The Hidden Threat in Your Home’s Wiring
Your home’s electrical system is like the circulatory system of your body—it keeps everything running. But just like a sudden spike in blood pressure can be dangerous, a sudden spike in voltage (known as a power surge) can damage or destroy your appliances and electronics.
Most people only notice a surge when the lights flicker or the power comes back after an outage. According to Andrew Navarro of R.S. Andrews Electric, your home actually experiences hundreds of small surges every day. These mini voltage bursts gradually wear down sensitive electronics, shortening their lifespan and sometimes causing sudden failure.
What a Surge Protector Actually Does
Think of a whole-home surge protector as a security guard stationed at your electrical panel. When it detects a spike in voltage, it diverts the excess electricity away from your home’s circuits—before it can reach your expensive devices.
R.S. Andrews installs units that can handle up to 100,000 amps in less than five nanoseconds—fast enough to stop the kind of voltage associated with a lightning strike. That’s not just impressive; it’s crucial.
When You Need One
If your home is in an area with frequent thunderstorms, older power grids, or frequent outages, you’re a prime candidate for whole-home surge protection. But even in calm-weather areas, modern homes are packed with delicate microelectronics—from HVAC control boards to smart refrigerators—that are far more sensitive to surges than older appliances.
Navarro puts it bluntly:
Every house should have a whole-home surge protector. Once homeowners learn what they prevent, their next question is why they didn’t have one sooner.
What Happens If You Don’t Have One
Without surge protection, one bad storm or grid hiccup could fry your computer, ruin your TV, knock out your HVAC system, or corrupt valuable data. The repair or replacement costs aren’t pocket change—a single damaged appliance board can run $300 to $1,200, and a blown-out home entertainment system can top $5,000.
Insurance may cover some losses, but many policies have exclusions for surge damage, especially if it’s from an internal source, like a large appliance cycling on and off.
The Financial Impact Isn’t Just About Repairs
While a surge protector won’t directly lower your monthly electric bill, it can have a long-term financial benefit. By preventing repeated small surges from slowly degrading your electronics, you extend the life of your appliances, which delays costly replacements. Over 10 years, that could mean thousands in avoided expenses.
How Much It Costs
A high-quality whole-home surge protector typically costs $300–$600. Professional installation is required for proper performance and safety, and that can add another $200–$400. In total, you’ll be looking at about $500–$1,000.
Compared to replacing just one major appliance, it’s a smart investment. And compared to losing your home’s entire network of electronics in a lightning strike, it’s a bargain.
The R.S. Andrews Difference
Surge protection isn’t a one-size-fits-all product. The electricians at R.S. Andrews don’t just install a device, they evaluate your entire electrical system to ensure you have layered protection. That includes safeguarding low-voltage lines like phone, fiber optic, and Ethernet cables, which aren’t covered by a whole-home unit but can be protected with additional point-of-use devices.
When it comes to protecting your home, R.S. Andrews believes prevention is always cheaper, and safer, than repair.
Don’t wait for the next surge to teach you an expensive lesson. Call R.S. Andrews today to schedule a surge protection assessment and get peace of mind knowing your home is protected from the inside out.