You lock your doors. You have smoke detectors. You've got homeowner's insurance. but there's an invisible threat that could quietly destroy thousands of dollars of your stuff—and even disable the very safety devices protecting your family. It's called a power surge, and it's probably happening in your home right now.

"But We Never Get Hit by Lightning..."

That's what most homeowners think—and it's the biggest myth about surges. Here's the truth: up to 80% of power surges start inside your own home.

Every time your air conditioner kicks on, your refrigerator compressor cycles, or your garage door opener runs, it sends a small jolt of extra electricity through your wiring. Think of it like tiny hammer taps on your electronics—each one alone seems harmless, but over months and years, they wear down and eventually destroy the sensitive computer chips inside nearly everything you own.

Then there are the big hits: lightning strikes miles away, a transformer issue down the street, or the power company switching grids. One of those can wipe out everything at once.

What's Actually at Risk in Your Home

Take a quick mental walk through your house. Almost everything today has a computer chip inside:

Here's the kicker: your grandparents' appliances were simple machines that could shrug off a surge.

Yours can't.

Today's "smart" appliances are basically computers that happen to wash clothes or keep food cold. The Part Most Homeowners Never Consider This is the piece that should really get your attention: your home's safety devices are electronics too.

Your smoke alarms, and the special breakers in your panel that prevent electrical fires.

(AFCIs) and shocks (GFCIs), all run on tiny microchips. A surge can silently kill these devices—with no warning light, no beep, nothing. Your home looks protected, but it isn't.

That's how a "minor" electrical event turns into a fire risk months later.

It's Not Just a Good Idea—It's Now the Law of the Land for New Panels The National Electrical Code (NEC Article 230.67)—the same rulebook every licensed electrician in America follows—now requires whole-home surge protection on new electrical services and panel replacements. Why? Because the experts who write our national safety codes decided modern homes simply can't be considered safe without it.

The requirements are simple:

● A Type 1 or Type 2 surge protective device (SPD)
● Installed at or right next to your main electrical panel
● Required whenever a service panel is replaced or newly installed

If the national safety code demands it for new homes, ask yourself: shouldn't your existing home have the same protection?

How It Works (In Plain English):

A whole-home SPD is a small device mounted at your electrical panel—think of it as a bouncer at the front door of your home's electrical system. When a surge comes through, the SPD detects it in a fraction of a second and diverts the excess energy safely to ground before it can travel through your walls to your appliances and electronics.

Those power strips under your desk? They're a helpful backup, but they only protect what's plugged into them—and they can't stop a big surge. Whole-home protection stops the threat at the source.

The Simple Math:

• Whole-home SPD professionally installed: a modest one-time investment
• Average surge-related insurance claim: often $5,000–$10,000+
• Your insurance deductible alone: likely $1,000–$2,500
• Manufacturer-backed protection: Leading manufacturers like Siemens and Schneider Electric (Square D) back their SPDs with connected equipment warranties. If the device fails to stop a surge, these limited warranties can reimburse you for damaged electronics—with coverage of up to $50,000 to $100,000 depending on the model and terms. Square D advertises up to $100,000 in connected equipment coverage on select models, and Siemens FirstSurge units carry a 10-year limited warranty with connected equipment protection.

One prevented incident pays for the device many times over. Some insurance companies even offer discounts for homes with surge protection installed.

Note: Connected equipment warranties are model-specific and subject to manufacturer terms, including professional installation, proper grounding, and product registration.

Janco Electric will help you select the right device and keep your documentation in order.



See What the Experts Say

Don't just take our word for it—here's what industry authorities and leading manufacturers have to say:

Industry Experts:

● facebook.com — One of America's most respected electrical educators breaks
down the surge protection requirement

● youtube.com — A clear, homeowner-friendly explanation of why this matters

● youtube.com — See what a proper installation looks like
Leading Manufacturers & Authorities

● leviton.com — Guidance from a trusted American electrical manufacturer

● blog.se.com — Insights from a global leader in home electrical safety

● se.com — Warranties up to 5 years and $100,000 in connected equipment
coverage

● images.thdstatic.com — Full terms of Siemens' 10-year connected equipment
warranty

● kbelectricpa.com — A licensed contractor explains the safety reasons behind the
requirement

Call Janco Electric today to schedule your Whole-House Surge Protection Type 2 Safety and Savings Assessment. We'll inspect your panel, recommend the right code-compliant device for your home, and give you a straightforward, no-pressure quote.

It's not a question of if the next surge will hit—only when. Be ready.It's not a question of if the next surge will hit—only when.

Be ready.

N.J. Electrical Contractor Lic. #16353
Manalapan Township, NJ 07726
(732) 786-1800

Your trusted local, licensed electricians—protecting Manalapan Township Monmouth &
Middlesex County homes and families.