Whole-home surge protection is one of the highest-ROI electrical upgrades available — a $300-$800 installed device that protects every electrical appliance and electronic device in your home from a single catastrophic surge event that could otherwise cost thousands.
Power surges happen more often than most homeowners realize. Major surge sources include lightning strikes (direct or nearby), Con Edison grid switching events (especially during peak summer load), downed power lines, large appliance starts on your own home or your neighbor's, and equipment failures at the substation. Each surge sends voltage spikes through your wiring that can damage anything plugged in: HVAC systems, LED lights, refrigerators, dishwashers, washers/dryers, computers, TVs, internet equipment, security systems, and smart home hubs.
A whole-home surge protector installs at your main electrical panel and protects everything downstream — every outlet, every hardwired device, your HVAC, your appliances. Unlike point-of-use surge strips (which only protect what's plugged into them), whole-home protection covers your entire electrical system from a single device.
We install Type 2 whole-home surge protectors (the standard for residential install) from major brands: Eaton, Square D, Siemens, Leviton, and Intermatic. Higher-end models include indicator lights so you can see when the device has been hit (and needs replacement), and warranty coverage for connected appliances damaged by surges that get through.
A typical install takes 1-2 hours and includes: turning off the main breaker, installing the surge protector at the panel, connecting to a dedicated double-pole breaker, testing the install, and labeling. Most surge protectors are good for 5-15 years depending on how many surges they absorb in their lifetime.
Common pairing: customers getting a panel upgrade often add a whole-home surge protector at the same time — it's cheaper to install while the panel is open, and given the cost of a single damaged HVAC system or refrigerator, the math works out within the first year.
Pricing: $300-$800 installed depending on the surge protector model (entry-level vs. higher-capacity with longer warranty). Combined with a panel upgrade, often we can do both for less than the sum of the two separately.