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Most homes in the United States have a large number of appliances that all compete for electricity. Energy hogs like fridges, washers, dryers, and stoves reduce the amount of electricity that’s available for other equipment like computers and printers.
Have you ever plugged in something, and the lights flickered? This isn’t a sign to worry about just yet. Something that you should worry about is a power surge, and its potential to destroy your electrical equipment, including your home office which houses valuable data.
What Causes Power Surges?
A power surge occurs when something interrupts the electrical flow, usually when an energy hog starts back up again. That interruption causes the flow of electricity to reverse itself, sending it back into the system and diverting it to other devices.
This can cause fried circuits, melted plastic, and other irreversible damages to your appliances.
You may already have some surge protection, but with threats like these, it might just be time to upgrade.
Five Reasons to Get Better Surge Protection
- Surge protectors have a limited lifespan. The more often a surge suppressor protects appliances, the less effective it becomes. Sometimes you can tell if it's still effective (perhaps like a light or alarm), but you shouldn’t rely on that as the definitive proof that you need to replace it. If you’ve had your surge protector for a long time, it’s time for a change.
- More Joules Provide You with More Protection from Surges The number of joules (a unit of energy) a surge protector has can tell you two things: the total amount of electricity it can absorb before it loses functionality and how long it will last. The more often you have power surges, the fewer joules it has for protection. Because of this, it’s not inconceivable that a surge protector with 1,000 joules might be ineffective after six months. That means it’s time to upgrade to a surge protection with even more joules, just so you never have to worry about losing equipment thanks to a surge.
- Reputable Surge Protectors Offer Warranties The adage “you get what you pay for” is very applicable in the case of surge protection products. A cheap surge protector is not much more than a slightly souped-up power strip. Aim instead for surge protectors that offer warranties. Usually, these are more expensive, but it’s well worth the added money. Warranties often promise to pay to repair or replace devices that might have been damaged during a surge.
- The Risk of Losing Data The realization that a power surge could fry a computer and other devices that you heavily rely on should send shivers through your spine. This means all of your passwords, documents, bills, and anything you have saved on your computer could disappear if a surge were to destroy it. Get high-quality protection to prevent this from happening to you.
- The Potential Financial and Productivity Losses You Face Your home office is like the control center of your house. Try to imagine the financial hit you’d take if a power surge zapped all of your equipment.
Talk to an Atlanta Electrician
Don’t take chances on power surges. Contact BriteBox Electrical Services to find out about Whole-House Surge Protection. If you’re not sure if your home is in danger of power surges, call us to schedule an appointment and we’ll take a look.
We live and work in the Atlanta area, so rest assured that we give our customers the same protection we’d want in our own homes.
