Stop Voltage Spikes Before They Reach Devices
Whole-Home Surge Protection in Albuquerque
A lightning strike a mile away can send voltage spikes through power lines into your home in Albuquerque. These surges travel through walls and damage anything plugged into an outlet, including refrigerators, computers, and HVAC systems. You may not notice the damage immediately, but repeated surges shorten the lifespan of electronics and can destroy circuit boards in appliances.
Add-On Electric, LLC installs whole-home surge protectors at your electrical panel in Albuquerque and surrounding areas. The device diverts excess voltage to the ground wire before it enters your home's wiring. Unlike plug-in strips that protect one or two devices, a whole-home system protects everything connected to your electrical system, including hardwired appliances and devices in rooms without surge strips.
Contact Add-On Electric, LLC to schedule whole-home surge protection installation in Albuquerque.
Installation at the Panel Protects Every Circuit
We install the surge protector directly inside or next to your main electrical panel in Albuquerque. We turn off power to the panel, connect the surge protector to the main bus bars, and run a ground wire to the grounding system. The device monitors incoming voltage and activates in nanoseconds when it detects a spike above normal levels. We restore power and test the system to confirm proper operation.
After installation, your home has protection against surges caused by lightning, utility switching, and motor startups from large appliances. You will see an indicator light on the surge protector that confirms the device is active. If a surge occurs, the protector absorbs the excess voltage and prevents it from reaching outlets, light switches, and hardwired equipment.
Whole-home surge protectors handle large surges but do not eliminate the need for point-of-use surge strips on sensitive electronics like computers and home theater systems. Combining both types of protection provides the most coverage. The protector does not require maintenance, but the indicator light will change color or turn off if the device has absorbed its maximum surge capacity and needs replacement.
Homeowners Often Want to Understand What Protection Covers
Questions about coverage, lifespan, and whether the protector works during storms help clarify what whole-home surge protection does and what it does not prevent.
What causes surges in Albuquerque homes?
Lightning strikes near power lines cause most large surges. Utility companies switching grid sections and large appliances cycling on and off inside your home create smaller surges that accumulate over time.
How long does a whole-home surge protector last?
Most protectors last three to five years depending on how many surges they absorb. The indicator light tells you when the device no longer provides protection and needs replacement.
Why do I still need plug-in surge strips?
Whole-home protectors stop large surges at the panel, but smaller surges can still reach outlets. Plug-in strips add a second layer of protection for sensitive devices like computers and televisions.
What happens during a direct lightning strike?
A direct strike delivers more voltage than any surge protector can handle. Whole-home devices protect against indirect strikes and utility surges, which are far more common.
How quickly does installation take?
Installing a whole-home surge protector typically takes one to two hours depending on panel access and whether we need to upgrade the grounding system.
Add-On Electric, LLC installs surge protectors that divert damaging voltage away from your appliances and electronics. Reach out to schedule installation in Albuquerque.