Why Whole-House Surge Protection Matters More Than You Think

When most homeowners hear the phrase power surge, they picture a lightning strike during a thunderstorm. But here's the surprising truth—the majority of surges that damage your electronics actually come from inside your own home.

🌩️ What Exactly Is a Power Surge?

A power surge is a brief spike in voltage that travels through your electrical system. These spikes can be large and obvious—like when lightning strikes a utility pole—or small and subtle, caused by everyday appliances cycling on and off. Regardless of the size, surges can slowly (or instantly) damage anything plugged into your home’s outlets.

⚠️ Internal Surges: The Hidden Culprit

According to industry studies, 60–80% of all power surges originate from internal sources. That includes:

• Refrigerators and freezers

• HVAC systems (especially when compressors kick on)

• Washers and dryers

• Dishwashers and microwaves

• Power tools or equipment with motors

• Hairdryers or vacuum cleaners

These everyday devices create tiny surges each time they start or stop. Over time, those fluctuations can degrade circuit boards in TVs, computers, gaming systems, and smart home devices—leading to premature failure.

🛡️ What Does Whole-House Surge Protection Do?

Unlike plug-in surge strips that only protect individual devices, a whole-house surge protector is installed at your electrical panel to guard your entire home. It works like a pressure valve—redirecting excess voltage safely into the ground before it can travel to your outlets and fry your electronics.

Even better, whole-house surge protection doesn’t just guard against internal mini-surges. It also adds an essential layer of protection against:

• Lightning strikes nearby

• Power grid issues

• Utility switching surges

• Downed power lines

It’s a complete solution that protects every circuit, not just the ones you can see.

💡 Why Install It Now?

With summer just around the corner, your air conditioner is about to start working harder—and that’s one of the top sources of internal surges. Combine that with increased demand on the power grid, and your electrical system will be under more stress than usual.

Adding a surge protector now ensures:

• Your home is ready for the seasonal load increase

• You’re protecting new appliances or smart home investments

• Your electrical panel is working smarter, not harder

✅ The Benefits of Whole-House Surge Protection

• Covers your entire electrical system—every outlet, every circuit

• Prevents costly damage to electronics, appliances, and HVAC units

• Affordable—especially when added during a panel upgrade or service visit

• Low-maintenance and long-lasting solution

• Boosts your home’s resale value with added protection and safety features

If you're investing in smart tech, upgrading your panel, or just want to extend the life of your electronics, this is a smart, protective step. Bowman Electric can install surge protection as a standalone service or bundle it into any panel or service upgrade.

Protect your home from the inside out—before those invisible surges start costing you.

Watt’s Good for the Planet: Simple Electrical Upgrades That Make a Big Difference

Every day is a good day to save energy—but Earth Day is the perfect time to make it happen. Whether you're looking to cut monthly costs, reduce your carbon footprint, or modernize your home, small changes to your electrical system can lead to big results for both your wallet and the environment.

Here are three upgrades that pack a powerful punch:

💡 1. Switch to LED Lighting

LED bulbs last up to 25 times longer and use a fraction of the electricity compared to incandescent or halogen options. With rebates often available and installation costs low, this is one of the easiest ways to boost efficiency.

🌡 2. Install a Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats learn your patterns and adjust heating and cooling automatically, helping you avoid energy waste. Many models offer app control, energy usage reports, and integrations with your smart home system.

⚙ 3. Consider a Whole-Home Energy Audit

Not sure where your home is losing energy? A professional energy audit can identify issues with insulation, lighting, outdated appliances, or phantom loads. We offer full audits and can recommend upgrade packages that fit your goals and budget.

🔋 Bonus: Upgrade to Energy Star Appliances

When it's time to replace older appliances, opt for ENERGY STAR-rated models. They’re designed to use less energy and water without sacrificing performance.

The Bottom Line: Going green doesn’t mean going it alone. Bowman Electric can help you make smarter electrical decisions that are good for your home and great for the Earth.

✅ Book your energy-efficient upgrade today and take a powerful step toward sustainability.

Ungrounded Outlets — What They Are and Why You Should Have Them Fixed

If your home has outlets with only two slots and no round grounding hole, it likely means your electrical system is outdated — and possibly unsafe. Ungrounded outlets are more than just old-fashioned. They can’t properly protect your appliances or your family from electrical faults, surges, or shock hazards.

Let’s break down what ungrounded outlets really mean and why addressing them should be a priority.

What Does “Grounded” Mean in Electrical Terms?

Electrical grounding provides a safe path for stray electricity to travel back to the ground (earth) if there’s a fault — like a short circuit or surge. A grounded outlet has three connections:

• Hot wire: carries power into the device.

• Neutral wire: carries electricity back to the panel.

• Ground wire: a safety route for excess current.

When an outlet is ungrounded, it’s missing that safety route — so if something goes wrong, the electricity could travel into your devices, your walls, or worse, into a person.

Why Ungrounded Outlets Are a Safety Hazard

Ungrounded outlets might seem harmless, especially if they’ve “worked fine for years,” but the risks are real:

• Surge Vulnerability: Without grounding, your electronics have no defense against voltage spikes from lightning or utility surges.

• Shock Risk: Faulty appliances or wiring can become live without warning — especially dangerous in kitchens, bathrooms, or basements.

• Fire Risk: Arcing or overheating can occur behind walls when faults have nowhere safe to go.

• Code Compliance: Most electrical codes now require outlets to be grounded, especially in any room near water.

• Insurance Liability: In the event of damage or fire, some insurance claims may be denied due to outdated or unsafe wiring.

What Can You Do About Ungrounded Outlets?

Fixing ungrounded outlets isn’t just about swapping out a faceplate — it takes a licensed electrician to properly diagnose and safely upgrade the wiring behind the walls. Here’s what we can do at Bowman Electric:

• Upgrade to Grounded Outlets: We’ll replace outdated two-prong outlets with three-prong grounded ones, ensuring each circuit has the proper grounding path.

• Install GFCI Protection: In some cases, especially if full rewiring isn't immediately possible, we can install GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets as a temporary safety measure. While not a true ground, GFCIs monitor current and shut off power if a fault is detected.

• Inspect and Test Your System: We’ll assess your wiring, confirm if grounding is present, and recommend the safest path forward based on your home’s condition.

When Should You Make the Switch?

If you’ve recently purchased an older home, are planning to sell, or are using modern electronics in an ungrounded system, now is the time to act. TVs, computers, chargers, and appliances are more sensitive than ever to fluctuations in power — and one surge could fry them instantly.

Plus, upgrading your outlets adds value to your home and peace of mind to your daily life.

📞 Ready to Upgrade?

Let Bowman Electric help bring your home’s electrical system into the modern age — safely, efficiently, and to code. Whether you need a full rewiring or just want safer outlets in key areas, we’ve got your back.