Many homeowners think power surges occur only during lightning storms. While lightning is one cause, it’s far from the only one. Utility grid activity, restoring power after outages and large household appliances cycling can all create power surges inside your home.
These surges don’t just pose a risk to televisions and computers. These surges can cause HVAC electrical damage because modern heating and cooling systems rely on advanced electronic components. Thankfully, HVAC surge protection can help safeguard one of your home’s biggest investments and reduce the risk of major repairs.
What Are Power Surges
A home power surge is a short spike in electrical voltage in your home’s wiring. Although it lasts only a fraction of a second, it may damage home electronics.
Lightning remains the most well-known cause, but many electrical surges begin much closer to home. Power companies frequently adjust power on the electrical grid, and power can also surge when electricity is restored after an outage. Large appliances like refrigerators or air conditioners can also create small voltage fluctuations when they cycle on and off. It’s also possible that loose wiring or other home electrical issues can cause surges.
While a single large surge can cause immediate damage, smaller, repeated voltage spikes can slowly wear down heating and cooling equipment over time, shortening their lifespan.
Why Modern HVAC Systems Require Better Surge Protection
Today’s heating and cooling systems use high-tech electronics to improve comfort and energy efficiency. Although these technologies offer many benefits, they also make equipment more vulnerable to damage from voltage spikes, increasing the importance of HVAC electrical protection.
Some of the most vulnerable components to power surges include:
- Control boards. They serve as the system’s control center and can be damaged by even brief or small voltage spikes.
- Variable-speed blower motors. These energy-saving motors rely on electronic controls that are sensitive to electric surges.
- Smart thermostats. A smart thermostat uses delicate electronics that communicate with your HVAC equipment.
- Communication systems. Today’s HVAC systems rely on electronic communication between indoor and outdoor units for reliable operation.
- Inverter technology. Systems with variable-capacity operation use sophisticated electronics that are better protected with surge protection.
Which HVAC Components Need the Most Protection?
Damage from electrical surges can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to repair or replace. Installing whole-home surge protection helps reduce the risk of unexpected failures and costly HVAC repair after electrical surge incidents.
HVAC components most vulnerable to power surges in Highlands Ranch include:
- Control boards:Protecting your HVAC system’s control board safeguards its primary.
- Airconditioner compressors. An HVAC compressor is one of the highest-priced parts of an air conditioner or heat pump to replace.
- Blower motors.Voltage spikes can damage motors that circulate conditioned air throughout your home.
- HVAC system capacitors. Surges can weaken or damage these components, impacting system startup and performance.
- Smartthermostats. These devices may malfunction after multiple voltage spikes.
- Heat pump control electronics. Heat pumps rely on multiple electronic components that can be vulnerable to surges.
Which is Better for My Home: Whole-Home Surge Protection or Power Strips?
Many people use surge-protecting power strips for computers and televisions, but those devices don’t protect your furnace or air conditioner. To provide complete HVAC system protection, whole-home surge protection offers more comprehensive coverage and long-term value.
A professionally installed whole-house surge protector is connected at your home’s electrical panel. Unlike devices that protect only one outlet, the system helps safeguard major appliances and electronics throughout your house, including your HVAC equipment.
Benefits of Whole-House Surge Protection
Installing whole-home surge protection is a proactive way to protect your HVAC investment while helping safeguard other valuable electronics throughout your home.
Benefits of whole-house HVAC surge protection include:
- Reduced repaircosts. Preventing surge damage can help prevent expensive HVAC repairs.
- Longer HVAC equipmentlife. vulnerable technological components experience lower electrical stress over time when properly protected.
- Protection of homeelectronics. 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 weather-related power outages occur.
- Defense against everyday electrical fluctuations. Small voltage spikes can gradually damage electronic HVAC equipment.
5 Signs It’s Time to Consider Surge Protection
- Regular summer storms. Given the strong summer storms in Highlands Ranch, lightning protection for your HVAC can help minimize the risk of surge-related damage.
- Blackouts or flickering lights. Ongoing power interruptions and electrical fluctuations increase the likelihood of damaging voltage spikes.
- Aging electrical systems. Old wiring or obsolete electrical equipment can raise your home’s surge risk.
- Expensive HVAC equipment. Shielding a high-efficiency heating and cooling system with a surge protector is often far less costly than repairing or replacing damaged components.
- Smart home devices. Homes with connected thermostats and other connected devices have even more sensitive electronics to protect.
Expert Surge Protection Installation Matters
Whole-house surge protection must be installed correctly to provide reliable protection. Hiring licensed HVAC and electrical professionals like the team at PS Cool Heat helps ensure the surge protection device is properly installed and ready to safeguard your home HVAC system.
The highly trained professionals at PS Cool Heat understand the specific electrical needs of modern HVAC equipment and will help you choose the right surge protector for your AC, furnace and other home comfort systems.
Protect Your HVAC Investment Before the Next Power Surge
Electrical surges aren’t always dramatic, but they can have a major impact on your heating and cooling system. Adding whole-home surge protection is a smart way to help prevent costly 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-home surge protection systems. Our professionals will evaluate your home’s needs and recommend a setup to protect your home HVAC. In addition to surge protection, we offer all electrical services for the rest of your home.
See how surge protection can help safeguard your HVAC equipment. Schedule service online or call 720-613-2210 today.
Frequently Asked Questions About HVAC Surge Protection
Is a whole-house surge protection beneficial for an HVAC system?
Yes. Whole-house surge protection is often a smart investment because it helps protect expensive HVAC equipment. Compared with repair costs, installing surge protection is typically much lower than repairing or replacing damaged heating and cooling components, which can help extend the life of your home comfort system.
Can a power surge damage an an air conditioning system?
Absolutely. A power surge can damage an air conditioner’s compressor, circuit board and blower motor, resulting in costly repairs. A surge protector for your AC helps protect your air conditioner from electrical surges by preventing the surges from reaching sensitive HVAC components.
What can cause power surges in a home?
Lightning strikes, utility grid switching and power outages are among the most common causes of power surges in homes. They can also result from problems within your home’s electrical system. Even small, repeated surges can gradually wear down HVAC components over time.
What is the average lifespan of a whole-house surge protector?
Most whole-home surge protectors last 5 to 10 years, although that depends on the number and severity of the surges it absorbs. Surge protector systems in homes that experience many severe storms or utility power fluctuations may need replacement sooner.
Does homeowners insurance cover damage caused by power surges?
It can. Homeowners insurance may cover power surge damage, but coverage depends on your policy and what caused the surge. Because deductibles and coverage vary, surge protection installation is often a smart way to help prevent expensive HVAC repairs.
Will whole-home surge protection help protect smart thermostats?
Absolutely. Power surge protection for HVAC helps protect smart thermostats and other connected HVAC components from electrical surges. Surge protection may also improve system reliability and reduce the risk of extensive repairs to modern heating and cooling equipment.
