Power Surges Are Silently Destroying Middlesex County Appliances – Here’s What You Need to Know

Homeowners across Middlesex County, Massachusetts are facing an invisible threat that’s quietly damaging their most essential appliances. Power surges, while relatively rare and usually lasting only a fraction of a second, can do significant damage to electronic devices and household appliances, creating costly repair bills that catch families completely off guard.

The Hidden Appliance Killer in Your Home

A power surge is a sudden surge or increase of electrical power that is higher than normal. Typical voltage levels for household appliances and electronics are between 110 – 220 volts, and when a power surge happens, increased volts are sent through your home’s wiring, overloading the system. What makes this particularly dangerous is that if your home experiences a power surge, it can damage anything plugged into the electrical system of your house, even if it’s not turned on. This can include electronics, appliances, and more.

The most insidious aspect of power surge damage is how it accumulates over time. You may not notice damage to your devices after a small power surge. Still, even the slightest fluctuation makes an impact and slowly shortens the lives of your electrical appliances and electronic devices until one day, they mysteriously just stop working.

What’s Causing Power Surges in Middlesex County Homes

Understanding the root causes of power surges can help homeowners protect their investments. Internal sources within your home are responsible for up to 80% of power surges you’ll experience, making them the most common cause of power surges.

The primary culprits include:

• Large Appliance Cycling: When electronic devices with motors and compressors turn on or off, they interrupt the flow of energy to and from other electrical appliances. You’ll frequently see this circuit overload occur with hairdryers, space heaters, power tools, HVAC units or air conditioners, and large appliances.
• Aging Electrical Systems: Another cause for internally-caused power surges is outdated electrical systems and faulty wiring, particularly in older homes that don’t have updated wiring. Many homes built before the 1980s have cheaper aluminum wiring rather than today’s standard copper wiring. We now know that the old aluminum connections tend to loosen and cause power surges.
• Power Restoration: If your home or neighborhood suffers a power outage, an electrical surge is likely to occur when power is restored. The sudden jump from zero to being back on can damage devices.

The True Cost of Surge Damage

The majority of electronics and appliances in the U.S. can’t handle voltage above 169. But when a power surge occurs, it causes a flow of electricity that spikes above 169 volts, resulting in an arc of electrical current. This arc generates heat that is damaging to electronic components and circuit boards.

When surge damage strikes, homeowners face difficult decisions about repair versus replacement. You may end up having to pay several hundreds or even thousands of dollars to replace property that was damaged during just one single surge. For many families, no one wants to be put in a position where they unexpectedly have to replace a large appliance that they didn’t budget for.

Protecting Your Appliances from Surge Damage

The good news is that homeowners can take proactive steps to protect their appliances. Whole-home surge protection safeguards your electronics and appliances from damage by absorbing the excess energy from a power surge before it has a chance to reach your devices. Regardless of what causes the surge, a good quality protection system creates a barrier between your circuits and your appliances.

Immediate protection strategies include:

• Use surge protector strips: These special power strips have built-in protection against electrical surges
• Unplug items before a storm: If there’s bad weather coming, unplug what you can. This can include TVs, computers, gaming systems, and even appliances like your microwave or dryer (if it can be done easily)
• Unplug if there’s an outage: If you do lose power in your home, disconnect everything you can that draws power. Power surges can happen when electricity is restored, so the fewer items plugged in when it comes back on, the better

When Surge Damage Strikes: Professional Appliance Repair

Despite your best prevention efforts, surge damage can still occur. When it does, having access to reliable repair services becomes crucial. Fast Action Appliance serves Middlesex County with honest appliance repair services when you need them the most. We do it all, from answering the phone to showing up on time and fixing your appliances right the first time using the right tools and genuine replacement parts.

Professional technicians can assess whether surge-damaged appliances are worth repairing or if replacement makes more economic sense. In many cases, repairing a refrigerator is more cost-effective than replacing it—especially if it’s less than 10 years old. We offer honest diagnostics and will always recommend the most practical solution for your needs and budget.

For homeowners dealing with surge-damaged appliances, seeking professional Appliance Repair Middlesex County MA services ensures proper diagnosis and repair using manufacturer-approved parts that restore optimal performance.

Insurance and Financial Protection

Understanding your insurance coverage is essential when dealing with surge damage. Homeowners’ insurance may cover power surge damage, but you will likely have to pay a deductible. It’s important to keep receipts for any new electronics you buy so you can later show how much the items cost.

Some insurance companies even offer incentives for surge protection. Whole home surge protection also helps to maintain the life of your home’s major electrical components and can reduce your homeowner’s insurance rates. Many property insurance companies offer discounts for homes or businesses that have surge protection systems in place since they reduce the damages the company would need to pay out on covered claims.

Taking Action Before It’s Too Late

Power surges represent a significant but often overlooked threat to household appliances across Middlesex County. Power surges can be silent killers—destroying electronics, degrading wiring, and compromising safety without warning. With expert power surge troubleshooting, you can take control before disaster strikes.

The combination of aging electrical infrastructure, increasing reliance on sensitive electronic appliances, and unpredictable weather patterns makes surge protection more critical than ever. By understanding the risks, implementing protective measures, and knowing where to turn for professional repair services when needed, Middlesex County homeowners can safeguard their appliances and avoid unexpected financial burdens.

Don’t wait until surge damage leaves you facing expensive repairs or replacements. Take proactive steps now to protect your home’s essential appliances, and remember that professional repair services are available when prevention isn’t enough.