Protect your home from power surges

A power surge is a sudden spike in electrical voltage that can damage electronics, appliances, and even start electrical fires. While lightning strikes are often blamed, most surges come from everyday appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators drawing power, as well as faulty wiring or overloaded circuits. These surges, whether minor or severe, can gradually wear down or instantly damage your devices.

To protect your home, use surge protector strips or upgrade to uninterruptable power supply (UPS) devices with battery backup for sensitive electronics. For broader coverage, consider installing a whole-house surge protector through a qualified electrician, and update outlets to include ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) for added safety. Pair whole-house protectors with plugin surge strips for two layers of defense.