Surge Protection in Westworth Village

What Surge Protection Does for Your Home

A surge is a quick spike in voltage. Lightning causes the big ones. Most surges are smaller and start inside your home, when the AC compressor, a pool pump or the fridge cycles on and off. Small spikes don't ruin anything at once. They wear down the circuit boards in TVs, appliances, thermostats and chargers over months and years.

Whole-home surge protection puts a surge protective device, called an SPD, at your panel. It catches spikes before they reach your circuits and sends the extra energy to ground. Plug-in strips still have a job at the TV or computer. They work best as a second layer behind the panel device, not as the only one.

Code is part of this too. Newer editions of the National Electrical Code require surge protection when a home's service is installed or replaced. If you're planning a panel upgrade, we build it in. If you just want protection on the panel you have, we add it on its own and take care of any permit and inspection your local jurisdiction requires.

What You Get With the Install

We check the panel before anything else

With the cover off, we look at the panel's condition and make sure there's an open breaker space or a correct place to connect the device. If something is unsafe, such as scorched terminals or two wires on one breaker, we show you before installing.

Ground connections tested

The SPD only works if it has a solid path to ground. We look at the ground rod connection, the grounding conductor and the bond at the water line. Anything loose or missing is fixed first, since the device has no place to send a surge without it.

The right device for your service

We choose an SPD rated for your service size and voltage, mount it right at the panel and run short, straight leads. Long or coiled leads make the device react slower and let more of the spike get past.

Cable and phone lines bonded

Surges can also come in on cable, satellite and phone lines. We make sure those lines share the same grounding system, so a spike has no reason to jump from one to another.

Permit and inspection taken care of

If your jurisdiction wants a permit for this work, we file it and are there for the inspector. The paperwork is ours to deal with, not yours.

Signs Your Home Needs Surge Protection

• Electronics keep dying early

  Chargers, routers, garage door openers or appliance boards failing before their time often point to repeated small surges.

• Lights blink when big loads start

  A flicker when the AC or dryer kicks on means voltage is swinging on your circuits. That's worth a look at the panel.

• Trouble after storms

  North Texas spring storms bring a lot of lightning. If clocks reset, a modem dies or a TV won't turn back on after one, your home took a hit with nothing in the way.

• You've added costly equipment

  A new variable-speed HVAC system, smart appliances or an EV charger all run on sensitive electronics. One SPD at the panel protects them together.

• A panel change is coming

  If you're replacing the panel or service, surge protection is part of doing that work to current code. It makes sense to plan it now.

How a Surge Protection Visit Goes

1. 1

   You call and we set a time

   Tell us about your panel and anything that's failed lately. We book a service visit that fits your schedule.

2. 2

   We check and explain

   We look at the panel and grounding, then tell you what device fits and whether anything needs fixing first. You hear the full scope before we start.

3. 3

   We install the device

   Power is off for a short window while we connect the SPD and tighten everything up. We keep the work area clean and put the panel cover back the way we found it.

4. 4

   We test and walk you through it

   We confirm the device is working, label it in the panel and show you what its indicator light means. If an inspection is required, we schedule it and meet the inspector.

What Moves the Price

Most surge protection jobs are straightforward, but no two panels are the same. The price depends on what we find once the cover is off. We go over the cost with you before any work starts, so there are no surprises on the invoice.

Type of device

SPDs come in different ratings and mounting styles. A unit that fits in a breaker space costs differently than one mounted beside the panel.

Panel space and condition

A full panel may need a tandem breaker or some rearranging. An older panel with damage may need repair before it can take a new device.

Grounding repairs

If the ground rod, grounding conductor or water line connection needs work, that adds time and material. It's also the part that makes the device actually do its job.

Inspection and pairing with other work

Inspection requirements vary by jurisdiction. Adding surge protection during a panel upgrade or other panel work usually costs less than a separate trip.