What Causes Power Surges?

Power surges are sudden increases in electrical voltage that can happen in any home, often without warning. While they may seem like minor inconveniences, understanding what causes power surges can help you protect your multifamily properties and your tenants’ valuable electronic devices from damage.

When a building experiences a power surge, it can lead to malfunctioning appliances and costly repairs. Fortunately, with little knowledge, you can prevent them from occurring. This article explores the causes of power surges so you can take steps to safeguard the multiunit properties you manage.

What Is a Power Surge?

A power surge is a sudden spike in a building’s electrical voltage that exceeds the standard level supplied to your home’s electrical system. In most homes, electricity flows at a stable rate of around 120 volts, but this voltage can rise significantly during a power surge. When this happens, it can damage your electronic devices.

How Does a Power Surge Occur?

Power surges happen when something disrupts the normal flow of electricity. External factors like lightning strikes or internal factors like overloaded circuits or faulty wiring could cause this.

When the voltage jumps, it forces excess electricity into the system, which can overwhelm a building’s electrical infrastructure.

Small vs. Large Power Surges

Not all power surges are the same. Small, frequent surges often go unnoticed but gradually wear down appliances and electronics over time. Larger surges, like those caused by lightning, can cause immediate and significant damage, even frying entire circuits.

Common Causes of Power Surges

Power surges can occur for various reasons, both inside and outside the home. Here are some of the most common causes:

Lightning Strikes

Lightning strikes are a powerful external source of power surges. When lightning strikes near power lines or electrical systems, it can send a massive surge of electricity into the grid, overwhelming household circuits.

Even though most buildings have circuit breakers, lightning can bypass these protections, causing severe damage to electronics like computers, TVs, and appliances. A single strike can fry circuits instantly, leading to costly repairs and replacements.

Electrical Overloads

Electrical overloads occur when you plug too many devices into one circuit. These devices demand more electricity than the system can handle. A common scenario where an electrical overload can occur is when a tenant simultaneously uses multiple high-powered appliances like air conditioners, microwaves, and space heaters.

Overloads can cause the circuit to overheat and lead to power surges. Over time, frequent overloading can degrade wiring and increase the risk of more significant surges, so you’ll want to distribute electrical loads evenly across circuits.

Faulty Wiring

Faulty wiring is another common internal cause of power surges. Old or damaged wiring can create inconsistent electricity flow. The result is frequent power fluctuations and surges.

Warning signs of faulty wiring include frequent tripping of circuit breakers, buzzing outlets, or the smell of burning near appliances. Regular electrical inspections and timely repairs can help prevent surges caused by wiring issues.

Problems with Utility Company Equipment

Power surges can also originate from issues with the utility company’s equipment. Malfunctions at power plants, transformers, or other parts of the power grid can disrupt the flow of electricity and cause surges in homes.

Power grid switching, maintenance work, or even the restoration of power after an outage can result in surges that impact entire neighborhoods. While these surges are typically less intense than lightning strikes, they can still damage electronics if proper surge protection isn’t in place.

Effects of Power Surges on Electrical Devices

Power surges can damage electronic devices by sending an excess amount of electricity through their circuits. This sudden spike can burn out delicate components, leading to circuit damage or even complete failure of the device.

In some cases, power surges can also result in data loss, especially in computers and other devices that store important information.

Types of Damage

Surges can cause two types of damage: immediate and gradual.

Large surges, like those caused by lightning, can instantly fry circuits and render electronics useless.

On the other hand, smaller, frequent surges may not cause noticeable damage right away, but over time, they wear down the components inside devices, shortening their lifespan.

Affected Devices

Devices that could experience damage from a power surge include computers, televisions, gaming consoles, refrigerators, and washing machines. Any appliance or electronic device plugged into an outlet is vulnerable, making surge protection necessary to prevent long-term damage.

How to Prevent Power Surges

Power surges are unpredictable, but there are several effective ways to protect your home and electronics from damage:

Surge Protectors

Surge protectors limit the voltage that flows into electronics during a power surge. When the voltage spikes, the surge protector diverts the excess electricity away from connected devices, preventing circuit damage.

Using surge protectors for valuable electronics like computers, televisions, and gaming consoles protects them from sudden electrical spikes.

Unplugging Devices During Storms

Lightning strikes can cause powerful surges that even surge protectors may not handle. It’s a good idea to unplug sensitive electronics during storms to protect them from a lightning-induced surge. This simple step can prevent costly repairs or replacements.

Regular Electrical Inspections

Faulty wiring and overloaded circuits are common causes of internal surges. Scheduling regular electrical inspections can help identify and fix these issues before they lead to power surges. Proper maintenance ensures your home’s wiring remains safe and efficient.

Whole-House Surge Protection Systems

You can install whole-house surge protectors on your electrical panel. These devices provide broader protection against surges. Surge protection systems shield all the devices in a unit or home from damage, offering extra defense against larger surges.

Do What You Can to Prevent Power Surge Damage

Call Bolt Electric Today

Various factors can trigger power surges, including lightning strikes, electrical overloads, faulty wiring, and utility company issues. These surges can damage your electronic devices, so taking some preventative measures is advisable.

Bolt Electric can handle all your building’s electrical maintenance needs and recommend and install the best surge protector options for your buildings. Call us at 212.434.0098 to book an appointment with our team.

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