Florida is known for frequent thunderstorms and lightning, and power surges are a real cost for homeowners. Modern AC systems, refrigerators, washers and pool controllers all contain sensitive electronics.
How surges happen
Nearby lightning, utility switching and large motors cycling on and off all create voltage spikes. Most surges are small and frequent, and they wear down electronics over time.
How whole house protection works
A whole house surge protector mounts at or near your panel and diverts excess voltage to ground before it spreads through the house. It works best with good grounding, which is why we check grounding during installation. An electrical inspection can flag weak grounding.
Layered protection
Use point-of-use surge strips for TVs and computers in addition to the whole-house device.
Maintenance
Surge protectors wear with use. Check the indicator lights after major storms.
Quick answers
Does surge protection help with a direct lightning strike?
Nothing fully protects against a direct strike, but it greatly helps with common indirect surges.
How long does installation take?
Often about an hour when there's space in the panel.