What Causes Power Surges (And How to Prevent Them at Home)

Power surges are one of those invisible dangers that can do serious damage in seconds. If you've ever experienced your lights flickering during a storm or had an electronic device suddenly stop working, you might have a power surge to blame.

In this blog, we’ll walk through what causes power surges, what damage they can lead to, and—most importantly—how you can protect your home and devices.

What Is a Power Surge?

A power surge is a sudden spike in electrical voltage that exceeds the standard flow of electricity in your home’s wiring. Most homes in Texas run on 120-volt power, but a surge can send hundreds or even thousands of volts through your electrical system in a flash.

What Causes Power Surges?

Power surges can be triggered by a variety of common sources:

• Lightning Strikes: Especially during storm season in Texas, lightning is one of the most destructive causes of surges. A direct or nearby strike can send an overwhelming amount of energy into your home.

• Overloaded Circuits: Plugging too many high-powered appliances into a single circuit can cause mini-surges that gradually wear down your electronics.

• Utility Grid Switches: Changes or malfunctions on the power grid—like during blackouts or when power is restored—can send unstable current into your home.

• Appliance Cycling: Large appliances like refrigerators, AC units, or washers can cause internal power fluctuations when they turn on and off.
  

Learn more about how Texas weather plays a role in surges in our blog:👉 Storm Season in Texas: How to Protect Your Home from Power Surges

How Do Power Surges Affect Your Home?

Even a quick surge can:

• Destroy televisions, computers, and gaming consoles

• Damage outlets, circuit boards, or breakers

• Reduce the lifespan of major appliances

• Cause data loss on unprotected devices
  

Think of it like a lightning bolt hitting your tech—it’s fast, and the damage is often irreversible.

How to Protect Against Power Surges

The best way to defend your home is with layered protection:

1. Whole-Home Surge ProtectionInstalled directly into your electrical panel, these systems stop voltage spikes at the source.
   

2. Point-of-Use Surge ProtectorsThese are the outlet strips most people recognize, but they only offer limited protection. They should be a second line of defense, not your only one.
   

3. Smart Upgrades for Your Electrical SystemUpgrading your panel and installing smart devices can help detect and prevent overloads before they occur.👉 Explore some of the best upgrades in our guide:Smart Home Upgrades: The Best Electrical Improvements for Spring
   

4. Regular InspectionsA licensed electrician can evaluate your current setup and identify vulnerabilities you might not see.

Why Surge Protection Is Worth It

Your home is full of expensive, sensitive electronics. A single surge could cost you hundreds—or thousands—of dollars in replacements. Surge protection is one of the easiest ways to safeguard your investment.

To dive deeper, check out:👉 The Importance of Surge Protection for Your Home’s Electronics

Ready to Protect Your Home?

PowerMeans Electric is here to help. Whether you’re looking to install a whole-home surge protector or upgrade your panel for smarter energy use, our licensed professionals have you covered.

📞 Contact us today or schedule a home inspection at PowerMeansTX.com