A power surge can knock out your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, sticking you with a hefty repair bill and an uncomfortable home.
Lightning strikes are a major cause of power surges, but a downed power line or other erratic voltage activity can create problems, too. Power surges can melt wires and start fires. And they can affect all your electrical appliances, not just the HVAC.
In one recent case, a power surge at a home destroyed a television set and an oven and caused several hundred dollars damage to an HVAC system. It also blew out a new sound system – but did not affect a nearby, 1970s-vintage pinball machine.
In some cases, you might not immediately realize there was a power surge. But unusual smells or noises will tip you off, as will the system’s refusal to function properly, if at all.
There’s no easy fix once the power jumps the track. Veteran technicians are needed to sort out the problems, repair or replace damaged components, and restore operations.
Lightning random
How common are lightning strikes?
According to a state web site, nyc.gov, New York State has a "moderate" occurrence of lightning, with 3.8 strikes occurring per square mile each year.
But then there’s the Empire State Building, which is hit by lightning an average of 25 times a year, per National Weather Service records.
Avoid surges
To prevent power surges, consider a high-value surge protector to stop unwanted electric attacks.
A true surge protector senses unwanted electricity almost immediately and sends it into a grounding wire, which takes the power harmlessly to the ground.
Two types:
• An external surge protector is connected between the utility pole and the breaker panel inside your home. Its job is to block lightning strikes and power problems, such as when a ground disconnects between the pole and your roof.
• A whole-house surge protector, which is connected to your main breaker, wards off surges that happen inside the home.
Premier HVAC serves businesses and homes in Long Island, Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn, which is where the locally owned company is based.
