Surge Protector Safety Over the Holidays

12/11/2017 (Permalink)

Make sure you are careful with your surge protectors this winter!

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there are about 250 fatalities every year during the holiday season that are attributed to electrical fires and hazards associated with Christmas trees and holiday lighting. What a tragic statistic! We don't want you or the ones you love to experience anything like that this holiday season, so please make sure you have surge protectors in your home and keep the following in mind to protect your family and property.

What Causes Electrical Surges?

Electrical surges occur more frequently than many people realize, but they are not always massive. Large surges can occur when lightning strikes or when electrical devices with powerful motors are suddenly turned on. They can also occur after a power outage when electricity is suddenly restored throughout your house.

These surges can cause fires, melt plastic, fuse metal and completely destroy delicate electrical equipment like computers, smartphones, and tablets. Small surges also take place when circuits are modestly overloaded with several electrical devices running simultaneously, as is often the case during the holidays when holiday lights are on and visitors are all charging their devices.

Purpose of a Surge Protector

Electricity can be a blessing and a curse for every homeowner. That amazing power that enables all your lights, appliances, and electronics to come to life can be unpredictable and dangerous when an electrical surge occurs.

Surge protectors are designed to detect surges in electricity and cut off the electrical current to prevent damage to your electrical devices such as televisions, computers, and kitchen appliances. Failure to have these safety devices installed can lead to burnt out electrical equipment and even fire damage. Don't take the risk – use surge protectors throughout your home.

Difference Between Surge Protectors and Power Strips

Many homeowners believe that they already have surge protectors in place and that their electronics and holiday lights are all safe and well. But that is often not the case. What many people have in their homes are power strips but not surge protectors. A power strip acts to increase the number of devices that can be powered by a single electrical wall outlet, but they cannot shut off the power flow when an electrical surge flares up.

Some power strips have surge protectors built into them, but many simply have an on/off switch but offer no real protection. To prevent fire damage and ensure your family's safety this holiday season, make sure that you have actual surge protectors installed and not just your basic power strips.

If your home has suffered fire damage and you are in need of professional cleaning services, please don't hesitate to contact SERVPRO of Waycross / Hinesville / Douglas. Our friendly and experienced professionals are happy to answer your questions and help with all your cleaning needs.