Not Every Surge Protector Installation Is Equal
At Electric City, we don't simply mount a surge protector and leave.
Every surge protector installation includes:
- Inspection of the home’s grounding system.
- Verification of neutral and grounding connections.
- Short conductor lengths to reduce impedance.
- Verification that the surge protector’s status indicators are functioning.
- Manufacturer-compliant installation practices.
A surge protector is only as effective as the electrical system it’s connected to
Layer 1: Whole-Home Protection
Whole-house surge protector installed at your electrical panel.
Layer 2: Point-of-Use Protection
Quality surge strips for televisions, computers, gaming systems, and other sensitive electronics.
Layer 3: Equipment-Specific Protection
Additional protection for HVAC equipment, standby generators, networking equipment, security systems, and other critical electronics where appropriate.
Surge Protection and the Grounding System go hand-in-hand
The best surge protector in the world cannot perform properly without a properly installed grounding system. Before recommending surge protection, we inspect your grounding and bonding system to ensure excess surge energy has a safe path away from your home’s electrical system.
Location Matters!
The best surge protector in the world can’t perform properly if it isn’t installed correctly. We evaluate each electrical panel individually and install the surge protector where it can connect with the shortest practical conductor length, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Depending on the panel design, installation may be near the top, bottom, or side of the panel. Our goal is always the most effective installation, not simply placing it in the same location every time.
As with anything, Surge Protection has a "Good, Better, Best"
Everyday Power Surges Are More Common Than You Think
- Utility switching
- Air conditioners
- Refrigerators
- Microwave ovens
- Pool equipment
- EV chargers
- Standby generators
- Large motors
Frequently Asked Questions About Whole-Home Surge Protection
Yes! The 2020 National Electrical Code first required surge protection for most new and replacement dwelling unit service equipment. However, many existing homes were built before this requirement existed and may not have any whole-home surge protection installed.
Even if your home isn’t required to have it, we have always highly recommended it. Today’s homes contain thousands of dollars in electronics and appliances that are much more sensitive to power surges than they were years ago.
No. No surge protector can stop or absorb a direct lightning strike.
What a quality whole-home surge protector does is divert dangerous surge energy away from your home’s electrical system during nearby lightning strikes, utility switching, and other power disturbances. It significantly reduces the amount of surge energy that reaches your appliances and electronics, but no device can guarantee complete protection from a direct lightning strike.
Yes. Think of whole-home surge protection as your home’s first line of defense.
A whole-home surge protector helps reduce large surges entering through your electrical service. Quality surge strips provide a second layer of protection for sensitive electronics like computers, televisions, gaming systems, and home office equipment.
The best protection comes from using both.
There isn’t a set number of years.
Every time a surge protector absorbs a power surge, it uses a small portion of its capacity. Homes that experience frequent storms or power disturbances may wear out a surge protector sooner than homes with very stable power.
That’s why we recommend periodically checking the status indicator and having it inspected during electrical service visits.
Most quality surge protectors have an indicator light that lets you know whether they’re still providing protection.
If the indicator shows the unit has reached the end of its life, the electrical panel will usually continue operating normally. You just won’t have surge protection anymore. That’s why it’s important to replace the device once it has sacrificed itself protecting your home. If your surge protection was installed by Electric City, it comes with a lifetime warranty. Call us to come replace it for free!
Absolutely.
A surge protector is only one part of the system. It needs a properly installed grounding and bonding system to safely divert surge energy.
If your grounding system isn’t up to today’s standards or we find a problem during our inspection, we’ll explain what we found and why it matters before recommending any repairs.
Most of the time, yes.
We’ll inspect your electrical panel to determine the best solution. Some panels require modifications before proper installation is possible.
Every installation is different, and we’ll recommend the option that provides the best protection for your home’s electrical system.
Both provide excellent whole-home surge protection, but they are designed for different levels of protection.
Our Premium Surge Protection is an excellent choice for most homes. It provides dependable protection against everyday surges caused by the utility company, storms, and appliances cycling on and off.
Our Superior Surge Protection offers an even higher level of protection for homes with expensive electronics, home offices, smart home systems, standby generators, or homeowners who simply want the best protection available.
During your electrical inspection, we’ll explain the differences and help you choose the option that best fits your home and budget.
Our Promise
At Electric City, we believe electrical work is one area where you should never cut corners. That’s why every surge protector we install is backed by a thorough inspection, installed according to the manufacturer’s requirements, and designed to provide the best protection possible for your home. We don’t believe in “good enough.” We believe in doing it right the first time.
Our goal isn’t just to sell you a surge protector. It’s to help protect your home the right way.