Chances are most of you have experienced a power surge also known as a voltage spike in your home. The lights might dim, the appliances turn off and hopefully on again and every appliance with digital displays, such as your microwave, range, and oven, start flashing because they need to be reprogrammed. With a more serious surge, there might be a burned or acrid smell emanating from your outlets. Sometimes the damage can be worse. Here are the main reasons why you need a surge protector.
Why Do I Need A Surge Protector?
Refrigerators, dishwashers, steam ovens, coffee makers, and induction ranges are all complex modern electronics that are stored within them. This includes the tiny computers that enable them to be programmed and run in dozens of different modes. That’s wonderful for the consumer but it also makes them delicate and vulnerable to the vagaries of modern living. It’s why we suggest protecting all modern appliances with surge protectors. A sudden blast of electricity can burn out the delicate circuit boards inside the appliance. Even if you have them insured, going through the claims process and waiting for a replacement can be a pain. Why go through that when a simple surge protector can save you the hassle.
What Does a Surge Protector Do?
A surge protector regulates the amount of voltage fed to your device or appliance. This is especially helpful when the voltage in your house is spiking because of an electrical surge in the outside power lines. Most residential and commercial appliances in the US require a standard 120 volt supply. A surge protector will safely re-route any extra voltage so it doesn’t pass through your appliance.
How do I know which surge protector to get?
All good surge protectors should have joules or wattage ratings on the packaging. This indicates the length of time or the strength of a surge the protector can withstand. We recommend getting the Pipeman’s Installation Solution which we commonly use with refrigerators. They have a 4-minute safety cycle, which means they can withstand a surge for 4 minutes. The LED indicators show when they are being in use during a surge.
Are there any other advantages to purchasing a surge protector?
Yes. Even if you don’t have a high power surge caused by a lightning strike, that could disable your appliance, your home is probably encountering lots of small surges which over time, could have a degrading effect on your electronic equipment. Each home experiences around 300 potentially dangerous power surges a year. With extreme weather, that number is likely to rise. According to the NY Times, power failures have increased by more than 60% since 2015 due to increased heat and blackouts. Thunderstorms and lightning which can cause a power surge are potential side effects.
“A widespread blackout during an intense heatwave may be the deadliest climate-related event we can imagine,” Brian Stone Jr., a professor at the School of City & Regional Planning at Georgia Institute of Technology told the Times.
A surge protector is a simple and inexpensive way to control the flow of current to your appliances which will keep them in good working order and help to extend their life span.
Other things to consider when protecting appliances
Power surges can come through phone and cable lines too, so it’s worth looking into surge protectors that can protect appliances connected to these, as well as kitchen appliances.
Surge protectors don’t last forever
Like anything with electric circuitry inside, a surge protector doesn’t last forever. Wires get burned out and eventually stop working. Some may give you a warning while others might shut down without letting you know, leaving your appliances unprotected. If there has been significant electrical activity in your neighborhood, with lights and blowing out due to a transformer being struck, it might also be an idea to change your surge protector to be on the safe side. Most manufacturers recommend replacing a surge protector every 3-5 years. At a cost of around $50, it’s a price well worth paying.