🌩️ Storm Season in Texas: How to Protect Your Home from Power Surges

Storm Season in Texas: How to Protect Your Home from Power Surges

When it comes to Texas storm season, there’s no such thing as playing it safe after the fact. Between lightning strikes, high winds, and flash flooding, Mother Nature isn’t shy about showing her strength — and neither are the power surges that often follow.

At PowerMeans Electric, we’ve seen how fast an electrical surge can go from minor flicker to major disaster. Burned-out appliances, tripped breakers, and damaged HVAC systems are just the beginning. That’s why surge protection isn’t just a smart idea — it’s essential.

Let’s break down why storm season amps up the risk, how to tell if your home’s already been hit, and what you can do today to keep your home (and wallet) safe.

⚡ What Exactly Is a Power Surge?

A power surge is a sudden spike in voltage that travels through your home’s electrical system. These surges can come from:

• Lightning strikes
• Downed power lines
• Grid switching by utility companies
• Faulty or overloaded appliances

Even small surges can slowly damage sensitive electronics over time. Larger ones? They can fry your devices instantly or even spark an electrical fire.

⛈️ Why Texas Storms Make It Worse

From May to September, Central Texas becomes a hotspot for storm activity — and that means your risk of surges skyrockets. Here’s why:

• Lightning: A single bolt can carry up to 1 billion volts and affect your home even if it strikes miles away.
• High winds: Wind gusts can toss branches into power lines, triggering sudden shorts.
• Flooding & outages: When the grid goes down and power is restored, those sudden fluctuations can create major instability — and major surges.

If you’ve already invested in a backup generator (smart move), now’s the time to make sure the rest of your electrical system is just as protected.

🔍 How to Tell If You’ve Had a Surge

Think your home may have already taken a hit? Watch for these red flags:

• Electronics that suddenly stop working
• Lights flickering or burning out faster than usual
• Tripped breakers or blown fuses
• Scorch marks near outlets or your electrical panel

If any of this sounds familiar, it’s time for an electrical inspection — stat. These signs often indicate deeper issues that could get worse without attention.

🛡️ How to Protect Your Home from Power Surges

Here’s how to fight back — and win — against unexpected voltage spikes:

1. Whole-Home Surge Protection

Installed directly at your home’s electrical panel, these systems block dangerous surges before they ever reach your outlets. They’re now required on all new builds in Texas for a reason — they work.

Let our licensed electricians install one tailored to your home’s panel, service size, and electrical demands. We’ll make sure you’re covered from top to bottom.

2. Point-of-Use Surge Protectors

Pair your whole-home system with surge strips for electronics like:

• TVs
• Computers
• Gaming consoles
• Routers and modems

Pro tip: Not all power strips are surge protectors. Look for a joule rating and UL 1449 certification.

3. Unplug During Severe Storms

If you don’t yet have surge protection, unplug high-value devices during lightning storms to prevent damage.

4. Annual Electrical Checkups

Just like your car, your electrical system needs regular maintenance. An annual checkup helps catch aging panels or wiring that may not be surge-ready.

🔧 How PowerMeans Electric Can Help

We’ve helped thousands of Central Texas homeowners storm-proof their homes with electrical solutions that are fast, effective, and built to last. Here’s what you get when you work with us:

• Free consultations for surge protection systems
• Fast, code-compliant installation
• Licensed, insured, and experienced technicians
• Honest advice and long-term protection

Want to bundle your surge protection with a panel upgrade or generator installation? We’ll make it easy — and affordable.

🏡 Ready to Surge-Proof Your Home?

Storm season may be unpredictable — but your protection doesn’t have to be. Contact PowerMeans Electric today to schedule your surge protection estimate, or ask about bundling with other services to maximize your safety.

📞 Call us: 737-263-5823

📧 Email: support@powermeans.com

🔗 Visit: www.powermeanstx.com

When power means everything to your home and family — call PowerMeans Electric.