricy electronics and flickering lights, then don’t put up with any malarky, call Mister Sparky.
Our knowledgeable electricians provide surge protection assessments to homeowners in Birmingham, AL, and the surrounding communities. After doing a thorough inspection, we’ll be able to offer you the best solutions for preventing damage from hazardous electrical surges.
