Does it protect against lightning?

Against nearby strikes and the surges they send through the grid, yes. Against a direct lightning hit on your house, nothing fully protects — that's what lightning rods are for. But direct hits are rare; grid surges are common.

How long does the device last?

Most have an indicator light showing they're working. A big surge can wear one out — that's it doing its job. We check the indicator during service visits and replace units that have taken a hit.

Do I still need plug-in strips?

For your most sensitive gear — computers, home theater — yes. The panel unit handles the big spikes; strips handle the small leftovers. Two layers beat one.

Will it work with my old panel?

Most panels accept a surge device, including many older ones. If your panel is full or damaged, we'll tell you during the free inspection — sometimes a panel upgrade comes first.

Whole-House Surge Protection in Alexandria, VA

Name: Alexandria Rewiring Pros
Address: Alexandria, VA
Telephone: +13016799193
Price range: $$

What a surge does

A power surge is a spike of voltage — from lightning, the utility switching, or even your AC cycling. Small surges happen daily and quietly wear out electronics. One big surge can kill your HVAC control board, fridge computer, washer, and TV in a single second. In Alexandria's older neighborhoods, the grid and the storms both deliver their share.

Why power strips aren't enough

A plug-in strip is the last line of defense, not the first. It can only handle small surges, and it does nothing for hardwired equipment — your furnace, AC, dishwasher, and oven have no plug to protect. Whole-house protection sits at the panel and clamps the big spikes before they ever reach your circuits.

How it works

We install a surge protective device — an SPD — at your electrical panel. It's a small box wired into the panel that diverts excess voltage to ground in milliseconds. Think of it as a bouncer at the door: big spikes never get inside. We recommend pairing it with point-of-use strips for sensitive electronics. Layered protection, like wearing a belt and suspenders.

What it protects

Everything with a circuit board: HVAC systems, smart thermostats, appliances, garage door openers, home office gear. A single fried HVAC board can cost more than the surge protector many times over. If your home has new appliances or a new HVAC, protecting them is common sense.

Your ground has to be good

Here's what most people don't know: a surge protector is only as good as your grounding. The device works by shunting excess voltage into the earth — if your home's ground rod is corroded, disconnected, or was never properly installed (common in Alexandria's oldest homes), the surge has nowhere to go. That's why every surge installation we do starts with a ground check. We test the grounding electrode system and fix it if needed — ground rods, water-pipe bond, the works. A surge protector on a bad ground is an expensive decoration. On a good ground, it's the best cheap insurance your panel can buy.

One storm shouldn't cost you thousands. Call (301) 679-9193 — we install whole-house surge protection in about an hour, and we'll check your grounding at the same time.