Causes Of Power Surges in Homes
During an intense storm, many Florida residents have experienced the effects of a power surge. Even a nearby lightning strike can dispatch a high-voltage wave of energy into your home’s wiring.
This rogue electrical charge could overwhelm the entire electrical system, thus putting household appliances and circuits at risk of being damaged. Even worse, there’s the potential for a fire hazard to arise. Let’s take a look at what other issues can trigger power surges and what you can do to prevent them.
What Is a Power Surge?
A power surge is a sudden, powerful spike in voltage that travels through your home’s electrical system. The excessive amount of electricity can immediately fry electronic devices and appliances. Although power surges may last just microseconds, they can cause a great deal of damage.
What Are Some Signs That A Power Surge Has Occurred?
You may notice that the electronic clocks in your home are blinking or show incorrect times. A power surge can also trigger a wall outlet’s reset button. Other signs include flickering lights, tripped circuit breakers, and buzzing electrical outlets.
What Causes Power Surges?
Circuit Overload
Circuits are only designed to handle a certain amount of power. If you plug multiple high-demand devices into the same socket, expect trouble. Space heaters, microwaves, and hair dryers can all sap a lot of energy. Keep in mind that overusing extension cords can also lead to circuit overload.
Old, Faulty Wiring
Your home’s electrical wiring can gradually degrade over time, which ultimately causes internal power surges. Always take note of any red flags. Some of the common warning signs of faulty wiring include scorch marks on outlets, burning smells, and buzzing sounds. Your circuit breakers may also begin to trip often.
Power Outages
When electricity is restored after a recent outage in the area, power surges are prone to occur. The sudden change in electrical load can lead to unexpected voltage spikes.
Power Grid issues
Damage to transmission lines can create power grid issues, thus making local homes more likely to experience power surges.
How Can I Avoid Problems Related to a Power Surge?
Unplug Everything That You Can
If you are aware that a storm is soon headed your way, be sure to unplug everything ahead of time. Laptop computers, home theater systems, video gaming consoles, and microwaves should all be unplugged. While it may not always be practical to unplug large appliances such as washing machines and refrigerators, these components are still at risk of being damaged.
Install Surge Protectors
Appliance-grade surge protectors will help shield your sensitive electronics from damage. The goal is to block excess voltage before it reaches your devices. When unexpected power surges do occur, you’ll appreciate the extra peace of mind.
Designed to safeguard every circuit in your house, whole-home surge protection will prove to be an even better investment. After the system is connected to your home’s main electrical panel, there will be an additional barrier between the power grid and your electrical system.
Have Wiring Professionally Inspected
It’s a good idea to have your electrical wiring inspected every few years. This is especially true if you own an older home. By identifying any potential future issues, a licensed electrician can save you a big headache in the long run.
Install Energy-Efficient Appliances
Energy-efficient appliances are promoted for their ability to reduce electricity bills. Because these appliances draw less energy, they are also more resistant to power surges.
Don’t put up with any malarky, call Mister Sparky. Whether you need to have your home’s electrical system inspected or desire more information on surge protection, our team of expert electricians will be more than happy to help. We offer 100% satisfaction guaranteed. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
