What is a power surge?

Power surges are sudden, temporary increases in voltage significantly above the normal flow of electricity. In standard North American homes, the typical voltage for electricity is 120 volts. If the voltage exceeds this level, even for just a millisecond, it can be considered a power surge.

How power surges can damage your home

Power surges can damage your home in several ways, primarily by harming electrical appliances and possibly causing electrical fires.

Damaging Electronic Appliances and Devices: The most common way power surges damage your home is by harming your electronic appliances and devices, overwhelming the circuitry inside them.
Degradation Over Time: Smaller, repetitive surges can also harm your appliances over time by degrading their performance and lifespan. Minor surges may not immediately destroy electronic components, but they can gradually wear down the internal circuitry, potentially leading to repairs or replacements.
Electrical Wiring Damage: Power surges can also damage the electrical wiring within your home. If the surge is significant enough, it can melt the insulation around wires, leading to exposed wires. This not only poses a significant fire hazard but can also affect the overall electrical infrastructure of your home, leading to more extensive repairs.
Fire Hazards: In extreme cases, power surges can lead to fires by overheating electrical wiring or devices. Risk increases if the wiring is old or damaged, or if there’s a significant flaw in your home’s electrical system that does not provide adequate protection against surges.
Tripping Circuit Breakers: Frequent tripping of circuit breakers can be a sign of underlying electrical problems. It can also be inconvenient, disrupting daily activities and potentially leading to safety issues if critical systems like security or medical devices are affected.

What causes a power surge?

Power surges can be caused by a variety of natural events and human-made issues. Some of the most common causes of power surges are:

Lightning strikes
Power outages
High-power electrical devices
Faulty wiring and electrical issues
Utility issues related to transmission and distribution
Electrical switching (rerouting power, managing load, bring substations online or offline)

How can you tell if a power surge has occurred?

There are several ways to tell if a power surge has occurred in your home.

If your electronic devices and appliances are malfunctioning or non-functional
If your safety switches or circuit breakers have been tripped
If there is a burning smell or burn marks around your electrical outlets
If a surge protector has indicators that alert you when an event has occurred
If your lights are flickering

How to protect your home and appliances from power surges

Two of the most common and effective ways to protect your home from a power surge are to install a whole house surge protector and to utilize power strips with surge protection features.

Whole house surge protectors

Whole home surge protectors are installed on your home’s service panel or breaker box to prevent surges from entering and impacting your house’s electrical systems. To ensure they function properly, have the equipment installed by a professional and qualified electrician.

Power strips with surge protection

Another option is to utilize power strips that can protect your devices from surges. These surge protectors plug directly into your electrical outlets, and you plug the devices into the power strip. They are capable of preventing power surges from impacting and damaging your appliances and electronics by absorbing or redirecting the excess voltage.

What to do after a power surge

If you’ve experienced a power surge, you may be wondering what to do next.

First, inspect your electronic devices and appliances for damage to determine if repair or replacement is needed.
Then, evaluate your electrical outlets and surge protectors for burning smells, burn marks, and other damage. These items may also require replacement. Be sure to document any of the damage you discover with photos that you can refer to later on.
Next, check your circuit breaker. You may need to flip some switches on the electrical panel back from the “off” position that were tripped during the surge.
Finally, begin working towards a solution. Repair and replace any damaged devices or electronics, consult with a professional electrician to fix any issues in your home’s electrical systems (such as outlets and wiring), think about upgrading your surge protection solutions by installing a whole home protector or by purchasing power strips.
If you have the right insurance, contact your insurance provider to file a claim to help pay for the any of the damages and repairs.

Affordable electricity with BKVE

If you’re thinking about upgrading your home’s surge protection technology, you may also be interested in upgrading your electricity provider.

BKV Energy offers simple and affordable fixed rate electric plans that can save Texans up to $800 or more each year on their bills.

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Written by Graham Lumley

Graham Lumley, Growth Product Manager at BKV Energy, leads digital and traditional marketing strategies, focusing on educating Texans about the state's deregulated energy market. With over 10 years of marketing experience, he creates content to help consumers understand and save on their energy bills, bringing a fresh and dynamic approach to the industry.