Whole House Surge Protector
Gragg Electrical Services installs whole house surge protectors to defend your home’s electronics. Our licensed electricians in East Canton, OH can protect your entire home from damaging power surges.

Top Whole House Surge Protector Service in East Canton, OH
The valuable electronic devices in your home are extremely vulnerable to damage from power surges. Gragg Electrical Services offers the ultimate solution with the professional installation of a whole house surge protector. Unlike simple power strips, a whole house device is installed directly at your electrical panel, protecting every single circuit and outlet in your home. It provides a robust first line of defense against powerful surges from lightning strikes and utility grid fluctuations. Our licensed electricians can install a high-quality surge protective device (SPD) to safeguard your appliances, computers, and entertainment systems. For complete protection and peace of mind in East Canton, trust our experts. A whole house surge protector is an essential investment for any modern home.
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Whole House Surge Protector
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Whole House Surge Protector
The modern home is filled with sensitive and expensive electronics, from your big-screen TV and computers to your smart appliances. All of these devices contain delicate microprocessors that are highly susceptible to damage from voltage spikes, also known as power surges. A whole house surge protector, professionally installed by the electricians at Gragg Electrical Services, is the best way to defend all of your valuable electronics. This single device provides a powerful shield for your entire home, offering protection that is far superior to individual plug-in power strips. It is a crucial investment in protecting your modern lifestyle.
A whole house surge protective device (SPD) is installed directly at your main electrical panel. It works by constantly monitoring the incoming voltage from the utility company. If it detects a voltage that is significantly higher than normal, which indicates a power surge, the device instantly diverts the excess and harmful electrical energy safely away from your home’s wiring and sends it to the grounding system. This process happens in a fraction of a second, clamping down on the voltage spike before it can travel through your circuits and destroy your sensitive electronics. It acts as a gatekeeper, protecting everything downstream.
Power surges can come from a variety of sources. The most dramatic and powerful surges are caused by lightning strikes, even ones that occur miles away from your home. A lightning strike can induce a massive voltage spike onto the utility lines that then travels directly to your house. Other common sources of surges are external to your home, such as fluctuations from the power grid when the utility company switches circuits or when power is restored after an outage. Surges can also be generated from inside your own home when large appliances with motors, like your air conditioner or refrigerator, cycle on and off. A whole house surge protector defends against all these types of surges.
While many people use plug-in surge protector power strips for their computers and TVs, these devices offer only a limited, secondary layer of protection. They are not designed to handle the massive energy of a large, external power surge, such as one from a lightning strike. A powerful surge can easily overwhelm a simple power strip, destroying it and the devices plugged into it. The best practice, recommended by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, is a layered approach. A whole house surge protector at the panel provides the primary defense against large surges, and point-of-use power strips can then provide a second layer of defense for your most sensitive electronics.
The installation of a whole house surge protector must be performed by a licensed electrician. It involves working inside your main electrical panel, which is dangerous for anyone without the proper training. Our electrician will install a new double-pole circuit breaker in your panel and will connect the surge protective device to this breaker and to the neutral and ground bus bars. The wires connecting the SPD must be kept as short and straight as possible for it to be effective, which is a detail a professional understands. We will install a high-quality device from a reputable manufacturer that has a high surge current capacity rating, measured in kiloamps (kA).
A properly installed whole house surge protector is a smart and affordable investment when you consider the total value of all the electronic equipment in your home. The cost of replacing a modern refrigerator’s control board, a high-end television, a computer, and multiple other small electronics after a power surge can easily run into thousands of dollars. The cost of a professionally installed whole house SPD is a small fraction of that potential loss. It provides constant, silent protection for every single outlet in your home, 24 hours a day.
Do not leave your valuable electronics unprotected. The question is not if a damaging power surge will occur, but when. With the increasing number of sensitive electronics in our homes, the need for robust surge protection has never been greater. Contact Gragg Electrical Services to have a licensed electrician assess your panel and install a high-quality whole house surge protector. It is the most effective way to safeguard your investment in today’s technology and provide you with lasting peace of mind.

Mike W. Was so kind and was very concerned of our needs. We had a gfi box where the wire had croaded. And it was installed 30 yrs ago. Gragg electric was referred by our neighbor Nate Bergert they was here in 24 hours

Gragg Electric came through for us on our FULL GRIP Store Project in downtown Akron. The building was built in 1930 and Gragg took on the challenge. Great work guys!

This was a residential job to rewire (completely) a 70 year old house, so not an easy task. It took the amount of time I expected. I also expected my house to look like swiss cheese after the work was done. That was not the case at all. They found ways to fish wire that resulted in about 30% of the holes I expected. A new panel replaced a 10 year old panel put in by JENNINGS which was full of water, rust & damage. They replaced the service drop and weather-head. It was a lot of work and I am happy with the completed job. I would call them again for future work. Ask for Sean!

Solid choice for local electrical work. Highly recommend if you are in need of a quality electrician. Handles both residential and commercial.

A top notch company that is willing to do anything and everything to make you happy. The field team is great to work with, and the communication with the office staff is the best I've come across in a very long time. I build homes for a living, and Gragg hasn't missed a deadline yet and are always one of the neatest sub contractors I deal with. If you're looking for an electrical contractor, this is where you want to be.

Solid choice for local electrical work. Highly recommend if you are in need of a quality electrician. Handles both residential and commercial.

Gragg electrical services has been nothing but great for all of our requests. They are timely on services and extremely knowledgeable. Highly recommended for any electrical work needed.

Absolutely the best! Best price, most professional & friendliest ever. From the 1st initial phone call, to our tech Don who was outstanding. Will continue to use them in the future & would highly recommend them.

We had quit a few things that needed done at the house the crew that came out was very respectful! Explained everything they were doing, answered all questions we had, and did an amazing job at everything that needed done . I Will definitely recommend this company to everyone I know.

We had quit a few things that needed done at the house the crew that came out was very respectful! Explained everything they were doing, answered all questions we had, and did an amazing job at everything that needed done . I Will definitely recommend this company to everyone I know.

Gragg Electrical Services: They helped us out in a pinch. We had an issue where we need someone out the same day to deal with a parking lot lighting issue. Not only did they come out same day and diagnose the issue. They were able to provide a solution and come out the next day to resolve it. Mind you we had other vendors on this who could not provide the same level of service Gragg Electrical did. I will be using them again for any electrical needs we have. Thank you so much for hard work on this for us.

Don was exceptional! Very quick response time, professional, knowledgeable and super friendly. Our new go-to electrician!

I had an electrical emergency! Gragg Electrical sent Don out the same day I called! He handled my emergency, explained everything, and answered all my questions! The cost was reasonable, actually less than expected! I have already referred them to my family and friends and will use them in the future!

A very professional trustworthy company Faith based with true Christian values Technicians able to resolve problems and make recommendations A true customer service oriented company Thank you for a very good repair job

Don came out to diagnose my outlet outage in the kitchens. He reset them and checked the breaker box. He assured me everything was fine. I will definitely use Bragg again and highly recommend Bragg Electric in East Canton OH.

Quick responses to any of my questions and cut out to give the estimate the very next day

Gragg is Best co, I’ve had several electric companies in my home and none of them could resolve my issues! Very intelligent/ knowledgeable! Gragg is now my electricians for life!

This company is amazing and actually cared that I wasn't able to come home until work was done and rushed to get me scheduled. Truly the best company around. Out of 14 that I called I'm confident I received the best price and service. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!

I had an issue and they were able to come right out. 150 for the service charge. But it was a power company problem, it's fixed. But appreciated Gragg electrical for being so flexible and professional. Also the technician explained everything to me in a way I understood.

This company is amazing and actually cared that I wasn't able to come home until work was done and rushed to get me scheduled. Truly the best company around. Out of 14 that I called I'm confident I received the best price and service. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!

I called them to install a kitchen light, and add light switches, as well as to install some plugs in my basement. While he was there, he also fixed the issue with my outside motion light in the process (as it tied into the same switch plate). The customer service and professionalism for this company is phenomenal. They answer your call and/ or call you back quickly. They communicate exactly when they are coming as they set up an appointment, and called the day of to let me know he was on his way. I strongly recommend this company and will be sure to use them for future electrical needs.

Gragg Electric was courteous, fast, efficient and very reasonably priced. Someone you can appreciate when you need electrical work done. Will definitely call them if needed again.

Brandon came right away and provided a quote for work I needed done. David and Zach did the inside work for me and they were very professional and super nice guys. We had a little adventure when they had to enter to attic which unfortunately had a quite large number of winged rats to fight off. These guys are great electricians, but they are pretty brave too 🙂

Brandon and his team were great! I called them when I was in a pinch. He provided fast, detailed service, and kept me informed every step of the way! Definitely recommending Gragg to everyone I know and meet in the future:) Thanks for the help!!

Gragg's service was first class from their timely estimate to the last inspection! David was very knowledgeable, friendly and got the job done.

Extremely professional from start to finish. Very clear precise plan that was followed through without any issues. Quality work. Gragg will be my go to electricians.

We have utilized Gragg Electrical for many years!! Would not go anywhere else. They are trustworthy and excellent electricians and genuinely good people!

Brandon, David and his crew are great!!! They arrived on time and completed my long list of electrical work that needed to be done... this is the 4th time we have used Gragg electric... the prices are very fair as well ! we will never go anywhere else!!! Next comes the inground pool 🙂

Professional. Arrived timely. Explained issues. Nice guys. Reasonable price. We will call them in future for electrical work. Recommend them to anyone looking for an electrician.

I highly recommend this company. They arrived on time very professional and you got done in a timely manner. This is the second time I’ve used this company and I will be using them again in the future !!

Gragg electric was a blessing to have do the work for our new construction home. Very trustworthy and did a wonderful job!

I just want to say what a joy it was to have Gragg Electrical Services, LLC work on my house today. The electricians were very knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. They cleaned up after when they were done. Everything went great. They took care of all my wants and needs and I had a long list of wishes that they took care of. I highly recommend them. I will be a returning customer. 😀 Thank you Brandon, David and the entire team who made my dreams a reality.
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Most Common Whole House Surge Protector Questions
Protecting your home’s electronics from power surges is a smart move. Homeowners often have questions about how whole house surge protectors work and why they are necessary. Here are the answers to the most common questions on this topic.
The difference between a whole house surge protector and a simple plug-in power strip is significant in terms of both location and capability. A whole house surge protector, also known as a Service Entrance or Type 1 or Type 2 Surge Protective Device (SPD), is a robust device that is installed by an electrician directly at your main electrical panel. Its job is to be the first line of defense, protecting your entire home from large, external power surges that originate from outside, such as those from lightning strikes or utility grid switching. It diverts the vast majority of the surge’s energy safely to ground before it can even enter your home’s circuits.
A surge protector power strip is a point-of-use or Type 3 SPD. It is a much smaller device that is designed to protect only the specific electronics that are plugged directly into it. It provides a secondary, weaker layer of protection. While these strips are useful for cleaning up any small amounts of surge energy that might get past the main protector, they are not designed to handle a large external surge on their own. A powerful surge from a nearby lightning strike will easily overwhelm and destroy a simple power strip, and it will likely take the connected TV and computer with it.
The best practice recommended by electrical safety experts is to use a layered approach. The whole house surge protector at the panel does the heavy lifting, stopping the big, dangerous surges from entering the house. The point-of-use surge strips then provide a final cleanup for any residual energy and can protect against smaller surges that might be generated from inside your home. A whole house unit protects everything, including your hardwired appliances like your oven and dishwasher, which cannot be plugged into a power strip.
Power surges can originate from both outside and inside your home. The most powerful and destructive surges are external ones. Lightning is the most well-known cause. A direct lightning strike to your home or a nearby utility line can send millions of volts of electricity through your wiring, which is catastrophic. Even a lightning strike a mile away can induce a very strong and damaging surge onto the power grid that then travels to your house. Another common external source is the utility company itself. The switching of power grids, faults in transformers, or the restoration of power after a blackout can all create significant voltage spikes that travel down the line to all the homes on the grid.
However, a surprising number of power surges are actually generated from within your own home. These are smaller, more frequent surges that can degrade and damage your electronics over time. These internal surges are created by large appliances with powerful motors. Every time your central air conditioner, your refrigerator, or even your garage door opener cycles on, its motor creates a small electrical disturbance and voltage spike on your home’s wiring. While these individual surges are not as dramatic as a lightning strike, their cumulative effect over many years can lead to the premature failure of sensitive electronic components in your other devices.
A whole house surge protector installed at your panel is effective at stopping the large external surges. It can also help to clamp down on the larger internal surges generated by major appliances, protecting the rest of the circuits in your home. This comprehensive protection is something that simple power strips cannot provide.
The installation of a whole house surge protector is a job that must be performed by a licensed electrician, as it involves working inside your main electrical panel. The device itself is a small box, typically mounted on the side of or just below your main panel. The electrician will first turn off the main breaker to safely de-energize the panel. They will then install a new double-pole circuit breaker, usually a 15-amp or 20-amp breaker, into an available space in the panel. This new breaker will serve as the connection point and a disconnect for the surge protector.
The electrician will then connect the wires from the surge protector to the new breaker, the neutral bus bar, and the ground bus bar inside the panel. It is a critical rule of installation that these wires be kept as short and as straight as possible. The length and path of these wires directly impact how effectively the device can react to a surge. Long, looping wires increase the impedance and can slow down the device’s ability to divert the surge energy to ground. A professional electrician understands the importance of this detail and will ensure the installation is optimized for the best performance.
Once the device is wired in, the electrician will restore power and check the indicator lights on the surge protector to ensure it is powered on and functioning correctly. Most whole house SPDs have a set of LED lights that show their status. If these lights ever go out, it means the device has sacrificed itself to stop a major surge and needs to be replaced. The entire installation process is typically very quick, often taking less than an hour for an experienced electrician.
This is a common question with a nuanced answer. A whole house surge protector provides excellent protection against the common surges that are induced onto power lines by a nearby lightning strike. These are by far the most frequent type of lightning-related damage. However, no surge protection device, no matter how robust, can be expected to protect your home’s electronics from a direct lightning strike. A direct strike contains an unimaginable amount of energy, millions of volts and hundreds of thousands of amps, which is powerful enough to vaporize wiring and cause explosive damage.
For protection against a direct lightning strike, you would need a completely different type of system called a lightning protection system or a lightning rod system. This involves installing large copper or aluminum air terminals (lightning rods) on the roof of your house, which are connected by heavy-duty cables to a series of grounding electrodes buried deep in the earth. This system is designed to intercept a direct strike and provide a safe path for the massive current to travel directly to the ground, bypassing your home’s structure and wiring entirely.
So, it is important to have realistic expectations. A whole house surge protector is your best defense against the common, everyday surges and the surges from nearby lightning. A lightning protection system is what you need for the much rarer, but catastrophic, event of a direct strike. For most homeowners, a professionally installed whole house surge protector offers a very high level of practical and affordable protection against the most likely electrical threats.
The cost of having a whole house surge protector professionally installed is a very reasonable investment, especially when compared to the potential cost of replacing multiple damaged appliances and electronics. The total cost of the project includes both the price of the surge protective device (SPD) itself and the labor cost for the electrician to install it. The devices themselves can range in price based on their brand and their surge current capacity rating, which is measured in kiloamps (kA). A higher kA rating means the device can handle a larger surge, and these devices typically cost a bit more.
The installation labor is usually very straightforward for a qualified electrician and can often be completed in under an hour. The electrician will need to install a new breaker in your panel and make the necessary connections. The total cost for a professional installation, including a high-quality device, is typically in the range of a few hundred dollars. This is a very small price to pay for the peace of mind and the protection it provides for the thousands of dollars worth of electronics in your home.
When you get a quote from Gragg Electrical Services, we will recommend a high-quality SPD with a robust kA rating that is appropriate for a residential application. Our upfront price will include both the device and the complete, professional installation. It is one of the most cost-effective electrical safety and protection upgrades you can make to your modern home.
Yes, for the best possible protection, it is still recommended that you use high-quality, point-of-use surge protector power strips for your most sensitive and expensive electronics, even after you have had a whole house surge protector installed. This strategy is known as “cascaded” or “layered” protection. The two devices work together as a team to provide the most comprehensive defense against power surges. The whole house unit at the panel is the first line of defense, handling the big, external surges. The power strip at the outlet is the second line of defense.
No whole house surge protector is 100% perfect; a tiny amount of “let-through” voltage from a very large surge can sometimes still get past it. The point-of-use surge strip is there to “clean up” this small, residual surge energy before it reaches your delicate computer or home theater system. The power strip can also help to protect against smaller surges that might be generated from inside your home on the same circuit, which the main panel protector might not see.
Think of it like the security at an important building. The whole house protector is like the main security gate at the entrance to the property, stopping the big threats from getting in. The surge protector power strip is like the security guard standing right outside the door to the most important room, providing a final check and an extra layer of defense. By using both, you can be confident that your most valuable electronics have the best possible protection from all types of electrical surges.
A whole house surge protector does not have a set lifespan in terms of years, as its life is determined by the number and intensity of the power surges it is exposed to. The protective components inside the device, which are typically Metal Oxide Varistors (MOVs), work by absorbing and diverting the excess energy from a surge. Each time they do this, they degrade just a little bit. After absorbing one very large surge, or many smaller surges over time, these components will eventually wear out and will no longer be able to provide protection.
Most whole house surge protectors have a set of LED indicator lights on the unit that show its status. As long as these lights are on, the device is working and providing protection. If one of the lights goes out, it is a signal that the device has sacrificed itself to protect your home from a significant surge and that it needs to be replaced. It is a good idea to check these indicator lights periodically, perhaps once or twice a year, to make sure your protection is still active.
Many high-quality surge protectors also come with a manufacturer’s warranty that often covers a certain amount of connected equipment damage. This shows the manufacturer’s confidence in their product’s ability to protect your home. While the device itself may need to be replaced after a major surge event, the cost of replacing the surge protector is minuscule compared to the cost of replacing all the electronics it saved.
No, a whole house surge protector does not protect against brownouts or sags in voltage. The function of a surge protector is very specific: it is designed to protect against over-voltage conditions (surges and spikes), where the voltage rises significantly above the normal level. A brownout is the opposite condition; it is an under-voltage event where the voltage drops significantly below the normal level for a sustained period. This can cause lights to dim and can also be damaging to some motors and electronic power supplies.
A surge protector is not designed to do anything during a brownout. It will simply allow the lower voltage to pass through to your devices. The type of device that protects against brownouts and power outages is called an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). A UPS contains a battery, and when it detects low voltage or a complete loss of power, it instantly switches over to its battery backup to provide clean, stable power to the connected devices.
A UPS is typically used for very sensitive and critical electronics, like a desktop computer or a home network server. It gives you time to save your work and shut the equipment down gracefully during a power outage. For comprehensive protection, you might use a whole house surge protector to defend against surges, and a smaller, point-of-use UPS for your computer to defend against brownouts and blackouts. The two devices serve different but complementary protective functions.
Work With The Top Whole House Surge Protector Service Near You
Contact Gragg Electrical Services to schedule the installation of a whole house surge protector. Our East Canton electricians are ready to provide this essential protection for all the valuable electronics in your home.