5 Ways To Protect Your Household Appliances From Spring TX Electrical Surges
The average home today is littered with a wide variety of appliances ranging from mainstays like washing machines, refrigerators, televisions, etc. to smaller ones like hairdryers and toaster ovens. Most of these play a vital role in the house. Should one stop functioning, its effects are felt almost immediately. Electrical surges pose the most significant risk to most of your appliances in the home, one of the reasons you should take the necessary measures to protect them. Replacing mainstays, or even repairing them, can put quite a dent into your pocket. That said, you need to protect your appliances from both power outages, and most importantly, voltage surges.
1. Use Power Strips With Surge Protectors
Power strips with surge protectors built-in provide a good and easy way to protect your appliances from voltage surges. These strips will have a fuse designed to cut the power off in the event of a voltage spike, thus protecting your appliances. While it may come in handy in protecting your appliances, it isn’t foolproof for some of your appliances that might be damaged even after the fuse blows.
It is worth noting that, not all extension cords will have the surge protector feature. In addition to this, most of these power strips require a switch to be engaged for them to work. Be sure to leave the strip switch engaged for your appliances to be protected.
2. Invest In A Whole-House Surge Protector
A snap-in surge protector can also be installed directly into the house’s main electrical panel. This type of surge protector protects all electricals in the home, hence more efficient when compared to power strips. Installing the protector is relatively easy, especially for anyone who knows his way around the electrical panel. It would, however, be best if you hired an expert and certified electrical contractor to help with the installation. Note that, a surge protector is designed to accept 240 volts. This means you’ll require 2 of these to work with your electrical panel.
3. Ask Your Provider For A Meter-Mounted Surge Protection
This type of surge protector is often provided by the electricity provider. The protector is installed just before the meter, hence covering the entire line. You, however, should contact your provider to have the protector installed and to be done per their restrictions and guidelines.
4. Have GFCI Outlets Installed Throughout The House
A ground fault circuit interrupter is designed to monitor electricity flowing in and out of each socket. It often comes with buttons labeled ‘reset’ and ‘test’. The GFCI will cut off power supply should the line exceed the set current limit.
These outlets are standard in modern kitchens and bathrooms. This is because the outlet protects against ‘ground faults.’ This means electricity only flows through a conductor and not a person. Instead of having these outlets installed only in the kitchen and bathroom, have them installed all through the house for increased safety. These will not only protect your appliances against surges but also keep your family safe from electrical shock. This is particularly important in wet areas of the house.
5. Use An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
A UPS is generally a relatively large power strip with a backup battery installed. The UPS works in two ways; it protects your equipment from electrical surges and provides enough power to keep your appliances powered even after a power outage. This device is commonly used to protect more delicate appliances such as desktop computers. You can, however, use these to help keep your appliances protected.
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