Buying Guide

Homeowners typically have a lot of money invested in expensive electronics and appliances
(computers, washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators, HVAC, etc). Most of these appliances and
electronics are left unprotected from surges, which can cost homeowners thousands of dollars to
replace if they were to be damaged.
What are they?
Surges, or “transient voltages,” occur when
there is a temporary voltage spike that
travels throughout your entire electrical,
phone, network and/or cable system. These
can be either externally generated (from
weather or utilities) or internally generated
from devices inside the home, which is the
most common type of surge. Up to 100 of
these surges can occur per month!
Why should I care?
Some power surges have enough strength to severely damage,
if not destroy, home electronics and appliances. Surges happen
regularly, though you may not be aware of their occurrence,
wearing down and shortening the life of electronics.
How do surge protection devices work?
When a surge protective device senses an transient voltage
spike, it uses internal components called Metal Oxide
Varistors (MOVs) that act like magnets for the excess voltage,
and sends it to the load center’s ground wire, before it can
reach your home’s connected electronics.
of surges are
externally generated
of surges are
internally generated
20%
80%
Surge Protection
2