Protect Your House with a Home Surge Protector

The first weekend in our new home, we were hit with an unexpected brown out that caused power surges throughout our neighborhood. As the closest house to the transformer, we received some of the bigger surges, which caused havoc for some of our appliances. Our stove, for one, got fried as a result, before we started unplugging other appliances. Since then, we've been afraid of electrical surges, panicking at even the hint of a storm or surge of any kind.

However, an electrician eventually told us about a whole house surge protector, also known as a home surge protector. Beyond just the regular surge protectors that you use for your electrical appliances such as the entertainment center or your PC, a home surge protector protects the entire house from electrical surges. These can be caused by lightning striking near the house, large machinery being turned on at a nearby factory, or electrical transformer problems.

The great thing we learned about a home surge protector is that it adds a whole new layer of protection to your appliances, and many of them come with warranties to insure you against damage. This may not seem like a big deal, but a quick walk through your living room or home office will tell a different story. Any appliance with a microprocessor inside (ovens, washer and dryer, TV, computer, refrigerator and more) is susceptible to damage in the event of a lightning strike. Once you start tallying up the costs, they'll surprise you.

On top of all of that, home surge protectors are great sales points for home buyers. For as low as a few hundred dollars, you can make your home stand out to others on the market, while simultaneously protecting your other investments. In fact, I was astonished I had never heard of a home surge protector before. It is definitely worth the small cost for the peace of mind, but also for the protection.

What about you guys? Do any of you have electrical horror stories? Have you thought about installing a home surge protector?