Protect Your TV and Your Family

This article is sponsored by Michael & Son, the leading full-service plumbing, electrical, HVAC and remodeling company serving the Washington D.C. area for over 30 years. Learn more about Michael & Son at MichaelandSon.com.

You might have parted ways with a surge protector the minute you moved out of your college dorm room and realized you no longer required your computer, stereo, fan, Xbox and lava lamp to operate simultaneously. But did you know these trusty doohickeys are the key to keeping your electronics and your family safe?

Simply put, a surge protector's greatest function is to protect your electrical appliances from power surges, which can be quick, erratic and extremely harmful. In most cases the term surge refers  to anytime the flow of electricity surpasses the standard 120 volts. By acting as a safeguard against any transient voltage, a proper surge protector guarantees that your new big screen doesn't go up in smoke…along with the rest of your home.

Unfortunately, however, not all surge protectors are created equal, meaning some might not be able to handle the amount of electricity running through your home. Take the guesswork and danger out of the process by scheduling a courtesy appointment with a Michael & Son technician, who will check your home for the following:

• Check GFCI’s (aka outlets) for sensitivity
   
• Check smoke detectors circuitry
   
• Check panel for grounding system
   
• Check aluminum wires for oxidation
   
• Check main service termination
   
• Check wires for proper sizing
   
• Check surge protection at panel
   
• Check for ARC fault protection at panel

But before even consulting a technician about the electricity (whether it runs through a surge protector or not) in your home, there are still two items that you can easily maintain on your own: Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Here are some quick tips to maintaining these inexpensive but vital pieces of equipment:

• Change the batteries every time you set your clocks forward and back
   
• Test the smoke detectors using the test button monthly
   
• Purchase combo/linked unit that detect both carbon monoxide and smoke
   
• Make sure each room in your home has a detector

Of course these are only precautionary steps. If you want to get a full assessment of the electricity running through your home and how to properly protect your electronics from rogue surges, contact the experts at Michael & Son.

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