After 100+ hours of research & testing, we’re comfortable recommending the EATON CHSPT2ULTRA as the best whole house surge protector for your dollar due to its’ universal compatibility, notification features and ease of install. Our original pick when first conducting tests was the Siemens FS140, but after the the release of the 3rd edition of the CHSPT2ULTRA, we’ve since revised our top recommendation.
The Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA is a highly popular Type 2 SPD, even earning the title of “Amazon’s Choice.” It is a great value for the price, considering all of its unique features and outstanding efficiency. The device is also equipped with modes of protection for 4 different kinds of voltage. It also has a variety of LEDs to notify you of any changes in the system. The installation process is quick and easy and the device’s functionality is fairly straightforward. It can be used both indoors and outdoors and has a maximum surge per phase of 108 kA. If your rental property has a larger breaker and is equipped with #14 wire, then the Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA is the ideal choice for you. Keep in mind that you may need to purchase another circuit breaker to make sure the SPD fits your power panel. All in all, this SPD is an excellent choice for your rental property when factoring in budget and reliability. Read More >
Siemens is a trusted, well-known brand that will surely keep your property and your appliances protected. With a variety of visual alerts, you will always know the current status of your power. If you don’t want to rely on LEDs alone, this SPD is great because it also has an audible alarm for notifications. This way, you can troubleshoot any issues without having to be directly in front of the unit. It’s a very robust product that is extremely sturdy and dependable. This product takes all the guesswork out of knowing when it is time for equipment to be replaced. While the Siemens FS140 is quite expensive, it’s worth it for highlh-rated protection and reliability. Read More >
This SPD by Siemens is very straightforward to operate. It provides the basic coverage that an SPD should without being ridiculously expensive. WHile this is a solid product, it definitely isn’t as reliable as its brother, the Siemens FS140, which offers a variety of features and notifiers. However, these features do come at a significant price. This SPD is also quite large and it needs supplemental equipment for it to work properly. However, it does effectively protect your devices and is the perfect replacement for old lightning arrestors that were common in the 2000s and earlier. Read More >
This SPD by Schneider is sleek, compact, and minimalistic and offers optimal protection for every electronic in your rental. It is super easy to install; only requiring you to use a few screws and snap the modules into place. The device also offers amazing flexibility for functionality and application, allowing you to customize the SPD any way you want. For 200 bucks, you can adequately protect your property and elongate the service life of all your gadgets and appliances. You also get a 5-year warranty with up to $75,000 in coverage. Read More >
The Square D HEPD80 device by Schneider is one of the most affordable SPDs on the market and it doesn’t cmpromise quality. It provides real-time notifications with LEDs at the front of the device. You can have peace of mind with the HEPD80 device since it is UL 1449 certified and CSA 3rd Edition Type 1 SPD approved. This SPD can be used inside and outside and it’s very easy to install and get working. You really can’t beat it for the price, plus it comes with a five-year warranty. Read More >
This durable, well-made SPD is built to last long and keep all your electronics protected. The one thing about this SPD is that you do need to use it inside, unlike other SPDs on this list that can be used both indoors and outdoors. It’s also pretty expensive, considering its hefty metal construction. However, it’s well worth the money with its high ratings and specifications. It also displays all of the device’s information at once, so you can always be in the loop. Read More >
This Panel Guard from Intermatic is a Type 2 SPD that adds extensive coverage to the appliances and devices in your rental property. It provides all the essential features that you need in an SPD, and at just under $100, it’s an excellent value. The NEMA rating on this product is a bit lower compared to other SPDs and it isn’t the best quality in terms of design, but it gets the job done and it’s cheaper than replacing equipment. Read More >
In addition to Type 1 and Type 2 SPDs, there are also Type 3 SPDs. A lot of people make the mistake of only putting Type 3s in their homes, but those SPDs should be strictly supplemental. Those are just basic surge strips to help you plug in multiple devices. After choosing a good Type 1 or Type 2 whole home surge protector, you should place a few Type 3 SPDs in the power outlets of your property. This SPD by OviiTech is one of the best Type 3s on the market. It provides great surge protection for mobile devices and has 6 different power outlets as well as 2 USB ports. The lights also let you know if the plugged in gadgets are grounded and protected, although some people do complain that the strip on top is always lit up. However, it’s a great product and a very adequate charging station for all your tenant’s electronic needs. Read More >
When deciding on the right whole home surge protector for your rental property, consider the following factors:
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.
EDITOR’S NOTE: in addition to the whole house surge protectors listed in the first half of this article, we also reviewed the following:
This page will be updated with reviews of new products as they are released.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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