How Do I Protect My Home Appliances From High Voltage?

High voltage is a problem that plagues many households. Despite the safety precautions you take when using electrical devices, voltage fluctuations can still damage your home appliances. 

Surges can damage your computers, televisions, and other big-ticket items, making them an especially vulnerable target for damage. In order to protect your devices, you need to understand the dangers of high voltage. 

High voltage can come from a variety of reasons, including malfunctioning electrical equipment. It can disrupt the electrical flow of your home for a fraction of a second. You can't always predict when a power surge will happen, so you need to protect your home appliances with appropriate protection. 

Lightning strikes are particularly dangerous because they can penetrate telephone lines, TVs, and other electrical equipment. Lightning is one of the most common causes of power surges, and it can enter your home through phone or cable lines.

If you want to know how to protect your home appliances from high voltage, continue reading this article. 

What Is a High Voltage Problem?

High voltage is a situation when the electricity voltage in your house exceeds the limit. For example, if the regular power supply is 240V, during a high voltage problem, it will cross the normal threshold. When the power goes beyond 240V, it results in high voltage. It is a very serious condition and can damage your expensive electrical appliances. 

Fortunately, a solution to the problem exists: there are several different ways to fix a high voltage problem. One option is to install a voltage-reducing transformer. Some offices and factories have dedicated transformers and substations to lower their voltage. But it's not always possible to do this. There's an upper limit to how much output you can get out of voltage optimization equipment. But it's still worth considering as it can save you money and protect your equipment.

To detect high voltage, you'll need to understand your home's electrical usage. Your 240-volt appliances may be running, including your air conditioner, electric water heater, and clothes dryer. A high voltage reading is affected by the number of such appliances that are running, as well as every 120-volt circuit in your home. If you notice any difference between the first reading and the current that you see on your meter, go back and tear up your voltage map.

How Can Voltage Fluctuations Damage Home Appliances?

Electric appliances like a microwave, hairdryer, or food processor all run at a certain voltage. They usually run on a range of between one and three thousand watts. Because of this, you need to make sure your home electrical supply is steady and smooth. The good news is that low voltage rarely causes serious damage to home appliances, but high voltage certainly does. 

Sometimes, electricity surges are inevitable, particularly during lightning or malfunction. A power surge can damage plugged-in appliances and devices. If you don't have a surge protector installed on your appliances, you're risking damage. If more power is supplied to the appliance, there will be a short circuit, and the appliance will stop working. It can also result in hazards and fires. 

When a power surge occurs, it produces enough heat to destroy electrical components. Wire casings can melt and expose wires, posing a potential electrocution risk. The heat generated by power surges can also warp circuit boards and short circuit capacitors and even cause the appliances to catch fire. When this happens, you'll spend a lot of money fixing the unit and possibly buying a new one.

How to Protect Home Appliances from Power Surge?

If you want to protect your home appliances from power surges, you need to have a good surge protector installed. You can install a whole-house surge protector or get added protection for specific devices. Here are some things you can do to protect the appliances. 

· Install a Whole-House Surge Protector

Power surges can come from a number of different sources, including the power grid and even inside your house. Power surges may occur during power grid switching or when you turn on or off large appliances. While large power surges can be devastating, small surges can significantly shorten the lifespan of sensitive electronics. However, you can install a whole-house surge protector to protect all the devices in your house from high voltage. When choosing a whole-house surge protector, you must consider your home's configuration and the types of electronics and appliances you use. A power strip will provide an additional outlet for plugged-in items, but a true surge protector will detail how much protection it provides. When buying a whole-house surge protector, consider your specific appliances and electronics, as well as how frequently your household is at risk for high-voltage events.

· Have Added Protection for Specific Devices

Most home appliances have circuit boards that require additional protection from power surges. Even new LED bulbs require surge protection. In addition, personal gadgets, such as a laptop or cell phones, contain essential data and may be compromised by a sudden power surge. While most power surges are brief and harmless, even the smallest one can ruin an appliance's performance or shorten its lifespan. Fortunately, surge protectors are designed to prevent these problems. So to protect the appliances, you can go for added protection like using a voltage stabilizer or power strip with surge protection. It will help you to protect individual devices in the house.

· Upgrade Your AC Unit

If you want to ensure that your air conditioner is protected against power surges, you should install a surge protector. Air conditioners are sensitive electronic appliances that can be ruined by sudden fluctuations in voltage. You can protect your air conditioner with an Intermatic Compressor Defender surge protector. It can help you save money and keep your unit functioning properly. It also protects your home appliances from power surges. 

· Unplug Devices During a Storm

Before the storm, you should unplug all electrical devices, including your television, computer, and even your microwave oven. If you live near a storm, you should unplug appliances as soon as you detect signs of an approaching storm. Lightning strikes begin the storm and can produce more than 300 million volts. Lightning can cause damage to circuit boards. Unplugging devices now will help you avoid a costly electrical repair later. Unplugging home appliances is a wise way to protect them from a power surge. 

· Inspect Your Wiring

One of the best ways to protect your home appliances from a power surge is to inspect your wiring. Faulty wiring can cause power surges and can damage plugged-in appliances. It's important to have your home's wiring checked at least every few years by a licensed electrician to ensure that everything is working properly. If you notice signs of faulty wiring in your home, it may be time to have it replaced.