Many people think power surges occur only during lightning storms. While lightning is one cause, it’s certainly not the only one. Major appliances turning on and off, electrical grid switching, power outages and restoration can all create electrical surges inside your home.
These electric voltage spikes don’t just pose a risk to televisions and computers. These surges can cause HVAC electrical damage because current heating and cooling systems rely on sophisticated electronic components. Fortunately, HVAC surge protection can help safeguard one of your home’s biggest investments and reduce the risk of costly repairs.
What Are Power Surges
A power surge is a short spike in electrical voltage in your home’s wiring. While it lasts only a fraction of a second, it may damage household electronics, including HVAC equipment.
Lightning remains the most well-known cause, but many surges happen much closer to home. Electric utility providers routinely switch power on the electrical grid, and voltage can also spike when electricity is restored after an outage. Major appliances like refrigerators or AC units can also create brief voltage fluctuations when they cycle on and off. In some cases, loose wiring or other home electrical issues lead to surges.
Though a single significant surge can cause immediate damage, smaller, repeated voltage spikes can slowly wear down heating and cooling equipment over time, limiting their lifespan.
Why Modern HVAC Systems Require Better Surge Protection
Many of today’s heating and cooling systems use sophisticated electronics to improve comfort and energy efficiency. Although these technologies offer many benefits, they can also make equipment more vulnerable to damage from voltage spikes, increasing the importance of HVAC electrical protection.
HVAC parts that are especially sensitive to power surges include:
- Control boards. They function as the system’s control center and can be damaged by even brief or small voltage spikes.
- Variable-speed motors. These energy-saving motors rely on electronic controls that are susceptible to electric surges.
- Smart thermostats. A smart thermostat uses delicate electronics that control your HVAC equipment.
- Communication systems. Modern heating and cooling systems use electronic communication between indoor and outdoor units for reliable operation.
- Variable-capacity inverter technology. Variable-capacity HVAC systems use sophisticated electronics that are better protected with surge protection.
Which HVAC Components Are Most at Risk?
Damage from electrical surges can cost hundreds or even thousands to fix. Installing electrical surge protection helps lower the risk of unexpected failures and major HVAC repair after voltage spike incidents.
HVAC components that are frequently damaged by power surges in Greenville include:
- Control boards:Installing a whole-house surge protector protects your HVAC control board’s main.
- Compressors. The compressor is one of the most expensive parts of an air conditioner or heat pump to replace.
- Blower motors.Power surges can damage motors that circulate conditioned air throughout your home.
- Capacitors. Power surges may weaken or damage these components, impacting system startup and performance.
- Smartthermostats. These devices may malfunction after repeated voltage spikes.
- Heat pumpelectronics. Modern heat pumps use multiple electronic components that are particularly vulnerable to surges.
Which is Better for My Home: Whole-Home Surge Protection or Power Strips?
Homeowners commonly use surge-protecting power strips for computers and televisions, but those devices don’t protect your furnace or air conditioner. For complete HVAC system protection, whole-home surge protection offers greater coverage and greater long-term value.
A professionally installed whole-home surge protector is connected at your home’s electrical panel. Rather than protecting only one outlet, the system helps safeguard major appliances and electronics throughout the house, including your HVAC system.
Benefits of Whole-Home HVAC Surge Protection
Using whole-home surge protection is an effective way to protect your HVAC investment while also helping safeguard other valuable electronics throughout your home.
Benefits of whole-home HVAC surge protection include:
- Fewer repair costs. Avoiding surge damage can help prevent expensive HVAC repairs.
- Extended HVAC system lifespan. Electronic HVAC components experience lower electrical stress over time when properly protected.
- Home electronics protection. In addition to protecting your HVAC, a whole-home surge protector also helps protect appliances, computers and entertainment systems.
- Less stress during storms. Homeowners gain added confidence when severe storms strike your area.
- Defense against everyday electrical fluctuations. Minor electrical surges can gradually damage your HVAC system.
5 Signs It’s Time to Consider Surge Protection
- Frequent storms. Given the powerful summer storms in Greenville, lightning protection for your HVAC can help lower the risk of electrical surge damage.
- Frequent power outages or flickering lights. Ongoing power interruptions and voltage fluctuations increase the likelihood of electrical surges.
- Older electrical systems. Old wiring or obsolete electrical equipment can increase your home’s surge risk.
- Modern heating and cooling equipment. Safeguarding a high-efficiency heating and cooling system by installing whole-home surge protection is often far less costly than repairing or replacing damaged components.
- Smart home devices. Homes with smart thermostats and other connected devices have additional sensitive electronics to protect.
Expert Surge Protection Installation Makes a Difference
Whole-house surge protection must be installed correctly to provide consistent protection. Working with licensed HVAC and electrical professionals like the team at All Comfort Today helps confirm the surge protection device is properly installed and ready to safeguard your home HVAC system.
The experienced professionals at All Comfort Today understand the specific electrical needs of modern HVAC equipment and will identify the right surge protector for your air conditioning unit, furnace and other home comfort systems.
Protect Your HVAC Investment from Future Power Surges
Power surges aren’t always dramatic, but they can have a significant impact on your heating and cooling equipment. Installing whole-home surge protection is an effective way to help prevent expensive repairs, extend equipment life and improve the reliability of your HVAC system.
If you’re interested in AC or furnace surge protection, you can count on the team at . Our HVAC services include a wide variety of surge protection options, including whole-house surge protectors. Our professionals will evaluate your home’s needs and recommend a setup to protect your home HVAC. Along with surge protection, we provide all electrical services for the rest of your home.
See how surge protection can help safeguard your HVAC equipment. Schedule service online or call 844-485-4822 today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Whole-Home Surge protection for HVAC
Is whole-home surge protection worth it for an HVAC system?
Absolutely. Installing whole-home surge protection is often worth the investment because it helps protect expensive HVAC equipment. The cost of installing surge protection is typically much lower than repairing or replacing damaged furnace or air conditioner components, and it helps extend the life of your home comfort system.
Can an electrical surge damage an AC unit?
Absolutely. A power surge can damage your AC unit’s compressor, circuit board and blower motor, leading to major repairs. Installing AC surge protection can protect your air conditioner from power surges by preventing the surges from reaching sensitive HVAC components.
What can cause power surges throughout a home?
The most common sources of power surges include lightning strikes, utility grid switching, power outages, power restoration and large appliances cycling on and off. Power surges may also stem from problems within your home’s electrical system. Repeated minor power surges can gradually wear down HVAC components over time.
What is the average lifespan of a whole-house surge protector?
A typical whole-home surge protector lasts about 5 to 10 years, although actual service life depends on the number and severity of the surges it absorbs. Surge protector systems in a home that has frequent storms or utility power fluctuations may need replacement sooner.
Does homeowners’ insurance cover power surge repairs?
It can. Homeowners insurance may cover power surge damage, but coverage depends on your policy and the cause of the surge. Because deductibles and coverage vary, surge protection installation is often a smart way to avoid paying for preventable and expensive HVAC repairs.
Does surge protection help protect smart thermostats?
Yes. Power surge protection for HVAC helps protect smart thermostats and other connected HVAC components from damaging voltage spikes. Surge protection may also improve system lifespan and reduce the risk of costly repairs to modern heating and cooling equipment.