subject: Whole House Surge Protectors Review [print this page] You're probably familiar with a surge protector. You know the little white strip with the outlets all in a line, that you use to plug in your computer? These little devices are great; they help keep your valuable electronic devices safe from surges in the electrical system. These surges can be caused by storms, lightening strikes, or even careless work done by the phone company, and a surge can ruin an expensive device in a heartbeat; often, these damages won't be covered by your homeowner's insurance. However, did you know that you can add that protection to your entire house? Whole house surge protectors can give you big benefits and protection for relatively little cash.
A whole house surge protector is usually wired to the main electrical panel of your home, and works to save your electronics by preventing a surge from entering the house through the electrical system. It's designed to intercept the surge and keep it out of the wiring. This can save you thousands of dollars in damages; a recent incident in Falls Church, Virginia caused by a repair crew allowing two power lines to touch sent surges through hundreds of homes, causing thousands of dollars of damage to electronic devices; one woman even had her refrigerator catch on fire!
If you've decided to protect your house with a whole house surge protector, consider the Intermatic Panel Guard. As the name might suggest, the unit mounts in the panel box, and has indicator lights to let you know that it's working. This is important; the surge protector could be blown by a surge (instead of your electronics), but you won't know to replace it if it doesn't have lights. You can expect to pay roughly $200 for the protector at online retailers; once you get it, you'll probably want to have an electrician install it.
Another surge protector to consider is the Levitron 51120-1. This model runs about $190, but you can often find lower sale prices on the web. This model has an instantaneous response time, and a maximum surge current load of 50,000 amps. With this protecting your home, you can feel secure that your valuable electronic devices are safe.
For an average investment of between $200 and $1,000, you can protect your entire home from the ravages of electrical surges. The next time a thunderstorm rolls in, or you see the local power company working on the lines, you'll be able to breathe easily. Your systems are safe!
