If you’re a homeowner who’s ever experienced electrical problems, you’ve probably heard an electrician talk about power surges and/or power outages. But what’s the difference between a power surge and a power outage? How do these things affect your home, and what should you do about them? Keep reading for everything you need to know about surges and outages, courtesy of or experienced electricians at Lightning Bug Electric.
Power Surges
A power surge occurs when there is a sudden increase in voltage in your electrical system. This happens due to a change in electrical draw due to the demands of other equipment that shares the same power source. When the appliances in your home that use the most power turn on and off, they may end up drawing power away from other appliances, which leads to that “surge” in your system. A power surge does not always lead to a problem, however, power surges can have a negative effect on your equipment depending on timing and where they come from. For instance, if lightning strikes and causes a surge in your wiring, electrical devices you currently have plugged in may become damaged as a result.
Power Outages
A power outage is a loss of power caused by a sudden interruption in your power supply. Also known as a blackout, power outages are a major problem because they can leave you without electricity, but just as critically in this day and age, they may end up causing data loss in your computer and other electronic devices. Unlike a power surge, a power outage will not generally lead to any damage in your electrical hardware. However, if a power surge and a power outage occur at the same time, you may experience data loss and hardware damage. To go back to that lighting strike example above, if it were to result in a downed power line, you would most likely just experience an outage. However, if that lightning hits your electrical system directly, your home may experience both a surge and a blackout.
Call Our Skilled Electricians at Lightning Bug Electric Today
At Lighting Bug, we are fully committed to protecting you and your electrical system. Our experienced electricians offer surge protection to keep your family and your electrical equipment safe. We also offer other home safety upgrades to keep your system functioning properly at all times.
To schedule an electrical service today, call (404) 471-3847 now, or click here to contact us online.