Lightning
Strikes nearby can push huge spikes through power, cable and phone lines. Summer thunderstorms are common in Monmouth County.
Surge protection
Whole House Surge Protection in Marlboro, NJ, Installed the Same Day
One lightning strike or a hard power restoration after an outage can damage the circuit boards in your furnace, AC, fridge and TV in an instant. A whole house surge protector at your panel helps stop that surge before it spreads. If you are looking for a surge protector installer near me, our licensed electricians install panel-mounted protection in Marlboro homes, often the same day.
- Panel-mounted protection
- Grounding checked
- Matched to your panel
- Same-day installs
Where surges come from
What Causes Power Surges in Your Home?
Big surges are rare but damaging. Small ones happen every day and add up.
Power coming back
When JCP&L restores power after an outage, the sudden return can send a jolt through your home.
Your own appliances
AC compressors, well pumps and motors create small surges every time they start. Over years, these wear down electronics.
Utility switching
Grid repairs and switching on the utility side can cause short spikes you never notice until something fails.
Layered protection
Whole House Protector vs Plug-In Surge Strips
Power strips are helpful, but they can't protect the things that are hardwired into your home.
| Whole house surge protector | Plug-in surge strip | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it goes | At the main panel or meter | At the outlet, behind a TV or computer |
| What it protects | Every circuit, including hardwired items like HVAC, range, washer and garage door opener | Only what's plugged into it |
| Best at | Stopping large surges coming in from outside | Catching smaller leftover spikes at sensitive electronics |
| Installed by | A licensed electrician | You |
What's at risk
What a Whole House Surge Protector Helps Protect
The most important equipment in your home is often the equipment a power strip can't reach.
Almost every modern appliance has a circuit board inside. Those boards are sensitive, and many are hardwired, so a plug-in strip can't help them.
- Furnace, boiler and central air control boards
- Refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers and washers
- Garage door openers and well pumps
- TVs, computers, routers and smart home hubs
- Your EV charger
- Your standby generator controls and transfer switch
Protecting these with one device at the panel is simple and quick.
Code requirement
Surge Protection and the 2020 Electrical Code
This is one of the newer code updates many homeowners haven't heard of.
Required when service is replaced
New Jersey enforces the 2020 National Electrical Code. It requires a surge protective device when the electrical service to a home is installed or replaced. If you're planning an electrical panel upgrade or a Federal Pacific panel replacement, surge protection is part of the job.
Smart to add anytime
Not replacing your panel? You can still add a surge protector to your existing panel in most cases. It mounts in a breaker space or beside the panel and connects in a short visit.
Your panel must have a solid ground and bond for any surge protector to work. We check that first.
Already had a hit?
Signs a Surge Has Already Damaged Your Home
Surge damage doesn't always show up right away. Watch for these after a storm or outage.
Dead outlets or GFCIs
Outlets that stopped working after a storm, or GFCIs that won't reset.
Appliance boards failing
A furnace, AC or washer that shows error codes or won't start after an outage.
Burn smell near the panel
A faint burnt smell or marks near the panel or a device after lightning.
Electronics acting up
Routers, TVs or smart devices that reboot, freeze or die after the power blinks.
Surges can also come in through cable TV, internet and phone lines. When we install your panel protector, we check that those lines are bonded to the same ground as your electrical system, so every path into the house is covered.
Installation
How We Install Your Surge Protector
Check your panel
We confirm your panel brand, open spaces and condition.
Test grounding and bonding
A surge protector needs a good path to ground. We verify the ground rod, water pipe bond and connections.
Install the device
We mount a listed surge protector matched to your panel and connect it with short, direct leads for best performance.
Show you the lights
Most units have indicator lights. We show you what normal looks like and when to call us.
Surge protectors wear out after taking big hits. If the indicator light changes, or after a direct lightning strike nearby, have it checked. If lightning has already caused dead outlets or tripped circuits, call our 24 hour emergency electrician.
Helpful guides
Read Before You Book
Plain-English answers to the questions homeowners ask us most.
Brands & service areas
Brands We Service and Towns We Cover
Surge Protector Brands We Install
We install listed surge protective devices made to match the panel you already have.
View All BrandsServing Marlboro and Nearby Towns
Whole house surge protection in Marlboro and these nearby towns.
View All Service AreasQuestions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a whole house surge protector worth it?
For most homes, yes. It protects hardwired appliances and HVAC equipment that plug-in strips can't reach, and it's a short, simple install.
Will a surge protector stop a direct lightning strike?
No device can promise full protection from a direct strike. A whole house protector greatly reduces damage from nearby strikes and everyday surges.
Do I still need plug-in surge strips?
Yes, for sensitive electronics like computers and TVs. Panel protection and good strips work best together.
Is surge protection required by code in New Jersey?
Under the 2020 NEC, which New Jersey enforces, a surge protective device is required when a home's electrical service is installed or replaced.
How long does a whole house surge protector last?
It depends on how many surges it absorbs. Watch the indicator light and have it checked after major storms or nearby lightning.
How long does a whole-home surge protector install take?
Most installs take about an hour or two if the panel has space and good grounding.
Protect Your Home from Power Surges
Book a same-day surge protector install with a licensed Marlboro electrician. We'll check your grounding and protect every circuit.
(732) 419-5195