Power surges can quietly damage everything from your fridge to your TV. Here’s whether whole-house surge protection is worth adding to your Fremont home.
What is whole-house surge protection?
It’s a device installed at your electrical panel that blocks and diverts voltage spikes before they reach your circuits — protecting your whole home, not just one power strip.
Where surges come from
- Utility grid switching and outages
- Nearby lightning strikes
- Large appliances (AC, pumps) cycling on and off inside your home
That last one surprises people — many surges start inside the house.
What it costs
A whole-house surge protector, professionally installed at the panel, typically runs $250–$700 — modest next to the electronics it protects.
Is it worth it?
For most homes, yes — especially if you have:
- Expensive electronics, computers, or a home office
- Smart-home devices and appliances with sensitive circuit boards
- An EV charger or other high-value equipment
Point-of-use surge strips are still useful as a second layer, but they can’t protect hardwired appliances the way a panel-level device can.
Professional installation
Because it wires directly into your panel, a whole-house surge protector should be installed by a professional. Interested? See our panel services, or get a free quote in Fremont.