What Is A Whole House Surge Arrester?

A whole-house surge arrester is hard-wired to your electrical system to provide power surge protection for your entire home. When electrical voltage spikes or surges, the whole house surge protector blocks it or grounds it so your appliances and electronics are not damaged.

Look around your home at your electronics and appliances. Your flat-screen TV, computer, DVR, modem, refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker, dishwasher, or big-ticket systems like your Heating and Air Conditioning Unit. What would happen if a massive power surge occurred and wiped out all these appliances?

You may think your electronics and appliances are safe because you've plugged them into a power strip. But are they really? Or is that power strip no more than an extension cord? What happens when electronic circuits are subjected to power surges? The combination of power grid disruptions, severe weather, and infrastructure that needs updating makes the possibility of debilitating power surges very real. Especially if you rely on technology in your home, it may be time to consider a whole house surge protector.

Proper grounding is key to successful surge protection. Without grounding, the surge protector won't work correctly. If you're unsure about your home's grounding system, have your electrician check it out when installing the whole house surge protector.

Only a licensed electrician

should install whole house surge protectors.

They have the expertise to make sure everything is properly grounded and to correct any incorrect installation or defects in your existing electrical wiring.

The last thing you would want to do is pay to have one of these installed to find a bunch of burned up devices after the next power surge. Consider it a buffer, or a form of insurance for your electronic devices.