Top Reasons Why You Should Use Air Conditioner Surge Protectors
Power surges can damage any electrical appliances. Air conditioners are no exception, which is why they need surge protectors to remain operational.
This article will describe the main reasons for installing surge protectors on air conditioners.
Why should air conditioners have surge protectors?
Air conditioners have many electrical elements:
Blower motor
Fans
Control system
Thermostat
Compressor pump
Power surges can damage each of these elements and cause the air conditioner to malfunction. It can happen even on high-end air conditioners that cost upwards of $1,000. For this reason, installing surge protectors is imperative if you want to avoid harm caused by power surges.
Installing surge protectors can also help cut costs. Surge protectors shield the expensive circuit boards found in an air conditioner. The circuit boards are costly and difficult to come by because brand-specific electronic components for air conditioners need to be ordered separately. The process can require a lot of searching, during which time there will be no air conditioning available for the house.
What type of surge protector is best?
When selecting a surge protector, find one with an extended warranty period, high joule ratings, and ensure that it meets all relevant safety certifications and ratings. If a surge protector doesn’t have these forms of guarantee, look elsewhere. Otherwise, you’ll end up potentially paying a lot of money for a product that provides unreliable surge protection.
What causes power surges?
There are several causes of power surges. The most common culprit is lightning strikes. When one takes place, the resulting high voltage can enter the grid. In turn, any load connected to it will suffer the consequences. The severity of the damage depends on the protective circuits in the grid.
Second, abnormalities in power generation, transmission, or distribution systems can cause a power surge. Even though such power surges are rare, they can lead to considerable damage to connected devices, including air conditioners.
Moreover, power surges may occur whenever heavy loads such as dishwashers, water heaters, electric ovens, and washing machines operate simultaneously. While the power surges caused by this aren’t usually severe, they will still harm the connected appliances, the air conditioner included.
Don’t take a chance
Like any other appliance, you shouldn’t leave the air conditioner defenseless against power surges. A bolt of lightning can strike unexpectedly, and other appliances might overload the power grid, leaving the household without air conditioning for an indefinite period.
Fortunately, this can be prevented easily by investing in the right surge protector. Take some time while looking for an adequate product, and check if it meets all the necessary standards. Install the protector you prefer, and power surges will no longer impede creating ideal temperature conditions.
Zimmerman Electric is here to serve your residential and commercial electrical needs throughout the Phoenix Valley metro area. Call us today if you need electrical work performed 602-497-3365.
