Every home faces the risk of electrical surges, but when you pair a generator with your electrical system, the stakes are even higher. Whole-home surge protection becomes a vital component in safeguarding everything from appliances to HVAC systems. When professionally installed, surge protection can prevent thousands of dollars in damage and extend the life of your electrical investments.
Generators—especially standby models—can unintentionally amplify the risk of surges if not properly integrated. During power restoration or switching, a sudden return of electricity can cause a high-voltage spike, especially in older homes or systems lacking adequate protection. These spikes don’t just trip breakers—they can fry circuit boards, destroy sensitive electronics, and create fire hazards.
We see this most often during storms and hurricane events in Eastern North Carolina. When utility power drops and your generator kicks in, or when the grid comes back online, these transitions can send jolts through your wiring. That’s why our installations always account for high-quality surge protection devices (SPDs) at both the main panel and critical subpanels.
Unlike plug-in surge strips, whole-home systems are hardwired directly into your electrical service. This allows them to absorb and redirect excess voltage from the entire grid, not just what’s plugged into an outlet. These SPDs act as the first line of defense against unpredictable spikes, whether from lightning, grid fluctuations, or generator transitions.
In homes with smart technology, the risk escalates. Thermostats, lighting, security systems, and even refrigerators rely on complex chips and sensors. A single surge can disable these systems instantly. We help homeowners identify vulnerable circuits and protect them through layered defense—combining whole-home SPDs with point-of-use surge protection where necessary.
Surge protection is also essential for ensuring compliance with the latest National Electrical Code updates. Many insurance companies now ask whether protection is in place—and in some cases, claims may be reduced or denied if damage occurs without it. As licensed professionals, we install SPDs that meet UL 1449 standards and are rated for the specific demands of your home and generator.
Proper grounding is equally important. Without it, even the best surge protection can fail. During our installation process, we inspect grounding electrodes and connections to ensure the entire electrical system can safely discharge surges into the earth. This isn’t a step to skip—grounding mistakes are a leading cause of surge damage, especially in coastal areas where soil conditions can vary.
We also make sure that the generator itself has appropriate internal surge protection or is paired with external devices to handle both input and output surges. Whether it’s a Generac system or another model, this added layer ensures power transitions remain smooth and secure.
In the end, surge protection isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Power disruptions are inevitable, but damage doesn’t have to be. With the right systems in place, you can rest easy knowing your home’s power is clean, stable, and secure, even when the lights flicker.
Contact Powerhound Electrical Solutions at (910) 296-3536 or visit our Facebook page to learn more about surge protection and generator system safety.
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