Whole-House Surge Protection—Why I Recommend It

Lightning Strike in Neighborhood

By Terry Davis, Owner & Master Electrician, TL Davis Electric & Design, Tulsa, OK

1. Why I’m Talking About This

Hi, I’m Terry. Every week I walk into homes packed with smart TVs, fancy fridges, gaming consoles, and Wi-Fi gadgets. Inside each one of those devices is a tiny computer chip that hates sudden voltage spikes.

One bad surge can wipe out thousands of dollars in gear—including your HVAC, refrigerator, or security system—in the blink of an eye. A whole-house surge protector is the best shield I know.

2. What a Surge Really Is

Picture your home’s wiring like a garden hose. Normally the “water pressure” (voltage) stays steady. A surge is a split-second blast that cranks that pressure way up. Too much, and the “hose” bursts—fried circuit boards, smoking outlets, or even a fire.
Where surges come from

• Outside: lightning, the power company turning the grid on and off, downed lines.
• Inside: big motors kicking on—A/C, fridge, washer, vacuum—and overloaded outlets or bad wiring.

Most surges start inside your house, not from storms.

3. How a Whole-House Surge Protector Works

At your main panel we install a small box filled with parts called MOVs (think of them as pressure-relief valves). When voltage jumps past a safe number, the MOVs open and send the excess juice safely into the ground wire. Once things calm down, they close and your power flows like normal again.

4. One Layer Isn’t Enough—Do This

1. Whole-house unit (Type 2 SPD): First line of defense at the panel.
2. Good power strips (Type 3 SPD): Extra protection for TVs, computers, and game consoles.
3. Solid grounding: Without a proper ground rod and connections, no protector can do its job.

5. The Payoff

• Save your stuff: Replacing a fried fridge or furnace board costs way more than the protector.
• Reduce fire risk: Surges can overheat wires behind walls. Diverting that energy keeps your house safer.
• Lower stress: No worrying every time a storm rolls in or the A/C kicks on.
• Possible insurance break: Some carriers offer discounts for having whole-house protection.

6. Myths I Keep Hearing

• “I only need it during storms.”—Wrong. Most spikes are everyday appliance cycles.
• “My power strip is enough.”—It guards one outlet and holds a fraction of the energy.
• “They last forever.”—MOVs wear out. Check the light on the unit and plan to replace it every 5-7 years.

7. Why You Want a Pro (That’s Me)

This isn’t a DIY plug-and-play. I shut off your main breaker, keep lead wires short, verify the panel’s ground, and test the unit before I leave. Done right, the install takes about an hour and meets the National Electrical Code. Done wrong, the device is a dead box on the wall that won’t save a thing.

Let’s Protect Your Home

If you’re in the Tulsa area and want real peace of mind, give me a call at TL Davis Electric & Design. I’ll inspect your panel, check your grounding, and put the right surge protection in place—so the next spike hits my gear, not yours.

Stay safe,

Terry Davis
Master Electrician | TL Davis Electric & Design