Understanding Power Surges and How to Prevent Them

It's easy to take electricity for granted. After all, you rely on power for everything from running your dishwasher to drying your hair each morning, probably without thinking much of it. Unfortunately, Texas has had just shy of 180 confirmed weather/climate disasters since 1980. Each disaster has caused millions, sometimes billions, of dollars in damage, frequently due to power surges.

Power surges are sudden increases in voltage that can overload and damage electrical devices. They’re often caused by lightning strikes, power outages, and fluctuations in the power grid, which are common during severe weather conditions.

Understanding the impact of power surges is crucial for Texas homeowners. Keep reading to learn more about power surges and ways you can safeguard against them.

• What is a power surge?
• Common signs of a power surge
• How to prevent a power surge

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Protect your home and valuable electronics from unexpected power surges with a reliable whole-home surge protector from Jon Wayne Service Company. With over 10,000 5-star reviews, you can trust our expertise and commitment to quality. Don't wait until it's too late—contact us today for a free surge protector estimate and ensure your home is protected.

Before you learn about power surges, you need to understand how electricity powers the appliances in your home. Electricity is an accumulation of charged particles known as electrons. When these particles move through conductive materials, they produce electric current. Voltage describes the pressure that tries to push electrons away from each other.

A power surge is a sudden increase in voltage. Sudden increases in pressure force a higher-than-normal amount of current through the electrical system, wreaking havoc on appliances and electronic devices. So, what causes power surges? A surge can occur due to any of the following issues:

• Faulty wiring
• Downed power lines
• Storms
• Overloaded circuits
• Damaged/exposed wiring
• Lightning strikes
• Power outages

If a surge has already happened, you may notice the signs of a power surge in your home:

• Tripped circuit breakers or switches
• Burning smells near electrical items
• Malfunctioning devices
• Lights flashing on your microwave or digital alarm clock

In some cases, you know a voltage spike is coming before it even happens. For example, if you hear a buzzing noise coming from one of your outlets, there's a good chance a power surge is about to occur. Impending power surges also cause flickering lights, smoky outlets, broken wires, discoloration around electrical outlets, and unusual odors.

Although power surges can cause serious problems, prevention is possible. Follow these steps to protect your electrical system against sudden voltage spikes.

Damaged or exposed wiring increases the risk of power surges, so have a licensed electrician perform an inspection (a perk of joining our 5-Star Service Club!). The electrician should look for any signs of wiring damage, such as fraying, damaged insulation, and connector issues. If you have damaged wiring, replace it immediately to avoid harmful surges.

If you hear thunder or see lightning flash through the sky, unplug as many items as possible before the storm really sets in. You may not be able to unplug appliances like your refrigerator, but you can take laptops, tablets, and smartphones off their chargers. It's also a good idea to unplug microwaves, hair dryers, curling irons, televisions, and other electrical items.

Another way to prevent power surges is to avoid overloading your electrical circuits. If you've ever seen someone with five or six items plugged into the same receptacle, you know how dangerous it is to load a circuit with more than it can handle. Instead of using multiple extension cords, move some of your items to other rooms so you don't overload a particular circuit.

Surge protectors diffuse excess voltage, preventing power surges and protecting electronic devices from damage. If you're worried about a power surge damaging your laptop or gaming console, make sure you plug the item into a surge protector before using it.

A basic surge protector is fine for one item, but it's not a great solution for your entire home. If you want a higher level of protection, invest in a whole-home surge protection system. Unlike the surge protectors you buy from big-box stores, whole-home surge protectors are connected to your electrical panel and provide much more comprehensive protection. They monitor the amount of voltage flowing into your home 24/7, filtering out excess current and preventing power surges from occurring.

Don't let power surges wreak havoc on your home and electronics. Contact us today for a free whole-home power surge protection estimate and gain peace of mind that your home’s electrical system is safeguarded, no matter the weather. This way, you can control your home's appliances and energy use straight from your phone.