An electrical surge can be caused by various factors both internal and external. An example of an internal cause is when a motorized device uses up more voltage than your circuit can handle. In the case of external factors, when lightning or tree branches come in contact with your power line, a surge may occur. Irrespective of the cause, power surges can severely damage electronic devices. And when you happen to face one, the last thing you need to do is panic.
Even though most people know that electrical surges can cause blackouts in their homes or places of work. They really don’t know what they are, their causes, and most importantly how to handle them.
What is a Power Surge?
Nearly all electrical devices surrounding you operate on a voltage ranging from 0 to 169. Power surges occur when the voltage exceeds the peak voltage of 169. As mentioned earlier, it can occur when the flow of electricity in your grid is interrupted. Or when a device plugged into a socket inputs power instead of drawing it.
Tips How to Handle Electrical Surges
Power surges are quite common and in most cases, they rarely cause any significant damage. It’s only in scenarios such as lightning strikes when wires and circuits can be destroyed in seconds. The steps below will help you handle surges that may occur in the future.
- Reset and Re–power
Most people are always eager to ask what is the procedure to fix power surges. Well, this is the first and most important step. Immediately reset and unplug all electronic appliances. Then reset your circuit breaker. This last step should be done when the surge has caused a blackout.
- Evaluate the Extent of Damage
Never underestimate the outcomes of an electrical surge no matter how simple the cause may seem. This is why you should always check if any of your electronic appliances are damaged. Be very thorough in your evaluation because short circuits if not handled well, they pose a risk of fire. Surges caused by major factors like floods and lightning require a lot of caution when evaluating the damage. It is advisable to get professional assistance to assess electrical threats and make repairs.
- Reset Your Heating and Cooling Systems
Having confirmed that everything else is okay, the final step is to reset your HVAC system. If you don’t know how to do so, refer to your manual or better yet ask an HVAC’s expert that can assist you. Also, please be advised that should your HVAC system start misbehaving, have a technician reset it for you.
Protecting Your Home from Power Surges
As people always say, prevention will always be better than cure. It’s better to take necessary protection measures to avoid the impact of power surges on your electrical devices. Some of the things you can do to prevent power surges are;
- Invest in a good surge protector
- Have your power outlets replaced with high-quality ones
- Form a habit of unplugging appliances when not in use
Should your appliances be damaged by a power surge, don’t hesitate to call for professional help. Also, never try fixing your electrical system after a power surge. Instead, bring in the experts to have a look at it and fix damages. It’s worth mentioning that should your home be experiencing frequent power surges, then it’s high time you upgrade your electrical system. If you’ll need Boulder Electrical Services, you can reach us @ 720-515 0933. Our Team will be happy to assist you.