If you and your favorite flat screen have ever been a victim of an electrical surge, then you know firsthand how, in a tenth of a second, you could lose thousands of dollars of valuable electronics. From desktops to water heaters, you could have a financial nightmare on your hands. Electrical surges can occur for a variety of reasons, but here are some best practices to minimize the likelihood of experiencing an electrical surge that will result in damage to your electronic devices.
Electrical Inspection
If your lights flicker every time you turn on your blow dryer, you are probably long overdue for an electrical inspection. Faulty or inadequate wiring may be to blame for much of your electrical surge issues. When your house isn’t equipped with ample “juice”, it can cause a problem when trying to run high energy electric appliances. It consumes the majority of the available energy, causing a voltage dip in the rest of the house. Electrical inspections can discover a wide range of faulty DIY electrical work done by a previous owner and get you back running at optimal levels.
Suppressor Devices
These days, there is no shortage of products on the market to help protect your electronics from electrical surges. Most power strips come with a built-in power surge feature, which will compensate for relatively small fluctuations in voltage. For medium to high voltage fluctuations, consider using a surge arrestor or even a lightening arrestor. They are all made to prevent spikes in voltage from damaging the electrical components of the devices. Read more on what type of suppressor is right for your home.
Smart Practices
In addition to using suppressors, it’s always a good idea to unplug expensive electronics if you know a storm is coming. Even the best equipment is no match for mother nature. Lightening is unpredictable at best. Also, look for electronics you only occasionally use and keep them unplugged. Even if an electronic is not on, if it’s plugged in, it’s drawing electricity. Some things like a blow dryer, or panini press don’t need to be plugged in all day. As an added bonus, you’ll also see a saving on your electric bill. Click here for more best practices.
