How to Choose a Whole Home Surge Protector
When deciding on the right whole home surge protector for your rental property, consider the following factors:
- Your property’s outlet volt service. Most homes in the United States are equipped with basic 120-volt power outlets. These have been in use since the early 1950s and are the standard outlets for residences in North America. They have two parallel rectangular slots and a round hole for the ground wire. Most outlets are “duplex” receptacles, with two places to plug in electrical devices. Devices that require 110 volts can still be plugged into 120-volt power outlets. Larger appliances may need 240 volts of power; outlets for these machines tend to be configured differently to accommodate them. A home with standard 120-volt service can be adequately protected with an 80kA-rated surge protector. Chances are your property is not going to see large spikes of 50kA to 100kA.
- Whether or not the SPD is UL Certified. It’s important that the whole home surge protector you choose is certified under the UL 1449 3rd Edition and listed as a Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor (TVSS) on the equipment label.
- The Voltage Protective Rating (VPR). Check to see what the VPR is for each mode of protection. The VPR represents how much voltage is still let through to your property’s equipment after the surge protector has done its job. When comparing VPRs, remember that the lower the rating, the better.
- The Maximum Continuous Operating Voltage (MCOV). The MCOV is probably the most important factor to consider when evaluating a whole home surge protector for your rental. The higher the MCOV, the better, and it should never be lower than 115% of the system’s nominal voltage for both Line to Neutral and Line to Line. For example, if you’re looking at a 120V/240V unit, the L-N MCOV should be at least 138V and the L-L MCOV should be at least 276V. If it’s not, then the surge protector isn’t well-suited for your property.
- The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) enclosure type. A typical NEMA enclosure might be rated to provide protection against environmental hazards such as water, dust, oil or coolant or atmospheres containing corrosive agents such as acetylene or gasoline. You can learn all about the different types here.
- Warranty. Of course, you will want to know what type of warranty is offered for the whole home surge protector you choose to make sure you will be covered in the future.
- Value. Last but not least, you should consider the overall value of the SPD. Look for a product that provides the most protection and features for a price that fits your rental business budget.
The Three Types of Whole Home Surge Protectors
- Type 1: A Type 1 SPD is the first line of defense for power surges from the grid. They protect against external power surges, such as those caused by lightning or when your power company switches capacitor banks on your power grid. Type 1 SPDs are installed on the “line side” of your main service entrance, between the utility pole and your power meter, right where electricity comes into your property. The main drawback of these whole home surge protectors is that the power company has to get involved with installation. This is because your service panel needs to be shut off while it’s being installed.
- Type 2: A Type 2 SPD is installed at your “branch panel (more commonly referred to as your breaker panel or load center). It’s called your branch panel because it “branches” the power coming from your service panel out to all the circuits in your house. A Type 2 SPD (sometimes called a “panel protector”) wires directly to a dual-pole breaker in your panel, and can protect all the circuits in that panel, as well as any sub-panels that might be connected downstream.
- Type 3: Type 3 SPDs are installed at “points of use” around the home. This means you plug the device(s) you want to protect directly into an outlet on the Type 3 surge protector, then plug the surge protector into a standard power outlet. Most people use Type 3 devices as their first and only protection against power surges, but they’re actually designed to be the third and final option to provide security to your property’s devices. Type 3 SPDs are great to supplement another type of whole home surge protector since they are inexpensive and effectively prevent damage to equipment.
Why You Need a Whole Home Surge Protector
As society and technology continue to advance, residential properties are in more need of whole home surge protection today than ever. People have many more electronics and are using them much more often. Most lighting systems, like LEDs, and appliances, like washers and dryers, use circuit boards to operate, meaning they’re highly liable for power surges. Your tenants likely have an abundance of electronic devices — people are plugging in more gadgets now than ever — so it’s important to ensure your electricity is protected.
While power surges can sometimes happen because of lightning strikes, they usually occur because of internal malfunctions. 80 percent of surges come in short, intense bursts and primarily caused by the device users. It’s rare for transient surges to make the property’s entire power go out or break a whole appliance, but they do add up over time and degrade electronics’ performance. Sensitive electronics are at higher risk.
Power surges tend to happen in machines like AC units and appliances, so you may be wondering why you need a protector for the whole house. The answer is simple: a whole home surge protector will block the surges from affecting other devices in the property, thereby protecting every outlet and all the wiring. By redirecting the power surge to the breaker panel, the whole home surge protector will defend all aspects of your rental’s electricity. Considering all of the benefits whole home surge protectors provide, every household should be equipped with a suitable one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to install a whole home surge protector?
The cost to install a whole home surge protector ranges from $300-$800. The average price for a standard whole home surge protector is ~$150. To have a professional install it, you’re looking at spending a couple extra hundred dollars.
Are whole home surge protectors a good idea?
Yes, whole home surge protectors are a good idea. A whole home surge protector can save you thousands of dollars in broken equipment. Over 50% of power surges are internal. Most of these surges are too small to be detected, but they can still hurt your electronics. A whole home surge protector keeps your equipment from being hurt or destroyed by these surges.
What does a whole home surge protector do?
A whole home surge protector monitors the electricity. The surge protector will wait for any “overflows”, or spikes in voltages. If the surge protector detects a spike in voltage, it absorbs the voltage before it can reach any of your electronics or appliances.
Different whole home surge protectors are rated for different voltage protection ratings (VPRs). The smaller the VPR, the lower voltage required for the surge protector to detect and absorb the extra voltage.
How often should a whole home surge protector be replaced?
You should replace your whole home surge protector every two years or so. However, the lifespan of your surge protector heavily depends on how many surges run through your house every day.
The coating that absorbs the extra voltage, the metal oxide varistor, wears off with each absorption. The safe thing to do is to replace a whole home surge protector every two years, but they can last longer.
Who makes the best whole home surge protector?
EATON makes the best whole home surge protector, the EATON CHSPT2ULTRA Ultimate Surge Protection 3rd Edition. Not only does their surge protector come with different voltage options and LED lights for easy notifications, it’s relatively cheap, costing around $110.
There are cheaper surge protectors, but EATON’s offering doesn’t sacrifice quality for the price, making it our best rated surge protector. It’s easy to install as well, so people without any electrical experience can install it themselves.
Do whole home surge protectors work against lightning?
Yes, whole home surge protectors work against lightning. However, be warned that they can’t 100% protect your appliances; the only way to 100% protect your electronics is to unplug them from the wall during a storm.
Whole home surge protectors do improve the chances of your electronics making it alive out of the storm, however, so they’re still worth the investment.
Can a surge protector trip a breaker?
Surge protectors can trip a breaker, though most protectors and breakers work well together. Some surge protectors require stand-alone circuit breakers to function properly. You also need to find out the impedance of the circuit breaker and surge protector in order to determine compatibility.
What is the difference between a power strip and a surge protector?
The main difference between a surge protector and a power strip lies in how well they protect connected devices. A surge protector uses a metal coating to absorb any extra voltage and electricity that pass through. A power strip only adds extra outlets for you to use.
A surge protector can act as a power strip, but a power strip can’t act as a surge protector.
What is the best whole home surge protector?
The EATON CHSPT2ULTRA Ultimate Surge Protection 3rd Edition is the best whole home surge protector on the market, in terms of value and quality, according to our product experts. With 4 different voltage modes, LED notifications and an easy-to-install mounting panel, the EATON Ultimate 3rd Edition offers the best bang for your buck while maintaining quality.
What does a whole home surge protector cost?
The cost of a whole home surge protector can range from $100 to $250. The price of a whole home surge protector depends on a few factors, including but not limited to:
- Ease of installation
- How much voltage it can absorb
- Lifespan
The average surge protector costs around $150, and unless your house experiences major power surges everyday, you don’t need to spend more than that.
How do whole home surge protectors work?
Whole home surge protectors work by absorbing any extra voltage through a metal coating–metal oxide varistor, to be specific. The amount of voltage a surge protector can absorb depends heavily depends on the amount it’s rated for, known as the voltage protection rating..
For example, a surge protector rated for 600 VPR will only absorb any voltage past 600.
What are Type 1 surge protection devices (SPDs)?
Type 1 surge protection is known as “service entrance” surge protection. These surge protectors are installed before the main breaker of a building. The power goes through a transformer, then through the type 1 surge protector, and only then does the power enter the building.
A type 1 surge protector can defend homes from massive voltage spikes, but they’re expensive and require a certified technician to install. Also, type 1 surge protectors don’t defend against smaller surges.
What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 surge protection?
Type 1 surge protectors and Type 2 surge protectors differ when it comes to installation and defense. Type 1 surge protectors are expensive to install and can’t be installed by anyone but certified technicians. They can also defend against massive power surges, but not smaller surges.
Type 2 surge protectors are easy to install and can be done by anyone. They’re cheaper too, though you’ll still spend around $100 for a quality one. Type 2 surge protectors protect against both small and large surges, though they offer less protection than a type 1.