All About Surge Protectors

If you’ve ever had us complete a service for you, there’s a chance we either included a surge protector in your installation or sold one to you during installation. We use surge protectors often—in our jobs and in our office. Surge protectors are the best way to keep your home or office and your equipment safe.

Extension cords and power strips are essentially the same thing. The only difference is how many outlets are included. Sometimes extension cords come with two outlets at the head. Power strips can have many, many outlets. I think the largest one I’ve seen had about 80 outlets. Neither of these will protect your equipment if there is a power surge. They’re only used to give you more space to plug things in.

Surge protectors (or suppressors) are used to protect your equipment from power surges, voltage spikes, and line noise transferred through an outlet. Your surge protector will suppress any voltage above an acceptable level to prevent it from causing damage. They’re designed so the metal oxide varistors (MOVs) inside will absorb excess voltage and divert it to the ground wire, stopping it from reaching the equipment plugged into it.

A note: living in Ohio, our storms have gotten larger, they last longer, and have been causing more damage. If lightening were to hit near you, it’s likely your surge protector will suffice in protecting your equipment. However, there is a chance it’ll be damaged and need replaced. If there’s a direct lightening strike on your home, if you don’t have a surge or lightening arrester, the surge protector will be just as efficient as a regular power strip—meaning, not at all. If you’re concerned for lighting strikes, look into having a surge or lightening arrester installed. Surge arresters are good for lightening and other large surges, while lightening arresters are only good for lightening. One thing you can do to keep your equipment safe during storms is to just unplug the ones you’re not actively using.

Are all surge protectors equal? No.

All surge protectors come with a Joule Rating (also seen as Energy Dissipation). This measures the amount of energy a device will divert during a surge. The higher the rating, the better it is at handling multiple power surges. The recommended rating is at least 2,000 joules.

So, you have a surge protector. What should and shouldn’t you plug into it?

Computers, TVs, home theater systems, gaming consoles, office equipment, smart home devices, modems and routers, medical equipment, and kitchen appliances (microwaves and smart appliances like a refrigerator or coffee maker) should be plugged into a surge protector, specifically a good one.

Did you know that there things you should not plug into a surge protector? A vacuum, a space heater, air conditioner, or electric motor should be plugged directly into the wall. Many heating items—hair dryer, crock pot, griddle—draw higher currents and should also be plugged directly into the wall.

The Lifespan of a Surge Protector

Most surge protectors last between three and five years. However, that can be easily reduced based on several factors.

The main thing to look for is the joule rating. Generally, the higher the number, the longer the surge protector will last. Ones with higher ratings are designed to handle large energy spikes or more smaller spikes over time. We suggest a minimum of 1000 joules, but prefer anything 2000 joules or higher. If you’re in an area with intense surges or a lot of them, your surge protector might not last as long, even with the higher rating.

Overloading or constant use can shorten its lifespan. Plugging in items that draw constant power frequently, specifically items listed above that you shouldn’t be plugging in, will cause wear and tear. Plugging in a lot of items at once that are altogether heavy also lessen the lifespan.

And lastly, keeping the surge protector in a dry, clean space will help it’s longevity. This includes the cord. Don’t let it sit in an area where it can be bothered. Often, people put a rug or tape over the cord to keep people from tripping over it. However, people will still step on it. This wears the cord down and ruins your surge protector. Put the whole thing away from foot traffic. There are surge protectors with longer cords. Invest in those if you need it to cross a room and place it against the wall.

Keep an eye on the red light when you flip the switch on. It may still work as a power source if the light is off, but that means there is no surge protection. Before you toss them in the trash, considering dropping them off at your nearest e-waste recycler (lots of big box electronic stores will recycle them for you for free).

One final note: if you find yourself needing a lot of surge protection, there is an option for a whole-home surge protection.

If you’re looking for a surge protector, we sell them. We usually include them in our installs but if you see we did not include any in your quote but would like one (or more) any way, let us know. We offer all different designs of surge protectors (2-outlets, 6-outlets, wall-mounted, power strip, etc.), so we have something for everyone.