Spring storms are right around the corner. While the chances of lightning striking homes in the metro Atlanta area are quite small, that doesn’t mean that you won’t experience an outage, spikes in the electrical current, or even a fire. Have you done your storm prep?
Lightning Rods Aren’t for Everyone
If you grew up in a rural area, you are probably all too familiar with lightning strikes that hit the house. You may remember being told not to be in the shower or touch metal doorknobs during a storm. So, why is it different in the city and suburbs? Well, it’s basically because there are too many other things to hit besides your home. Lightening is typically attracted to the tallest structure around, whether that’s a tree or a skyscraper.
So, your average homeowner doesn’t have to worry too much about installing a lightning rod. The exception is if you live in a very tall home or have trees taller than your house that are less than 10 feet away. In that case, a lightning rod will do an excellent job of rerouting the electricity into the ground.
Are My Surge Protectors Enough?
I would venture to guess that just about everyone is armed with a few surge protectors around the house. It’s wise to invest in protecting your electronic devices and appliances. Some power surges, however, can be too intense for a plug-in surge protector to handle. Not only could circuits be fried, but plastic components could melt, and fires could be started.
Whole Home Surge Protection
Power surges can come from outside or inside your home. They can happen as the result of a storm, a transformer issue, or other spikes beyond your control. Those fluctuations can be just as dangerous to your devices as a thunderstorm!
The best way for homeowners to protect their home is to have surge protection where electricity is regulated as well as where it might enter a device or appliance.
- Circuit Breaker Device
Degrades the intensity of the current
– Suppresses excess voltage before it’s channeled throughout your home - Point-of-use Devices (plug-in surge protectors)
Eliminates any residual excess current
– Gives an extra layer of protection to TV’s, computers, medical equipment, etc.
This dual layer of protection gives you the best protection from any type of power surge. The Circuit Breaker Device will effectively reduce the voltage coming into your home so that your Point-of-use Devices don’t get overloaded. For added protection, you can also have a special device installed on your A/C condenser, provided that it didn’t come with one. So, the next time gray clouds roll in, you won’t have to run around unplugging anything of value at the first crack of thunder!
The Benefits of a Backup Generator
Surge protection will protect your home from damage so you can pick right back up when the power comes on again. But, wouldn’t it be nice if you could still have power when the rest of the neighborhood is in the dark? That’s when a generator can be really nice to have!
Before buying a generator, you will need to think about how it will be used in order to determine how much power will need to be produced and for how long. A small one will keep your lights and a few key circuits up and running. But, if you want your household to function as normal, you’ll need something with much more output. Some are used strictly for emergencies while others work continuously to increase the available power to your home.
Choose Your Power Priorities:
- Home Office
- Air Conditioner
- Refrigerator
- Washer / Dryer
- Medical Equipment
- Gaming System
- Music Room
- Pool Equipment
- Irrigation Controls
- Home Theater
- Lights – of course!
As far as powering a generator, it can usually be connected to your natural gas line. Otherwise, various types of fuel tanks can be used. Of course, the tank will eventually run out of fuel, so the longer-term option is to use your gas line, when possible.
How Do I Install a Generator?
In order to install a backup generator in Georgia, you are going to want an experienced electrician to ensure it is done safely and in accordance with local, state and national electrical codes. Attempting to install a generator on your own, or even hiring a handyman for the job, can lead to major problems.
We Can Help
When it comes down to the safe installation of a whole house surge protection system or a home generator, we’ve got experts on staff to handle the job. We can evaluate your needs, help you choose the best options, install the unit(s), and offer an affordable maintenance plan to keep everything in top running condition. Give us a call and we’ll gladly take a look!