At All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we talk a lot about the importance of surge protection. But what is a surge protector, actually? There are a lot of different devices associated with surge protection, from power strips to wall mounts. Keep reading to learn the difference between power strips, surge protectors, and wall mounts here, and remember that for all your essential electrical services, you can always count on our experts at All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric.
Surge Protectors
Surge protectors safeguard your electrical equipment from unexpected voltage spikes. They come in many shapes and sizes, the most affordable of which is your standard six-outlet model. These devices are very similar to power strips, just with increased safety capabilities. However, when professionals like our electricians at All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric talk about surge protectors, they are usually referring to whole-home surge protectors. These devices are installed in your electrical panel to provide an additional layer of protection. While a store-bought surge protector only covers the devices plugged into it, whole-home surge protectors – just as advertised – cover your whole house.
Wall Mounts
A wall mount surge protector is kind of like your standard, plug-in surge protector that you insert into an outlet and leave on the floor, except they are better for wall outlets that are higher up. More than anything, these devices provide an added layer of convenience, as you wouldn’t want a regular six-outlet surge protector just hanging from your wall. These devices typically come with GFCI capability, and are often equipped with USB slots, too, so you can charge your phone or other electronics. Wall mount surge protectors may also be more expensive than standard devices, as they are often more powerful in addition to being more convenient than store-bought surge protectors.
Power Strips
It makes sense that people confuse power strips and surge protectors all the time, because in a sense, they do the same thing. They both allow you to plug more appliances in, but surge protectors allow you to do this with a lower chance of overloading a circuit. The good news is that when most people think of power strips today, they are in fact thinking of surge protectors, so in a way, these terms have become interchangeable. Still, the next time you need to purchase a power strip, make sure it has surge protection capability, too.
Call for Professional Surge Protection Today
At All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, there is nothing more important to us than safety. That’s why we highly suggest that even if you have surge protectors in your home, you consider hiring our skilled electricians for whole-home surge protection installation. With a whole-home surge protector from our electrical experts, you will not only be able to prevent damage to your appliances, you can also ensure you don’t lose any valuable data stored on computers and other electronic devices. And of course, a quality surge protector will help to guarantee your family’s safety. Give us a call to learn more about our affordable surge protector options, and let All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric help you avoid power surges for years to come.
All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric is available by phone at (909) 500-8193, or you can contact us online.