Three Facts About Surge Protection Every Homeowner Should Know

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Surge protection is essential for homes in Florida - the lightning capital of the U.S. - because it guards against electrical surges and lightning strikes that can wreak havoc on your home's electrical system. But when it comes to picking out the right surge protectors for your home, there are three things you should know.

Not all surge protectors are created equal."Surge protectors" and "power strips" are sometimes used synonymously, but they have different functions. Typically, power strips are multi-outlet products that act merely as an expansion of a wall outlet and provide little protection. Point-of-use surge protectors, on the other hand, block surges in energy from affecting devices plugged into them. When looking for surge protectors, check to see if the product has a joule rating. This rating indicates the item is indeed a surge protector, with a higher rating generally meaning it can absorb more voltage.
You can protect your entire home.While point-of-use surge protectors can protect specific electronic devices, you can increase the overall safety of your electrical system with a whole home surge protector. This type is installed in the main panel box and acts as a gatekeeper - stopping lightning or power surges at the panel before they enter the rest of the home.
Use a combination of surge protectors.A whole home surge protector provides comprehensive security against power surges, but it's also a good idea to still keep point-of-use surge protectors behind the TV, computer and other sensitive equipment as additional protection. You may also want to utilize surge protectors for your cable and telephones lines, as they are two areas where lightning is most likely to travel through. With the right combination, you can ensure the safety of your home and its equipment.

David Gray Electrical Services installs SYCOM surge protectors for the whole home, cable box and telephone line. For more information, contact David Gray Electrical Services at (904) 467-0784 or visit davidgrayelectricalservices.com.