Why Are Power Surges Dangerous For Your Home And Your Belongings?
What Are Power Surges?
When there is an interruption of electric flow, or if an electric appliance reverses the flow of electricity, you are most likely to experience a power surge. When there is a power surge, it triggers the circuit breaker, causing it to trip. When that happens, the electric flow all over the home shuts down. The surge in electrical voltage causes the power surge, which can damage your power supplies.
There are two types of power surges that can cause damage to your home and your belongings:
Internal Power Surge
These power surges usually happen within a home and can happen multiple times throughout the day. They usually happen when the appliances turn on or are shut off. When this happens, they divert the electricity to the other appliances and can cause a surge in power. Appliances like air conditioners are the most common to cause a power surge. If you are experiencing continuous power surges, you must reach out to an electrician Vancouver as it can be very dangerous to handle on your own.
External Power Surge
This kind of power surge is in the external wiring of your home or your neighborhood. This can happen due to multiple instances. More importantly, it can occur due to a power outage. When the power comes back on, it comes with a surge that can even come into your home through telephone wires.
Does Power Surge Damage Your Electronics?
Since power surges are a common occurrence and every home is susceptible to them, homeowners must understand how they can damage their electronics. All your devices with a microprocessor can face severe damage from a power surge. That means that 90% of the electrical appliances in your home are in grave danger if you are to experience a power surge.
The power surge can fry these components causing the circuit to break; hence, your devices might not work properly. These components are highly sensitive and cannot tolerate a voltage higher than usual. If the power surge is not very extreme, it might damage the circuit a little and hinder its performance. This means that a lower power surge can cause electronic rust, which can cause grave damage to your power supplies over time.
These low power surges might not be noticeable until they destroy your electric appliances. This is why if you think that there are irregularities with the voltage flow now and then, you must contact Kato Electrical. They will help you by installing a surge protector that can help avoid many serious damages to your appliances because of power surges.
What Causes A Power Surge?
To better understand power surges, you must first learn what exactly can cause a power surge. Multiple causes can result in a power surge. Let's take a look at some of them:
1. Electrical Overload
If you attempt to get more electricity from a single outlet, that may result in a power surge. The overuse of power can be very dangerous and result in a power surge. It would help if you avoid plugging in too many appliances when using an outlet. That can overwhelm the circuit and cause a surge in the power extracted. An electrician Vancouver can help you understand the amperage and how many appliances you must plug in a single outlet.
2. Lightning
If there is a thunderstorm, it could cause a power surge once lightning strikes on your electrical system. This lightning strike can cause a great deal of damage to your power supplies this is explicitly why electrician Vancouver suggests you unplug all the appliances in case of a storm if you do not have a surge protector outlet.
3. Power Outage
If there is a power outage, you can expect it to be dangerous to your power supplies. When the power restores, it might come as a surge. This surge can be very damaging if you do not unplug your devices or if there is a high amount of voltage in the electricity. To prevent this from damaging any of your appliances, you must make sure you plug all of them in. Or you can contact Kato Electrical to install a surge protector outlet and prevent the surge from entering your home.
4. Faulty Wiring
If the wiring in your home is not as it should be, there can be several instances of a power surge. Damaged wiring does not resist electricity, and that can result in a sudden spike of current, which might damage several of your electrical appliances. You might not be able to tell if there is any faulty wiring within the walls of your home, but an electrician Vancouver can. Reach out to them if you suspect anything.
5. Appliances
If you have appliances that have motors, it is very common for you to experience a power surge. The start-up of these motors can disrupt the current flow and result in a power surge.
How Can You Prevent A Power Surge?
Since power surges can cause a great deal of damage to your electrical appliances and your home's wiring, it is very important for you to look into different ways to prevent it from happening altogether.
Fix the Wiring in Your Home
Get help from an electrician Vancouver and ask them to assess the wires all over your home. You might have faulty wires if your home is too old. The old electrical system might not suffice for the electrical needs you have now. It is an investment for sure, but fixing and or replacing your wiring can help you protect your electric appliances.
If you notice frequent tripping of circuit breakers, you need to get an expert to check your wiring as it can be a sign that your wiring is not as good as it should be.
Do Not Over Load Devices on a Single Outlet
Many people make the mistake of plugging multiple appliances into a single outlet. That can increase your power usage excessively and result in a power surge. It is very important that you do not plug two heavy electrical appliances into a single outlet as that can cause a power surge. Ideally, you should dedicate individual outlets for the more energy-consuming outlets.
Unplug Devices Not In Use
We often leave our devices plugged into the socket when we are done using them. If you want to ensure that your devices remain safe in a power surge, you must unplug them right away when you are done using them. These include all sorts of electrical appliances. This will help minimize any damages.
Use a Surge Protector
Kato Electrical suggests that homeowners install a surge protector and have a good grounding system so their electrical devices remain unhindered. A surge protector outlet is a sure way to ensure that your home and all your appliances remain safe.
A surge protector is an electrical appliance that helps protect your appliances from any power surges. It works by blocking the power if it increases the pre-set threshold. Most homes run on 120 Volts and if the voltage increases slightly, the surge protector will block it right away. However, if the surge is extreme and increases significantly, the protector immediately shorts it to the ground to neutralize the current.
Essentially, a surge protector is a transformer made of an iron core that transfers alternating current. It has a Zener diode that is often merged with a transient voltage suppression diode that can protect your appliances from power surges. Moreover, the surge protector also provides internal protection against external surges and surges from different devices.
With a surge protector, you don't have to worry about your electric flow being disrupted as it makes sure that the electric flow is consistent and it absorbs the surge. If you have a surge protector, you do not have to worry about any electrical appliances damage. You don't even have to bother unplugging devices or taking any extra protective measures.
It is the best option for all homeowners, but it is vital that only an expert electrician Vancouver installs the outlet as it can be quite tricky and there is a lot of room for error. This is why you need to ensure that you reach out to Kato Electrical as they have the best electricians on board who can not only help you install a surge protector outlet but will also make sure there are no faults with your wiring. With their help, you can rest assured that your electrical devices are safe.