Lightning Strikes in Metro Denver and Whole-House Electrical Surge Protectors
Late spring thru late summer is lightning season in many areas of the country and the Colorado Front Range is certainly not exempt. In this post, our electrical team at Save Home Heat Company would like to provide some seasonal lightning strike data for the Denver Metro area, and also talk about a product that comes into play when we talk with homeowners who have concerns about electrical surges damaging their electrical systems or the many devices it powers.
Lightning Strikes in the Denver
Summer is upon us, and with it comes thunderstorms in Denver and surrounding communities. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), which is a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), our lightning season lasts from approximately May thru September, with the most strikes occurring in July and August. Here’s average monthly lighting strike data for Denver, courtesy of weather.gov, the NWS website:
- May…………….1,335
- June……….….2,856
- July…………….5,350
- August…………4,811
- September……1,604
Lightning strike data for the nearby Boulder and Loveland areas is not as readily available, but those areas are considered to be comparable to Denver. In the nearby foothills, lightning strikes tend to happen at a higher rate than Denver area cities.
While there is clearly more lightning activity during this time of year, and lightning can cause electrical surges, the reality is that lightning is not the leading cause of electrical surges in our area and many others around the country. There are a wide range of sources of electrical power surges in a home, some coming from inside the house and others caused by outside factors. There isn’t one single leading source, and lightning strikes are simply grouped with many others.
Another common misconception about electrical surges is that they’re seasonal. Also not true. Electrical surges in residences occur throughout the year.
What is an Electrical Surge?
Before we get ahead of ourselves, just what is an electrical surge? Simply put, an electrical surge occurs when too much electrical voltage runs through electrical wiring, overloading the capacity of the wiring and the system that it’s connected to. Not all electrical surges are the same, and those with greater magnitudes can be more damaging than others. The damage that can potentially be caused by an electrical surge extends not only to the electrical distribution system, but also to devices that are connected to it – such as kitchen and laundry appliances, audio and video entertainment systems, computers and other office devices, chargers, and lots more.
In a worst case scenario, repairs or replacements of items impacted by a significant electrical surge can get real pricey. Fortunately, our municipal grid is equipped with a variety of proven safety devices, but as we’ve seen in our industry, nothing is 100% foolproof, 100% of the time. An additional layer of protection could end up making a big difference for you.
Sources of Electrical Surges
Electrical surges are often broken down into internal sources (from inside the home) and external sources.
External sources of electrical surges include:
- Downed or damaged utility lines
- Planned power outages
- Utility grid transfers
- Nearby construction projects
- Nearby lightning strikes*
*There is no reliable protection against a direct lightning strike.
Electrical surges from inside the home
A broad range of electrical appliances, especially those that are showing their age, or which haven’t been properly maintained – or which are asking more than the electrical system can accommodate – all are potential sources of internal electrical surges. The potential sources of interior surges include:
- Refrigerators & freezers
- Electric ovens
- Electric clothes dryers
- Garage door openers
- Air conditioner and heat pump compressors
- Furnace fans
- Electric heaters
- Shop tools (air compressors, power saws, welders, etc.)
- And more
How a Whole-House Electrical Surge Protector Can Help Safeguard Your Home
Surge protectors keep your home safe by detecting excess electrical current and redirecting it safely into the ground, preventing it from overpowering your electrical system. This works the same whether the surge comes from inside or outside of your home.
While point-of-use surge protectors (fancy power strips) are what homeowners are most familiar with, those products only guard the specific devices that are plugged into them. Whole-house and dedicated-circuit surge protectors provide broader and better protection than those products are capable of. While they work fine in combination, whole-house surge protectors typically provide a higher level of electrical protection, and their comprehensive, umbrella coverage is a great feature that many homeowners appreciate.
A whole-house or dedicated-circuit surge protector is normally installed immediately adjacent to a home’s electrical service panel. Relatively compact, these valuable safety devices typically can be seamlessly incorporated into an existing electrical system. The decision as to whether to install a whole-house or a dedicated-circuit surge protector – or even both! – depends on a variety of circumstances. Our electrical team regularly advises homeowners on what solution we feel would be best to suit their purposes (gamers, audiophiles, heavy computer users, solar electric and standby generator owners: Take note!).
Our Recommended Surge Protectors for Boulder, Denver & Loveland Area Homeowners
The line of surge protectors that our team at Save Home Heat frequently installs comes from Eaton-Cutler Hammer, an established, well-respected electrical components manufacturer that has been in operation for over 100 years. The company maintains a global presence in the power management field in more than 175 countries.
Our most popular residential surge protector is the model CHSPT2ULTRA, from Eaton-Cutler Hammer. Its universal design is compatible with a range of breaker panels, load centers, and breaker boxes, making it a reliable choice for many home electrical systems. Installer-friendly and built for long-term performance, the CHSPT2ULTRA can be paired with other surge protection devices to create a more robust, layered defense system. With a robust short-circuit rating of 22,000 amps (22 kA), it’s engineered to safely handle significant surge or fault currents.
While this product is our most common surge protector, the specific model that we recommend and install depends on a range of factors, including the specific brand and model of service panel, as well as what the needs of the home dictate. It’s certainly not a one-size-fits-all solution in all cases!
Quality Whole-House Electrical Surge Protectors in Metro Denver, Boulder & Loveland
If electrical surges are a heightened concern for you, or if you’d like to learn more about whole-house surge protectors, our expert, licensed electrical team at Save Home Heat Company is happy to answer any of your questions and help you find a solution that meets your needs. As always, install quotes from our friendly team are highly informative, zero pressure, and free.
Thank you for keeping Save Home Heat in mind for all your home electrical needs!
: Please contact me to schedule a surge protector install quote!]
