The Pros and Cons of Whole House Surge Protectors [Explained]

We all love our home, property, and valuables. Yet, a surge of power can damage our electrical components and appliances. Power surges can destroy your electrical circuits, which is why you need to prepare your house for events like this. But how do you do it? Have you heard of a whole house surge protector?

The majority of people feel that power strips can protect their appliances and the home. Yet, it is not valid. Power strips are only helpful to a certain degree. Using a whole-house surge protector is more accessible and better. Moreover, it is also a safer option.

Let us dive in and check the drawbacks and benefits of these surge protectors. This information will help give you a fuller understanding of what precisely a whole house surge protector can do for you. Furthermore, you will then be able to figure out why this is something that you should have in your home.

A whole-house surge protector can control the harmful surges of power. You can also use an individual circuit protector for appliances. Yet, a whole-house protector will cover the entire property. Not to mention, it will take care of all electrical sockets and appliances.

Today, we will take a look at the pros and cons of surge protectors. You will be better prepared to defend your house after looking at the benefits and risks. Thus, you can also protect your appliances from power surges.

Your electrical products cost a lot of money. So, it makes financial sense to invest money in a surge protector. This protector will save your appliances from short-circuiting. In addition, utilizing this protector will save you money and take care of your devices.

Modern appliances are slightly more resistant to power surges, yet they can still be damaged by one. These are very pricey appliances. The cost of repairing or replacing these will make a dent in your savings. So, instead of having to pay costly repair and replacement costs, you can save this money and use a surge protector to protect your appliances.

Moreover, unless you are an expert electrician, you cannot install these by yourself. There is no plug-n-play option for such surge protectors. One single mistake can cause severe damage to the electrical circuits. This mistake can also result in harmful results for you.

Thus, you need to hire a professional electrician to do the job. Yet, hiring a professional for the installation will drive up the cost. You will have to pay an installation cost other than the unit cost. This is one of the significant drawbacks of using a surge protector for the entire house. The higher price often drives the people towards single surge protectors.

It may not be enough to use only one whole house surge protector. A single unit may be able to shield the devices from any spikes of power induced by external sources. But, it may not be enough to take care of the entire house by itself. After all, how much power can it take? This is why professionals recommend getting more than one unit in more significant areas.

You need to use more than one protector for the complete protection of your home. One whole house surge protector will connect your voltage meter and the power lines. One will join the voltage meter and the breaker box. The remaining will cover the outlets and appliances.

More than one surge protector will cover all your power adapters and electrical sockets. As a result, more than one surge protectors offer an enhanced level of security. These are also recommended for big households. So, it is excellent as far as protection goes, but what about the cost?

Using more than one surge protector will drive up the cost. Each of these would cost you more money than a single surge protector. You’ll be paying a pretty penny for multiple whole home surge protectors as opposed to just for one single unit.

To install a whole-home surge protector, it is going to cost about $500 for one single unit, and that’s not including the couple hours of labor for an electrician. Labor can vary anywhere from $200 an hour to nearly $600 an hour. So, to install a single unit, it will cost between $900 and $1,700.

However, as mentioned before, one single whole-home surge protector might not be enough. In this case, you will have to pay someone to install two to three units. The cost for this will range from $1,800 to about $3,900. The $1,800 would be for two units and 4 hours of labor at $200 per hour. The $3,900 would be three units and 4 hours of work at $600 per hour.

Depending on your insurance company, and the property that was damaged due to the power surge, your insurance company might help you with the replacement or repair costs. However, you need to make sure you read the fine print to see if this is something that is covered in your particular policy.

More often than not, homeowners will be asked to purchase an additional specialty coverage. For instance, if you’re in an area that has a lot of storms, you may be asked to buy a specialty add-on to cover power surges. It’s essential that you talk to your insurance agent to find out whether they cover power surges. If not, you will need to purchase a whole home surge protector or switch insurance companies.

Should you invest your money into protecting your house? Should you use a whole house surge protector? Yes. The cost may blow your mind at first. But, the surge protector will protect your electrical circuits. It will also save your costly appliances in the long run.

Choosing to install a whole house surge protector is a one-time investment. In turn, it will ensure that your appliances are safe. It will also keep the residents safe and away from the dangers of power surges. Power strips may work. But, a whole house surge protector will take care of everything with ease.