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How to Prevent a Power Surge During the Holidays

As the holiday season approaches in Southeast Wisconsin, our homes glow with festive lights and cheer. However, this increase in electrical demand can lead to power surges. Let's explore how to keep your home safe and bright this winter.

Understanding Power Surges: Unlike power outages that plunge homes into darkness, power surges are sudden spikes in voltage that can damage your electronic devices and appliances. From phone chargers to refrigerators, these surges can harm essential household items.

The Risks of Winter Power Surges: Increased electrical usage during the holidays, combined with Wisconsin's cold weather, heightens the risk of power surges. These unexpected voltage increases can be harmful to both your electronic devices and your family's safety. Overheating appliances and melting wires can even lead to household fires, a risk that’s all too real, with over 50,000 electrical fires occurring annually in homes.

Safeguarding With Surge Protectors: Whole house surge protectors offer a reliable solution. They detect and manage voltage irregularities, protecting your entire home from transient voltage that can arise from various sources. On the other hand, power strips, while convenient for expanding outlet capacity, are not a safe solution for handling multiple high-energy appliances and can lead to overloading and potential fire hazards.

Regular Maintenance Is Key: Just like any protective equipment, surge protectors need regular check-ups. After 3 to 5 years, or if you notice any warning signs like warm cords, color changes, or burning smells, it’s time to replace them. Regular monitoring can prevent potential dangers and ensure continuous protection.

Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning: Your Trusted Partner: At Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning, we bring over 35 years of experience in electrical services. Our team of expert electricians is ready to ensure your home remains safe and joyous this holiday season. From installing whole-house surge protectors to conducting safety inspections, we’re here to help.

Stay safe and enjoy the holidays without worry. Protect your home from power surges with the right precautions and professional support from Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning.

For peace of mind this holiday season, contact Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning. Let us handle your electrical needs so you can focus on celebrating with loved ones. Learn more about the author here.

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Ways to Protect the Home From Dangerous Power Surges

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How a Whole House Surge Protector Shields the Home

Most people think of a power surge as coming from a lightning strike. And while this can be the cause, it’s not what homeowners should be worried about. Power surges often come through the power lines and travel through the house, destroying electronics as they go. The causes can range from a downed power line, fluctuating electrical demand on the local grid, faulty or old wiring, and even the cycling of appliances inside the house. These causes, plus the cost of not having surge protection for the whole house, are why one should prepare every home with a whole-home surge protector.

What Power Surges Can Do

Power surges can wreak havoc on a home’s electronics. And in an age where homes seem to accumulate more gadgets every year, the cost of not having protection increases all the time. A strong enough power surge can travel through the house faster than a heartbeat, frying all the expensive appliances plugged into the walls. This includes refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, computers, televisions, gaming systems, and even the HVAC system.

Not only do homeowners need to consider the cost of replacing all those appliances, but also the cost of losing things that aren’t replaceable. Things like family photos, business records, videos, or anything else stored on local computers can be gone instantly. While cloud storage can help, many homeowners underestimate how much information they have stored on the hard drive of their computers.

Whole House Surge Protector Benefits

Luckily, installing a whole house surge protector can prevent a power surge from wreaking havoc on the home’s electronics. These surge protectors are wired directly into the home’s electrical system, acting as a filter that keeps the surge from moving through the house. Doing this protects the sensitive circuitry in the home’s appliances.

Whole house surge protectors can also guard against surges inside the home. These are short transient surges caused when home appliances like HVAC systems turn on and off. These kinds of surges won’t cause damage immediately, but they can cause premature wear on electrical devices, causing them to need replacing sooner than they otherwise would.

Signs an Old Surge Protector Needs Replacing

Whole-house surge protectors aren’t expensive and are easily installed by a professional electrical technician. With this in mind, homeowners should replace their whole home surge protector every two to five years to stay protected. Given the low cost of these protectors, whole home surge protector replacement is a small investment compared to replacing all the appliances.

However, one should sometimes replace an old surge protector earlier than the two-to-five-year window. If there have been recent power surges or outages in the area, replacing the whole house surge protector is a good idea. Likewise, if the house has been struck by lightning or there has been significant construction in the area. Those who aren’t sure whether they need whole home surge protection repair should call a local electrician to discuss their options!

About Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning

Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning has served Sun Prairie, WI, for almost four decades. They provide one-day installation and 24-hour emergency service. Their technicians are clean, courteous, and undergo rigorous background checks. Contact them today for whole house surge protector installation in Sun Prairie, WI!