Imagine a thunderstorm rolls through your neighborhood. The lights flicker, your TV shuts off, and the next thing you know—your refrigerator isn’t cooling, and your smart thermostat is unresponsive. What just happened? A power surge!
Power surges are more common and more damaging than most homeowners realize. Fortunately, there’s a powerful solution that can help you protect everything from your fridge to your flat-screen TV: whole-home surge protection.
In this blog, we’ll break down what causes power surges, the risks of surge-related damage, why whole-home surge protection is better than power strips, and how installation works.
What Causes Power Surges?
A power surge is a sudden, brief spike in electrical voltage flowing through your home’s wiring. While small surges can happen without you noticing, larger ones can cause serious damage to electronics and appliances.
Common causes of power surges include:
- Lightning strikes – A bolt of lightning can send millions of volts through power lines, causing instant and severe damage to unprotected systems.
- Downed power lines – Utility line failures can cause voltage fluctuations as power is restored.
- High-powered appliances – Devices like HVAC units or refrigerators can create small, frequent surges when they cycle on and off.
- Faulty or outdated wiring – Aging or improperly installed wiring may not safely manage power fluctuations.
- Grid switching and blackouts – When electricity is restored after an outage, sudden voltage spikes can occur.
Any of these situations can fry your electronics in seconds. Without proper surge protection, you could be left footing the bill.
When power loss strikes, Kinsmen Electric specializes in electrical troubleshooting to quickly identify and resolve the issue.
The Dangers of Surge Damage
You might think, “I’ve never had a surge ruin anything in my house.” But that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. Most surges are silent killers—causing gradual damage to electronics over time.
Here’s how surge damage can impact your home:
- Shortened lifespan of appliances – Each surge adds wear and tear on delicate internal components.
- Permanent failure of electronics – Computers, TVs, gaming systems, and kitchen appliances are all at risk.
- Data loss – If a surge hits your computer or backup system, years of photos and files could be wiped out.
- Repair or replacement costs – A single power surge can destroy thousands of dollars’ worth of electronics.
Surge protection isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a smart investment in electrical safety and peace of mind.
Power Strips vs. Whole-Home Surge Protection
When most homeowners think of power surge protection, they picture those multi-outlet power strips with surge protectors built in. While these can be useful, they don’t offer the complete protection your home needs.
Power Strips:
- Protect only the devices plugged into them
- May offer limited surge suppression
- Can degrade over time without you knowing
- Don’t protect hardwired appliances like ovens, AC units, or washers
Whole-Home Surge Protection:
- Installed directly into your electrical panel
- Defends your entire electrical system from surges—inside and out
- Protects every outlet and hardwired device
- Offers robust protection from external and internal surge events
Think of whole-home surge protection as a shield at your electrical front door. It intercepts voltage spikes before they have a chance to enter your home’s wiring and wreak havoc.
How Whole-Home Surge Protector Installation Works
At Kinsmen Electric, we make surge protector installation easy, fast, and effective. Here’s how it works:
- Assessment
Our licensed electrician will evaluate your home’s electrical panel and identify the right surge protection system based on your power usage and risk factors. - Installation
We install the surge protector device directly into your main panel. This usually takes less than two hours. - Testing & Explanation
We test the system to ensure it’s working properly and explain how it protects your home. - Ongoing Protection
Once installed, the surge protector monitors voltage spikes 24/7, so you don’t have to worry about the next storm, outage, or wiring issue.
Whole-home surge protectors are designed to last 5 to 10 years, and we offer maintenance and replacement options if your system ever needs an upgrade.
Why Homeowners Trust Kinsmen Electric
Our team is committed to helping you protect home electronics and maximize your investment. With professional-grade surge protection, you get:
- A safer home
- Lower risk of unexpected appliance failure
- Long-term savings on repairs and replacements
- Peace of mind during storm season
And best of all—we’ll walk you through the entire process without the technical jargon.
Is Whole-Home Surge Protection Worth It?
If you own a home filled with smart TVs, kitchen appliances, laptops, HVAC systems, and other tech, the answer is a resounding yes!
One lightning strike or power outage could cost you thousands. A whole-home surge protector typically costs a few hundred dollars—including professional installation. That’s a small price to pay for protecting everything plugged into your walls.
Ready to Safeguard Your Home?
Don’t wait for the next storm to think about electrical safety. Contact Kinsmen Electric today to schedule your surge protector installation. Our experts are here to help you protect what matters most—your home, your devices, and your peace of mind.