How Much Does a Whole House Surge Protector Installation Cost?

Did you know lightning strikes can cause power surges and property damage? According to a report by the Insurance Information Institute, lightning strikes 20 million US homes every year, leading to over billion worth of property damages annually.

These unfortunate events make having surge protectors at home even more crucial.

When it comes to protecting your home’s electrical system from power surges, a whole-house surge protector is an essential tool. We created a whole house surge protector installation cost guide to help you better understand the fees involved with owning this device. Let’s get started!

A whole house surge protector is a device that is installed at the main electrical panel of a home. It works by diverting excess voltage from electrical surges away from sensitive devices and appliances, and into the grounding wire of the home’s electrical system.

The purpose is to prevent damage to electrical devices and appliances, as well as to reduce the risk of electrical fires.

There are three types of surge protectors that you can install in your home:

The brand also plays a major role in the cost of the whole-house surge protector installation. To give you an idea, a unit may cost about $70 to $350 depending on its size and functionality.

Some popular brands that are typically more expensive are the following:

• Leviton
• Siemens
• Eaton
• Square D
• Intermatic

A whole home surge protector is a one-time investment, which means that it is more commonly replaced than repaired. You can think of these devices like sponges, but instead of absorbing liquid, house surge protectors absorb the excess and unsafe power surges before it reaches your appliances.

On average, a home power surge protector can last anywhere from 3 to 5 years. With regular inspection from us, we can help ensure that the device is properly working, and has not yet run out of power.

As an electrician, there are both advantages and drawbacks to installing whole house surge protectors for your electrical panel. Here are the key takeaways about having surge protectors installed:

• Protects all electronic devices from power surges
• Provides constant whole-house surge protection 
• Helps reduce the risk of electrical fires and other safety hazards
• Cost-effective
• Increases the home’s resale value

• Can be very expensive to install
• Not 100% foolproof
• May require professional maintenance to check for functionality

Yes, whole-house surge protectors do work to protect homes from electrical surges. As an electrician with years of experience with power strips and whole home protectors, I can attest that they actually work! 

There is also one study from the National Institute of Standards and Technology stating that a surge protector can significantly reduce the risk of damage to electronic devices caused by power surges.

The mechanism behind this is that the surge protection device redirects the excess voltage away from sensitive electrical devices and appliances, and into the grounding wire of the home’s electrical system.

Whole house surge protectors can be your first line of defense to protect your expensive devices and appliances from getting damaged due to a power surge. If you’re ready to have one installed at your home, Assurance Electrical Services is right here, 24/7!

Our professional electricians are always ready to answer any questions that you may have regarding whole home surge protectors. Give us a call today.