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October 8, 2025
Power surges threaten your home's electrical system daily. Discover how professional surge protection installation safeguards your electronics and appliances.
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Power surges are sudden voltage spikes that can damage or destroy any electrical device in your home. While lightning strikes get the most attention, they’re just one threat your electrical system faces daily.
Modern homes contain an average of $15,000 worth of unprotected electronics and appliances. From smart refrigerators to HVAC systems, today’s devices contain sensitive computer chips that can’t handle voltage fluctuations. Even minor surges that you don’t notice can slowly damage these components over time.
The statistics are sobering. Lightning strikes 20 million US homes annually, causing nearly $1 billion in property damage. The average insurance claim for lightning damage is around $12,000. But here’s the catch: most homeowners insurance policies only cover up to $1,000 per appliance and $5,000 total for power surge damage.
Most people think power surges only come from lightning strikes, but that’s far from the truth. In fact, 80% of power surges originate inside your own home.
Internal surges happen when large appliances cycle on and off. Your air conditioner starting up, your electric dryer kicking in, or even your refrigerator compressor can create voltage spikes that travel through your electrical wiring. These surges might seem harmless because they’re smaller than lightning strikes, but they happen constantly throughout the day.
External surges come from outside your home through the power lines. Lightning strikes are the most dramatic example, but utility company issues can also cause surges. When transformers fail, power lines are damaged, or the electrical grid experiences problems, voltage spikes can travel directly into your home’s electrical system.
Both types of surges pose serious risks to your electrical system. Internal surges cause gradual damage that shortens the lifespan of your appliances and electronics. External surges can cause immediate, catastrophic damage that destroys everything connected to your electrical system.
The challenge is that you can’t predict when either type of surge will occur. Your electrical system needs protection from both threats, which is why our professional surge protection installation is so important for Cook County and Will County homeowners.
Most people think power surges only come from lightning strikes, but that’s far from the truth. In fact, 80% of power surges originate inside your own home.
Internal surges happen when large appliances cycle on and off. Your air conditioner starting up, your electric dryer kicking in, or even your refrigerator compressor can create voltage spikes that travel through your electrical wiring. These surges might seem harmless because they’re smaller than lightning strikes, but they happen constantly throughout the day.
External surges come from outside your home through the power lines. Lightning strikes are the most dramatic example, but utility company issues can also cause surges. When transformers fail, power lines are damaged, or the electrical grid experiences problems, voltage spikes can travel directly into your home’s electrical system.
Both types of surges pose serious risks to your electrical system. Internal surges cause gradual damage that shortens the lifespan of your appliances and electronics. External surges can cause immediate, catastrophic damage that destroys everything connected to your electrical system.
The challenge is that you can’t predict when either type of surge will occur. Your electrical system needs protection from both threats, which is why our professional surge protection installation is so important for Cook County and Will County homeowners.
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Installing whole house surge protection isn’t a DIY project. It requires working directly with your home’s main electrical panel, which can be dangerous without proper training and licensing. Our professional electricians have the expertise and equipment to install surge protection safely and effectively.
The installation process starts with evaluating your current electrical system. Our licensed electricians will examine your electrical panel, check your home’s grounding system, and determine the best type of surge protection device for your specific needs. This assessment is crucial because surge protection only works properly when your electrical system meets certain requirements.
Modern electrical codes now require surge protection for all dwelling units. The 2020 and 2023 National Electrical Code updates mandate that all services supplying homes must have surge protection devices installed. This means surge protection isn’t just a good idea – it’s now a code requirement for new installations and electrical panel upgrades.
We install different types of surge protection devices depending on your home’s electrical system and protection needs. Understanding these options helps you make informed decisions about protecting your electrical system.
Type 1 surge protectors offer the highest level of protection and are installed between your electrical meter and the main panel. These devices provide the first line of defense against external surges from the power grid or lightning strikes. They’re designed to handle the largest voltage spikes and must be installed by a licensed electrician due to their location in the electrical service entrance.
Type 2 surge protectors are the most common choice for residential installations. These devices are installed directly in your main electrical panel and protect against both internal and external surges. They can be configured to protect your entire electrical system or specific high-priority circuits like your HVAC system or home office.
The installation process for Type 2 devices involves connecting the surge protector to your electrical panel’s main bus bars and establishing a proper ground connection. We also install indicator lights that show when the device is working properly and alert you if it needs replacement.
We may also recommend point-of-use surge protectors for particularly sensitive electronics. These smaller devices work in conjunction with whole house protection to provide layered defense against power surges. While whole house surge protection handles the big surges, point-of-use devices protect against smaller voltage spikes that might get through.
Our professional surge protection installation typically costs between $300 and $800 total, including both the device and installation labor. The device itself ranges from $70 to $700 depending on the type and quality, while professional installation adds $100 to $200 to the total cost.
The installation process usually takes about two hours for a standard residential electrical panel. We start by shutting off power to your home and removing the electrical panel cover. We then install the surge protection device, make the necessary electrical connections, and test the system to ensure it’s working properly.
During installation, we verify that your home’s grounding system meets current code requirements. Surge protection devices work by diverting excess voltage to ground, so proper grounding is essential for the system to function correctly. If your grounding system needs upgrades, we address these issues as part of the installation.
We offer warranties on both the surge protection device and our installation work. Quality surge protectors typically come with manufacturer warranties that cover both the device and connected equipment up to certain dollar amounts. We explain these warranty details and help you register the device for coverage.
After installation, we show you the indicator lights and explain how to monitor the system. We also provide maintenance recommendations, such as having the device inspected annually and replaced every 3-5 years or after major surge events.
The investment in our professional surge protection installation pays for itself quickly when you consider the potential costs of surge damage. Replacing a damaged HVAC system, smart appliances, or home electronics can easily cost thousands of dollars. Our professional surge protection provides peace of mind and financial protection for a fraction of that cost.
Power surges pose a constant threat to your electrical system and everything connected to it. With 80% of surges originating inside your home and lightning causing billions in damage annually, professional surge protection isn’t optional – it’s essential.
Our licensed electricians can evaluate your electrical system and install the right surge protection for your Cook County or Will County home. The installation process is straightforward, affordable, and provides immediate protection for your electrical system and connected devices.
Don’t wait for a power surge to destroy your electronics and appliances. Contact Jimco Electric today to schedule a consultation and protect your home’s electrical system with our professional surge protection installation.
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