How to Protect Appliances from Power Surges?

Power surges can damage your home appliances without warning. Lightning is the primary cause of power surges. According to Qatar Day, In 2018 the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh recorded 36,749 lightning strikes within just 13 hours. Globally, around 2,000 storms are active at any given time, with about 100 lightning bolts striking the Earth every second. Protecting your devices can save you from costly repairs or replacements. In this guide, we’ll discuss a power surge, how it affects your appliances and the best ways to protect them.

What is a Power Surge?

A power surge is a sudden spike in electrical voltage. Typically, your home receives a steady voltage of electricity. However, this voltage increases sharply during a power surge, leading to potential damage. There are several power surge causes, such as lightning strikes, faulty wiring, or issues with the power supply surges from the utility company. These electrical power surges can happen anywhere, and a power surge in a house is quite common. When this happens, it can harm your appliances if they are not protected.

How Power Surge Affects Our Appliances?

A power surge can cause severe damage to home appliances. When the voltage spikes, it overloads the circuits inside the device, leading to malfunction or complete failure. Some symptoms of power surge damage to appliances include appliances that no longer turn on, flickering lights, or strange noises. Power surges can shorten the lifespan of expensive items like refrigerators, televisions, or washing machines. Power surge damage to appliances cost can be significant, as it often requires replacing major appliances or repairing complex electrical components.

Ways to Protect Your Home Appliances from Power Surge

To prevent power surge damage to appliances, here are some effective tips:

1. Use Surge Protectors

These devices divert the extra voltage away from your appliances during a surge.

2. Install Whole-House Surge Protectors

These are installed at the main electrical panel and protect all the appliances in your home.

3. Unplug Appliances During Storms

If there is lightning or a known power issue, unplugging sensitive appliances can prevent damage.

4. Keep Appliances Maintained

Regular maintenance of your appliances can help identify electrical vulnerabilities early.

Investing in surge protection is much cheaper than dealing with the power surge damage to appliances cost that results from not being prepared.

How Can the Power Surge Be Checked?

If you suspect a power surge, there are ways to check if one has occurred. You can look for signs like appliances not functioning correctly or flickering lights. Also, electricians can use special tools to test the electrical system and check for surges. Installing surge detection devices is another method to track any power irregularities in your home.

Conclusion

Protecting your home appliances from power surges is crucial to avoid unnecessary damage and costs. By understanding what a power surge is and how it affects your devices, you can take proactive steps like using surge protectors and staying aware of potential electrical issues. Prevention is vital to keeping your home appliances safe and functioning correctly.