Birmingham Surge Protection

Protect Your Home with Surge Protector Installation Services

Don't risk damaging your valuable appliances and electronics. Let Advanced Electrical Co., LLC install a whole house surge protector in your home to safeguard against costly electrical surge damage. Our surge protector will provide reliable protection for all your major household appliances.

Don't put your electrical system at risk. Take proactive measures today, and experience the benefits of reliable surge protection. Contact us at Advanced Electrical Co., LLC at (205) 512-2261 to schedule your free inspection.

What Is an Electrical Surge?

Electrical surges are sudden spikes in voltage that can occur within your home or office electrical systems. They can originate from various sources, such as turning on a vacuum cleaner or printing a document. External factors like electric utility switching, lightning strikes, downed power poles, or cut power lines can also cause surges. Surges can even enter your home through cable televisions and telephone wiring.

At Advanced Electrical Co., LLC, we go beyond ordinary plug-in surge protection devices. Our surge protector breakers offer superior protection and filtering capabilities. We believe in installing only the best equipment using top-notch installation methods. Contact us today for more information on how we can provide enhanced protection and safety for your electrical system.

Why Surge Protectors Are Essential

Surge protectors, also known as spike suppressors or surge diverters, shield electrical appliances from voltage spikes. These short but potentially destructive events occur in microseconds and can exceed the threshold that causes electronic equipment to malfunction or fail. Surge protectors prevent these voltage spikes from damaging your valuable electronic devices.

Whole-House Surge Protector Installation in Birmingham, AL

Advanced Electrical Co., LLC recommends the installation of a surge protector breaker for optimal safety. Unlike single-device protection, a whole-house surge protector keeps the excess electricity produced by surges away from your home's circuits. 

Our licensed electricians understand the importance of home safety and the value of your electronics and appliances. We can significantly reduce the risk of power surges damaging your valuable devices by installing a surge protector. This surge suppressor acts as a barrier, stopping the surge before it enters your home.

How Do Power Surges Occur?

Power surges can happen in three main ways, each with the potential to wreak havoc on your electrical system. First, an interruption in the flow of electricity followed by a short circuit can lead to a power surge. Second, a surge can occur when an increased power delivery is abruptly interrupted, causing electricity to flow back into the system. Finally, internal or external forces can cause a sudden increase in voltage, sending a powerful surge through the power system. Power surges can vary in magnitude, ranging from just one volt above the threshold maximum to thousands of excess volts, such as those caused by lightning strikes or transformer malfunctions.

What Causes Power Surges?

Several factors can contribute to power surges:

• Electrical Overload: Electrical overloads occur when a single circuit draws too much power. This often happens when extension cords are overused, or multiple devices are plugged into the same circuit. The overwhelmed circuit can experience a massive current and subsequent voltage spike, leading to power surges.
• Faulty Wiring: Faulty wiring is an internal cause of power surges, significantly when the electrical wires are damaged or exposed. Detecting faulty wiring can be challenging, but there are signs to watch out for. These include burn marks on outlets, a burning smell or buzzing sound from wiring or outlets, and frequent tripping of circuit breakers. If you notice any of these signs, it's essential to unplug electrical devices immediately and, if possible, turn off electricity in the affected area. Contacting our licensed electrician is the best action if you suspect faulty wiring.
• Lightning Strikes: Lightning rarely directly damages appliances but can trigger power surges. Lightning strikes on power lines can produce a large voltage that overwhelms the electrical system. To protect your devices during severe storms, unplug any devices without surge protection.
• Power Outages or Blackouts: Power outages caused by large-scale power grid failures don't usually pose risks. However, when power is restored following an outage, a sudden jump in current can occur, potentially damaging appliances and devices without surge protectors.

How Often Do Power Surges Occur?

Power surges are relatively common occurrences. While the standard U.S. voltage is 120V, the actual voltage constantly fluctuates between a few volts to 169 volts. Harmful power surges typically happen when the voltage exceeds 170 volts. Although homes can go years without experiencing significant surges, lightning or faulty wiring are usually responsible for the most severe ones.

Prevent Power Surges & Protect Your Investments

To safeguard against power surges, there are steps you can take both internally and externally:

• Preventing Internal Power Surges: Avoid overloading circuits by ensuring devices are not drawing excessive power. Large appliances like air conditioners should have dedicated sockets and ensure your wiring is up to code.
• Preventing External Power Surges: Although external power surges are sometimes unavoidable, you can still minimize damage. Unplug devices during severe storms and consider using surge protectors that block excess voltage. For comprehensive protection, consider installing a whole-house surge protector.

Recognizing the Signs of an Impending Power Surge

Knowing the signs indicating an upcoming power surge can help you protect your devices. Look out for:

• Flickering, buzzing, or dimming lights
• Frayed wiring
• Discoloration or scorching around outlets or wires
• Smoke or a burning smell emanating from outlets
• Warm or vibrating outlets
• Unusual odors near outlets
• Flashing lights on digital clocks, unexpected device shutdowns, or acrid smells indicating a power surge has already occurred

Prevent Power Surges from Damaging Your Electronics

In addition to unplugging devices when not in use, here are some measures to protect against power surges:

• Use point-of-use surge protection devices, especially with a reliable grounding system.
• Install special wall outlets with built-in surge protection.
• Consider the value of the equipment you want to protect when selecting surge protectors. Higher joule ratings offer excellent protection against voltage spikes, making them suitable for valuable devices or those prone to lightning-related surges.

Responding to a Power Surge

After a power surge, it's crucial to take the following steps:

• Before resetting circuit breakers after a power outage, reset, unplug, and power on all electronic devices.
• Inspect appliances, electronics, and power outlets for any signs of damage. 
• At Advanced Electrical Co., LLC, we offer emergency electrical troubleshooting, same-day services, free estimates, and a comprehensive service warranty. 

Choose Advanced Electrical Co., LLC for Surge Protection in Birmingham, AL

With over 40 years of experience in residential wiring and electrical systems, Advanced Electrical Co., LLC is committed to protecting your home in the best possible way. We utilize top-quality equipment, and our licensed electricians adhere to the highest standards of power surge installation practices.

Don't let power surges jeopardize your electronics. Contact Advanced Electrical Co., LLC for a free estimate on power surge installation in Birmingham, AL. Our team offers expert service, same-day appointments, and comprehensive warranties. Safeguard your home and protect your investments from power surges by contacting us today.

For surge protector cost estimates or electrical troubleshooting, contact us today. Call (205) 512-2261 to schedule your appointment. We provide free inspections, same-day service, and warranties.