Homeowners often think power surges only happen during lightning storms. While lightning is one cause, it isn’t the only one. Utility grid activity, restoring power after outages and large household appliances cycling can all create electrical surges inside your home.
These surges don’t just threaten televisions and computers. These surges can cause HVAC electrical damage because today’s heating and cooling systems rely on highly sensitive electronic components. The good news is HVAC surge protection can help protect one of your home’s biggest investments and reduce the risk of costly repairs.
What Is a Power Surge
A power surge in your home is a sudden spike in electrical voltage that travels through your home’s wiring. Although it lasts only a fraction of a second, it still can damage electronic components.
Lightning is 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. Major appliances like refrigerators or HVAC systems can also create small voltage fluctuations when they cycle on and off. Sometimes, loose wiring or other home electrical issues contribute to surges.
Though a single significant surge can cause immediate damage, smaller surges can slowly wear down heating and air conditioning systems over time, shortening their lifespan.
Why Modern HVAC Systems Require Better Surge Protection
Today’s heating and cooling systems use advanced electronics to improve comfort and energy efficiency. Even though hese advanced features offer many benefits, they can also make equipment more vulnerable to damage from voltage spikes, highlighting the importance of HVAC electrical protection.
HVAC parts that are especially sensitive to power surges include:
- Electronic circuit boards. They function as the system’s control center and can be damaged by even minimal voltage spikes.
- Energy-efficient variable-speed motors. These energy-saving motors rely on electronic controls that are susceptible to electric surges.
- Smart thermostats. Smart home devices are made with delicate electronics that control your HVAC equipment.
- HVAC system communication controls. Modern heating and cooling systems use electronic communication between indoor and outdoor units for energy-efficient operation.
- Inverter technology. Variable-capacity HVAC systems use sophisticated electronics that benefit from surge protection.
Which HVAC Components Need the Most Protection?
Damage from voltage spikes can cost hundreds or even more to repair or replace. Installing whole-house surge protection helps reduce the risk of unexpected failures and expensive HVAC repair after power surge incidents.
HVAC components that are frequently damaged by power surges in Yukon include:
- Control boards:Protecting your HVAC system’s control board safeguards its primary.
- Compressors. This component is one of the costliest parts of an air conditioner or heat pump to replace.
- Blower motors.Power surges can damage motors that circulate conditioned air throughout your home.
- Capacitors. Surges can weaken or damage these components, reducing system startup and performance.
- Smartthermostats. Electronic thermostats can malfunction after multiple voltage spikes.
- Heat pumpelectronics. Heat pump systems depend on multiple electronic components which are vulnerable to surges.
Whole-Home Surge Protection vs. Power Strips
Many people use surge-protecting power strips for computers and televisions, but power strips don’t protect your furnace or air conditioner. For HVAC system protection, whole-home surge protection offers broader coverage and long-term value.
A professionally installed whole-house surge protector is connected at your home’s electrical panel. Rather than protecting only one outlet, the system helps safeguard major appliances and electronics throughout your house, including your HVAC equipment.
Benefits of Whole-Home HVAC Surge Protection
Adding whole-home surge protection is an effective way to protect your HVAC investment while also working to safeguard other valuable electronics throughout your home.
Benefits of whole-home HVAC surge protection include:
- Fewer repair costs. Reducing surge damage can help reduce expensive HVAC repairs.
- Longer HVAC equipmentlife. Electronic HVAC components experience reduced electrical stress over time when properly protected.
- Protection of homeelectronics. In addition to protecting your HVAC, a whole-home surge protector also shields appliances, computers and entertainment systems.
- Added confidence during severe weather. Homeowners gain added confidence when severe storms strike your area.
- Protection from everyday electrical fluctuations. Even small, routine surges can gradually damage electronic HVAC equipment.
5 Signs Your Home Could Benefit from Surge Protection
- Frequent storms. Given the strong summer storms in Yukon, lightning protection for your HVAC can help reduce the risk of power surge damage.
- Power outages or flickering lights. Ongoing power interruptions and changing voltage levels increase the likelihood of damaging voltage spikes.
- Older electrical systems. Old wiring or obsolete electrical equipment can add to your home’s surge risk.
- Expensive HVAC equipment. Shielding a high-efficiency heating and cooling system by installing whole-home surge protection is often far less costly than repairing or replacing damaged components.
- Connected home technology. Homes with connected thermostats and other connected devices have even more sensitive electronics to protect.
Expert Surge Protection Installation Is Important
Whole-home surge protection must be professionally installed to provide consistent protection. Working with licensed HVAC and electrical professionals like the team at Comfort Concepts Heating & Air Conditioning helps ensure the surge protection device is properly installed and ready to protect your home HVAC system.
The skilled professionals at Comfort Concepts Heating & Air Conditioning understand the unique electrical needs of modern HVAC equipment and will recommend the right surge protector for your AC, furnace and other home comfort systems.
Protect Your HVAC Investment from Future Power Surges
Power surges aren’t always obvious, but they can have a big impact on your heating and cooling equipment. Adding whole-home surge protection is a proactive way to help prevent costly repairs, extend equipment life and improve the reliability of your HVAC system.
If you’re ready to learn more about AC or furnace surge protection, you can count on the team at . Our HVAC services include a variety of surge protection options, including whole-home surge protection systems. Our professionals will evaluate your home’s needs and suggest a customized solution to protect your home HVAC. In addition to surge protection, we provide all electrical services for the rest of your home.
Find out how surge protection can help safeguard your HVAC equipment. Schedule service online or call 405-494-7444 today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Whole-Home Surge protection for HVAC
Is HVAC surge protection a good investment?
In most cases, yes. Whole-house surge protection is often a smart investment because it helps protect expensive HVAC equipment. The cost of installing surge protection is typically much lower than repairing or replacing damaged furnace or air conditioner components, and it helps extend the life of your home comfort system.
Can an electrical surge damage an AC unit?
Absolutely. A power surge can damage your AC unit’s compressor, circuit board and blower motor, resulting in expensive repairs. AC surge protection helps protect your air conditioner from electrical surges by reducing the impact of voltage spikes before they reach sensitive HVAC components.
What are the common causes of power surges throughout a home?
Power surges are most commonly caused by lightning strikes, utility grid switching, power outages, power restoration and large appliances cycling on and off. Power surges may also stem from problems within your home’s electrical system. Repeated minor power surges can gradually wear down HVAC components over time.
How long does a whole-home surge protector last?
A typical whole-home surge protector lasts about 5 to 10 years, although actual service life 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 power surge damage?
It depends. Homeowners insurance can cover power surge damage, but coverage depends on your policy and the reason for the surge. With policy limits and deductibles varying, surge protection installation is often a smart way to avoid paying for preventable and expensive HVAC repairs.
Does a surge protector help protect smart thermostats?
Yes. Power surge protection for HVAC helps safeguard smart thermostats and other connected HVAC components from electrical surges. It can also improve system lifespan and reduce the risk of extensive repairs to home heating and cooling equipment.
