Is a Whole Home Surge Protector Worth It? Protect Your Home from Weather & More

What is a Whole Home Surge Protector?

To determine if investing in a whole home surge protector is worth it, it’s essential to know what it actually does.

Think of a whole home surge protector as a security guard working an entrance gate. Stationed at your main electrical panel or circuit breaker box, its mission is to shield your entire home from the harmful effects of electrical surges, ensuring your appliances and devices remain safe and sound. While it may not sport a cape or a shiny badge, rest assured that it’s a silent protector, ready to cut off surges before they can wreak havoc on your electronics.

What are the Benefits?

Let’s go over the pros of protecting your electrical system with a whole home surge protector.

1. Full Coverage: A whole home surge protector is like having a security blanket for all your devices, guarding them from electrical surges at the main electrical panel. They perform what the power strip under your desk does but for everything else. Every try plugging your stove or HVAC system into one of them? Not possible. Protecting these large appliances is way more important than the lamp on your nightstand.
2. Save Those Bucks: While the initial cost of a whole home surge protector may make you flinch, think of it as an investment that saves you from costly repairs or replacements of your precious electronics and appliances in the long haul.
3. Peaceful Thoughts: Stormy weather? No problem! With your entire home shielded from power surges, you can kick back and relax knowing your gadgets are safe and sound. Plus, if your power surge protector is not functioning properly, an audible alarm will go off to let you know, that way, you are never in the dark. (Literally)
4. Insurance Bonuses: Some insurance policies might give you a pat on the back for having surge protection. Plus, it could lower your insurance deductible if a power surge damages your property.
5. Longer Device Lifespan: Power surges can be brutal on electronics. But with a whole home surge protector, you’re giving your devices a longer lease on life and fewer trips to the store for replacements.
6. Hassle-Free: No more fiddling with individual surge protectors that need constant replacing. A whole home surge protector is a one-time installation that keeps on protecting without any maintenance hassle.
7. All-Round Defense: Not just lightning strikes, whole home surge protectors can tackle a variety of electrical disturbances, from power grid fluctuations to pesky surges caused by nearby machinery.
8. Code Requirements: More and more areas are making whole home surge protectors mandatory in order to stay up to code. If that’s the case where you live you might as well get ahead of the game.
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What are the Drawbacks?

Pobody’s nerfect. Here are a few things to consider:

1. Cost: The initial investment of a whole home surge protector might make you pause, especially if you’re on a budget. It’s a bit pricier than individual surge protectors, so keep that in mind. In addition, you need a separate surge protector for every distribution panel—so if you already have a generator you’d need one for the main electrical panel as well as the generator transfer switch or any other panel you might have.
2. Installation Complexity: Unless you’re an electrician yourself, you’ll likely need professional help to install a whole home surge protector. But we know a guy that can help!
3. Maintenance: Once a whole home surge protector is in place, it usually doesn’t need much upkeep. However, regular checks are recommended to ensure it’s doing its job correctly, which means there’s a bit more for your electrical contractor to look at when he’s at your house. 
4. Compatibility Hiccups & Code Requirements: In some rare instances, whole home surge protectors may not play nice with certain electrical systems. This might pose a challenge for homeowners with older homes or unique setups. 

Wrapping it up

Investing in a whole home surge protector may be a wise decision to safeguard your home from the unpredictable forces of nature and unexpected electrical surges. By providing comprehensive protection to all your appliances and electronics, it offers peace of mind and potentially saves you from costly repairs or replacements. As we rely more on the tech we are using every day, the importance of protecting our homes from power surges cannot be overstated.

So, while it may seem like an additional expense upfront, the long-term benefits and protection it provides make it a worthwhile investment for any homeowner.