Tip #5: Protecting Your Electronics and Appliances!

Types of Surge Protectors

         Surge protector power strips often look just like normal power strips. Most power strips are just extension cords without any protection. Surge protector power strips actually help protect your electronics against power surges, so you might want to double check when purchasing power strips. Surge protectors often have a “Protected” or “Protection” light on them that lights up when they’re plugged in. If you read the fine print, you may see “suppressed voltage rating”, “protection”, or “suppression”, which means you have a surge protector.

            The most common type of surge protector is the surge breaker, which is designed to provide complete home surge protection for sensitive electronics and appliances from damaging effects of surges. Surge breakers are installed in your electric circuit breaker box or main point of power entry to your home, whether the box is indoors or outdoors. This is the most convenient way to protect your complete home instead of buying multiple surge protector power strips and having them laying all over your home.

Are Surge Protection Devices Required?

            Surge Protectors are not required, but highly recommended in areas with high exposure to lightning. If you really want to protect your appliances, we recommend a whole-home surge protector breaker over a surge protector power strip, as it will protect your appliances from large voltage spikes from nearby lighting strikes. Surge breakers will typically cost anywhere from $100 - $200, but they can save you thousands of dollars in the long run!