As of January 2021, the National Electrical Code (NEC) requires whole-home surge protection. Let’s explore the potential pros and cons of that upgrade for your house.
Load-Side Surge Protection
Most local building codes in the U.S. are based on the NEC and either already require surge protection for homes or soon will. The NEC demands a Type 2 surge protection device (SPD), which an electrician will typically install on the load side of the electrical panel. That means it operates between the panel and the rest of the house’s electrical system. When an SPD detects a surge, it will activate within nanoseconds and route that excess power into the ground.
Con: Higher Initial and Ongoing Costs
Perhaps the most notable downside for the average consumer is that installing an SPD will make an electrical panel upgrade more expensive. Angi estimates that it increases the average panel upgrade by 10% to 20%. Additionally, an SPD is a component that will wear down over time through normal use and require replacement. Panel-installed SPDs generally last between five and 10 years, but a little bad luck may require you to replace them sooner.
Con: Added Installation Time
The typical home electrical panel upgrade takes between four and six hours. Installing a surge protector will take between one and two hours in addition to that timeframe. With testing and a code compliance inspection, it’s not unusual for this process to take a full day.
Pro: Code Compliance
Older houses are grandfathered in, at least until the point when they need a permit for major electrical work. At that time, such as when upgrading a panel, your home must be up to code to pass. Code compliance improves the value of a home and makes it more appealing to buyers and renters. It also future-proofs a house by preparing it for modern additions, such as tankless water heaters and EV charging stations.
Pro: Protection From External Surges
Indirect lightning strikes are the most prevalent form of external power surges. Type 2 SPDs can typically reroute such surges to protect your home. Without such safeguards, lightning can damage your electrical panel, wires, and even devices connected to them.
Pro: Protection From Internal Surges
While lightning strikes can be devastating, surges that originate internally are much more common, and these are what Type 2 SPDs excel at protecting against. These include the surges that can manifest every time a central AC or heat pump, for instance, cycles on. This protection not only protects your panel and wiring, but it can also extend the life of your house’s major appliances and sophisticated electronics.
C&C Myers has helped many property owners upgrade their homes with surge protection. To install surge protection for your electrical panel in Charleston, SC, call us today.