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Why do you Need an HVAC Surge Protector?

HVAC surge protector

Power surges are dangerous and very harmful for your unit. They can damage the crucial electrical components in your HVAC system. Circuit breakers, normally installed in your air conditioner, protect the unit from power surges.

But they do not provide sufficient protection when repeated power fluctuations go on in extreme summer days. Therefore, an HVAC surge protector is a must to prevent your ac unit from getting damaged by power surges.

Causes of Power Surges

A power surge is a sudden electrical spike in the electrical system for a brief period of time. It can happen anytime, and there are both internal and external causes of a power surge. Let’s look into some causes responsible for a power surge in your air conditioner:

Internal causes:            

  • Faulty wiring
  • Faulty circuit breaker box
  • Faulty appliances 
  • Issues with the home’s electrical panel

External causes:

  • Electrical overload 
  • Lightning strike
  • Power outage or blackout
  • Damaged power lines

How can Power Surges Affect your Air Conditioner?

Power surges are responsible for the severe wear and tear of the electrical components of the HVAC system. The damages created by power surges inflict potential risks of a complete shutdown of the system.

They lead to the entire replacement of the unit. Sometimes, the damage created by repeated power surges gradually degrades the system. This will result in future costly emergency ac repairs.

What is an HVAC Surge Protector?

A surge protector is an electrical device. It protects your HVAC system from harmful power surges or electrical spikes. HVAC surge protectors divert excess electricity resulting from power surges.

Thus, they protect the system from major damage. Two surge protectors, involving an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, are required for a single system.

How do Surge Protectors Work?

The mechanism of a surge protector is to divert the excess electricity created by a power surge. This is done by a component called metal oxide varistor (MOV). It can work without shutting down your ac unit. The HVAC surge protector is actually a surge protector for heat pump.

It is a single circuit in the air conditioning system. At the time of any power surge, surge protectors for ac units will absorb the electricity spike. It will save the system before any damage to any electrical component in the system occurs. A red light will be indicated, if a huge power surge occurs. 

Why are HVAC Surge Protectors Necessary?

There are several reasons why the installation of a surge protector for a/c unit is a necessary step. The benefits of surge protectors for ac units are stated below:

Extends the lifespan of the system 

Surge protectors protect your ac system from potential damage. The damage includes wear and tear of the electrical components of the unit. They retain efficiency and smooth operation of the system without disturbances.

Protects electrical components 

A surge protector for ac unit prevents damage to the essential electrical components of the system. There are many components in modern ac units, such as chip, circuit boards, and control panels.

These are very likely to be damaged by high voltage spikes. Surge protectors ensure that they remain in working condition during a power surge.

Avoids expensive repairs

Initially, you will feel that installing a surge protector for your HVAC system is a costly investment. But, it will actually save you money in the long run. An air conditioner surge protector will protect your ac from power surges. It will thus prevent the potential risk of investment in costly, complex repairs.

Safety assurance

Large power surges can sometimes be dangerous as they can cause an electrical fire. By installing a surge protector, you can protect your family from any safety threats.

Warranty doesn’t cover power surges

HVAC companies don’t always cover power surges in their warranty plans. Hence, you have to pay more if there is damage to your HVAC system from power surges. Surge protectors will prevent this by not allowing any harm to occur in your air conditioner in the first place.

Installation process of an HVAC surge protector 

The installation process for an HVAC surge protector is simple. Still, it is recommended to seek a good professional and commercial hvac ac service. They will get the installation done smoothly and efficiently.

Also, the labor cost is cheaper than any repairs or replacements. The most proper way is to install it at the service disconnect.

Installation cost of an HVAC surge protector

The average price range for installing an HVAC surge protector is $100 to $550. To adjust your budget you can think of a cheap surge protector. But that is not recommended at all.

A cheap surge protector will have a weaker MOV, not ensuring full-proof protection. A good surge protector costs nearly $400 to $550. It will have efficient MOVs to ensure the total safety of your ac unit.

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