Protect Your Home OR BUSINESS from Dangerous Power Surges
Power surges can happen in an instant, but the damage they cause can be costly and long-lasting. From electronic malfunctions to fire hazards, unprotected electrical systems are at serious risk. At TL Davis Electric & Design, we provide whole-home and commercial surge protection solutions to safeguard your property, appliances, and critical equipment.
What Causes Power Surges?
Many homeowners and business owners assume that lightning strikes are the main cause of power surges, but in reality, most surges originate from within the building itself. These small, frequent surges gradually wear down your electrical system, leading to premature equipment failure and costly repairs. Here are the top causes of electrical surges:
1. Lightning Strikes When lightning strikes near your home, it can send a massive voltage spike through power lines, damaging your electrical system and plugged-in devices.
2. Power Grid Fluctuations & Utility Company Issues When the power grid switches between sources, restores power after an outage, or experiences fluctuations, it can cause sudden voltage spikes that affect homes in your area.
3. High-Powered Appliances Turning On & Off Large appliances—like air conditioners, refrigerators, dryers, and furnaces—cycle on and off throughout the day, creating small but frequent surges that wear down wiring and electrical components over time.
4. Faulty Wiring & Overloaded Circuits If your home has old or damaged wiring, it can struggle to regulate electrical flow, making your system more vulnerable to power surges.
5. Backup Generator Malfunctions If you have a backup generator, improper installation or fluctuations in power output can send surges through your home’s wiring.
WHOLE-HOME Surge Protection
What is Whole Home Surge Protection?
Whole home surge protection is a comprehensive defense system that prevents harmful power surges from damaging your home’s electrical components. Unlike basic power strip surge protectors, a whole home surge protector is installed directly into your electrical panel, providing complete coverage for everything in your home.
How Surge Protection Works
Surge protectors detect voltage spikes and divert excess electricity safely into the ground.
They protect major appliances, HVAC systems, home electronics, and even delicate smart home devices.
They prevent long-term wear on your electrical system by minimizing smaller, frequent surges.
Surges don’t just come from lightning strikes—they also happen inside your home. Every time a large appliance like an air conditioner, refrigerator, or water heater turns on, it can create small surges that gradually degrade electrical components over time. A whole home surge protector absorbs these fluctuations, extending the lifespan of your electronics and appliances.
Why Do You Need Whole Home Surge Protection?
A single power surge can cause thousands of dollars in damage in just seconds. Here’s why whole home surge protection is a smart investment: 1. Protects Expensive Appliances & Electronics Your home’s HVAC system, kitchen appliances, televisions, gaming consoles, computers, and smart home devices are all vulnerable to power surges. A whole home surge protector ensures that these valuable investments are shielded from electrical damage.
2. Prevents Electrical Fires & System Failures Power surges can overheat wiring, cause sparks, and lead to electrical fires. A whole home surge protector reduces this risk, keeping your family and property safe.
3. Extends the Lifespan of Your Electronics Even if a surge doesn’t instantly fry your devices, small repeated surges wear down electrical components over time. Whole home surge protection stops these minor surges, helping your appliances and electronics last longer.
4. Defends Against Lightning Strikes & Grid Surges While rare, direct lightning strikes can send millions of volts surging through your home’s wiring. Even indirect lightning strikes or power grid fluctuations can cause significant damage. Whole home surge protectors act as a first line of defense, reducing or eliminating these risks.
5. Saves You Money on Repairs & Replacements Replacing a fried refrigerator, TV, or HVAC system due to a surge can be incredibly expensive. Investing in a surge protection system is far more cost-effective than replacing damaged appliances or rewiring your home.
OUR RESIDENTIAL Installation Process
At TL Davis Electric & Design, we make the installation process quick, hassle-free, and highly effective. Here’s what to expect:
Home Assessment & Electrical Panel Inspection: We evaluate your home’s electrical system to determine the best surge protection solution.
Surge Protector Installation at the Electrical Panel: The surge protector is installed directly into your main panel, ensuring full-home coverage.
Testing & Safety Checks: We verify that your surge protection system is fully functional and up to code.
Additional Layered Protection (if needed): We can also install point-of-use surge protectors for extra protection in high-risk areas.
Most whole home surge protector installations are completed in just a few hours, giving you instant protection from dangerous voltage spikes.
Commercial Surge Protection
What is Commercial Surge Protection?
Commercial surge protection is a comprehensive defense system that shields your business from damaging power surges. Unlike small plug-in surge protectors, a commercial surge suppression system is integrated directly into your electrical panel, ensuring full-building protection for all of your essential systems and equipment. From offices and retail stores to warehouses and medical facilities, every business relies on electrical equipment that can be damaged or destroyed by unexpected voltage spikes. A properly installed surge protection system prevents these power surges from disrupting your operations and protects your valuable assets from costly damage. How Commercial Surge Protection Works
Detects voltage spikes and safely diverts excess electricity away from your building’s electrical system.
Shields mission-critical systems like servers, POS systems, security systems, HVAC controls, and industrial machinery.
Reduces wear on electrical infrastructure, preventing long-term degradation of your wiring and equipment.
Prevents sudden downtime by stabilizing your power supply and eliminating electrical disruptions.
Why Does Your Business Need Surge Protection?
A single power surge can cause massive financial losses in just seconds. Here’s why commercial surge protection is a must-have for businesses:
1. Protects Expensive Equipment & Technology
Servers, computers, and data centers
Security systems, alarm panels, and access control
HVAC controls, refrigeration units, and automation systems
Medical devices, lab equipment, and specialized machinery
2. Prevents Data Loss & Business Downtime When a surge damages critical electrical systems, your business could experience data loss, POS system failures, and operational disruptions. A surge protector stabilizes your power supply and prevents costly outages.
3. Reduces Risk of Electrical Fires & System Failures High-voltage surges overload circuits, overheat wiring, and create fire hazards. A commercial surge protection system prevents these risks, keeping your employees and customers safe.
4. Ensures Compliance with Electrical Safety Codes Surge protection is often required for businesses to meet insurance and local electrical code requirements. Proper protection helps prevent penalties, liability issues, and insurance claim denials in the event of an electrical failure.
5. Saves Thousands in Repair & Replacement Costs Replacing damaged computers, HVAC systems, or industrial machinery costs far more than investing in commercial surge protection. A professionally installed system is a cost-effective way to avoid unexpected losses.
Industries That Rely on Commercial Surge Protection
Power surges can impact any business, but some industries are at even higher risk due to the sensitive nature of their electrical systems:
Data Centers & IT Infrastructure: Protects servers, networks, and cloud-based systems.
Retail Stores & Restaurants: Prevents POS system failures, refrigeration malfunctions, and lighting disruptions.
Medical & Healthcare Facilities: Shields essential medical devices, patient monitoring systems, and lab equipment.
Industrial & Manufacturing: Protects automated machinery, conveyor systems, and robotics from electrical damage.
At TL Davis Electric & Design, we make the installation process seamless so your business is protected with minimal disruption.
1. Electrical System Evaluation & Surge Risk Assessment: We assess your building’s power usage, identify high-risk areas, and determine the right surge protection system for your specific needs.
2. Whole-Building Surge Protector Installation: A commercial-grade surge suppression system is installed at your main electrical panel, intercepting voltage spikes before they can cause damage.
3. Testing & Compliance Verification: We test the system to ensure full protection, verify that it meets safety codes, and make any necessary adjustments for optimal performance.
4. Ongoing Maintenance & Protection Upgrades: Our team provides routine maintenance and system upgrades to ensure your business remains fully protected as electrical demands evolve.
Whole Home & Business Surge Protection – FAQs
Whole Home & Business Surge Protection – FAQs
What is whole home surge protection?
It’s a device installed at your electrical panel to block voltage spikes from damaging your appliances and electronics.
What causes power surges?
Surges can be caused by lightning strikes, grid fluctuations, large appliances switching on/off, or faulty wiring.
Do surge protectors stop lightning?
They reduce damage from indirect lightning strikes but can’t prevent damage from a direct hit. Grounding and layered protection help.
Is a whole home surge protector better than a power strip?
Yes—panel-based protectors safeguard your entire electrical system, not just individual devices like plug-in strips.
How long does a surge protector last?
Typically 3–5 years depending on how many surges it absorbs. We recommend routine checks during electrical inspections.
Can surge protectors prevent electrical fires?
Yes—by blocking spikes that could overheat wiring or damage appliances, they reduce fire risk.
What devices should I protect with surge protection?
HVAC systems, TVs, computers, smart home gear, appliances, and anything with circuit boards.
Is commercial surge protection different from residential?
Yes—commercial systems are rated for higher loads and protect mission-critical equipment like servers and POS systems.
Can you add surge protection to an old home?
Definitely. We retrofit panels in older homes with modern surge protection for full coverage.
What’s the installation process like?
We assess your panel, install the surge protector at your main breaker, test it, and ensure compliance with code.
Do you offer layered surge protection?
Yes—we can install panel-based protection along with point-of-use devices in high-risk areas like home offices or theaters.
Can surge protection help in my business?
Absolutely. It protects servers, automation systems, HVAC, and customer-facing tech from downtime and damage.
What are signs I need surge protection?
Frequent breaker trips, blown electronics, flickering lights, or homes with older wiring are key signs.
Is surge protection required by code?
Yes—in many areas, NEC requires surge protection in new construction and panel upgrades.
Do I need surge protection if I already have GFCIs?
Yes—GFCIs protect against shock, not voltage spikes. They serve different safety purposes.
Will my insurance cover surge damage?
Some policies exclude surge damage without protection installed. Having surge protection may help with claims or reduce rates.
Can you install surge protectors in multi-unit buildings?
Yes—we install solutions for apartments, condos, and business parks with shared or individual panels.
What happens if my surge protector fails?
We offer models with indicator lights and warranties so you’ll know if they’ve stopped working. We can replace them quickly.
Is surge protection important if I have solar panels?
Yes—solar inverters and control panels are sensitive to surges. We install surge protection on both the main panel and inverter circuits.
How fast can you install surge protection?
In most cases, we can complete installation in 1–2 hours with minimal interruption to your home or business.
📞 Concerned about electrical surges in your home or Business? Call 918-921-8984 for a surge protection consultation!
Watch how we install A WHole Home Surge Protector On Youtube!