A power surge is a temporary spike in the electrical current in your home. Power surges typically last only a fraction of a second, but that is plenty of time to wreak havoc on your electrical equipment. There are two basic types of home power surges: external and internal.

External Power Surges originate from outside your home. In The Woodlands area, Hurricanes and Tropical Storms are a common occurrence and lightning can definitely cause these surges. You may experience power spikes from a number of other external causes as well.

These include such things as electrical grid distribution activity, damage to exterior power lines, power plant maintenance, electrically powered heavy machinery operating in your neighborhood and even from our little squirrel friends that we have an abundance of here.

Internal Power Surges happen when an electrical device suddenly turns off and stops drawing electricity. This results in a brief increase in voltage throughout the home because the current it was drawing suddenly has no place to go. Even a small appliance such as a hair dryer can set off a power surge. However, because of their size, the amount of power they draw and the fact that they shut on and off many times a day, AC units are one of the most common causes.