Home surge protectors aren’t only an expensive ordeal but a common one. After being asked to look into this topic, I read a Facebook post and found myself astounded by the many people dealing with this issue. Naturally, I had to dig deeper.

We’ll start at the beginning and go from there. In case you’re not aware, a whole-home surge protector is a device hard-wired to your electrical system, providing power surge protection for your entire home. When electrical voltage surges, the surge protector blocks it, protecting appliances and electronics from damage.

Simple enough. That’s until a surge occurs. After further investigation, I learned that several things trigger a power surge. Power grid switching by electrical companies, lightning, or when large appliances’ motors turn on and off are the common causes.

A sudden spike in voltage will travel through your home’s electrical system. A bad one can quickly damage electronics and appliances plugged into a wall socket during the surge. Sometimes, the result is damaged outlets, electrical wiring, and even a house fire.

Count your blessings if you’re a homeowner and have never had to replace a home surge protector or deal with a drastic power surge. So, what do you do if or when faced with this issue? For starters, pray you can fix the problem quickly.

Experts advise homeowners to reset, unplug, and repower all electronics after a surge. However, if a power outage has occurred, you may need to reset your circuit breakers. Inspect appliances and electronics for any damages, including burned outlets, smoke smell, or strange noises. Do this before touching any electrical surfaces, buttons, breakers, or wires.

If you find that the surge protector isn’t working, search to see if it has a reset option, which according to what the experts have shared with me, can be a very tiny button. Some of these devices are equipped with blinking lights to let you know if something is the matter. Lights can be either green or red, solid or blinking. This is when a manual comes in handy.

What to do if you have to replace it? Do your research. Homes and their surge protectors can vary in size and functionality. Call an expert and ask for advice. In most cases, this only costs you a phone call.

It’s challenging to say how much it will cost to replace one of these devices. It all depends on the severity of the damage, the supply chain, where you live, and so on and so on. Costs range from roughly $50 up to $2,000 or more.

Many home insurance companies offer protection for your surge protectors. Others offer discounts for having a whole-home surge protector installed in your home. Sometimes, the surge protectors themselves come with a warranty.

Once you find out what you need, do more research. With numerous ways to shop, a home surge protector can be found almost anywhere. You just need to make sure you purchase the right one. My apologies, but there’s no simple answer here.

One expert did tell me that grounding is vital to better home surge protection. Apparently, without proper grounding, the surge protector won’t work to capacity. This is something an electrician can investigate during installation.

Most electrical and power companies recommend using traditional outlet protectors in addition to a whole-house surge protector. Doing so casts the widest safety net possible across your home. Even with a protector at the circuit breaker box, surges can still occur inside the house. Using additional surge protectors/power strips will help.

Smart surge protectors reduce energy use and guard equipment against unexpected power surges. This is an easy way to save a few pennies every year. Energy-saving power strips can turn off electronics when not in use, helping to reduce utility bills and the demand for resources.

The average safe voltage for a whole-home surge protector should be no more than UL 400 volts, 36,000 amps, and 360 joules. Some may last five years, while others will last 10 years or longer. Keeping the area clean and monthly inspections aren’t a guarantee, but may buy you time before you have to replace one.

What did I discover about whole-home surge protectors? There’s also no simple answer. It can cost a lot of money, and they are a great way to help protect your home appliances and electronics. Aside from constant monitoring, there’s no way of avoiding a whole-home surge problem. One more thing, never purchase a used or refurbished surge protector for your home.