One panel-mounted surge protector defends every outlet and appliance in your home from power surges — including lightning, utility switching events, and internal spikes. One install, whole-home protection.
Standard power strip surge protectors only protect devices plugged into them — and they only work for surges coming in through the outlet. 80% of power surges originate inside the home from motors cycling on and off (HVAC, refrigerator, washing machine). These internal surges travel through your wiring to every connected device, bypassing outlet strips entirely.
A panel-mounted whole-house surge protector installs directly at the electrical panel and clamps surges before they can travel down any circuit in your home. It protects your HVAC system, water heater, stove, refrigerator, EV charger, and every outlet — not just the ones with power strips.
This is a $300–$450 install that protects thousands of dollars in electronics and appliances. If you've had a new panel installed, an EV charger added, or you're in an area with frequent storms, it's one of the highest-ROI electrical upgrades you can make.
A whole-house surge protector installation typically runs $300–$450 including the device and labor. The install takes about an hour. It's one of the quickest, highest-value electrical upgrades available — especially if you have an EV charger, smart home system, or expensive appliances.
It handles the heavy lifting — large external surges from lightning and utility events, plus internal surges from motor cycling. For sensitive electronics like computers, TVs, and home theater equipment, a point-of-use surge protector at the outlet adds a second layer of protection. Think of it as a layered system: whole-house handles 80%, point-of-use handles the rest.
A direct lightning strike to your home's service entrance is an extreme surge event — no surge protector will stop that completely. But whole-house SPDs handle the nearby lightning strike scenario (lightning hits a power line near your home, sends a surge down the line) which is far more common. For direct strikes, disconnect sensitive equipment or use point-of-use protection on top.
Quality SPDs have a status LED indicator — green means active, no light means the unit has absorbed a large surge and needs replacement. We wire the status LED to a visible location on the panel during install. SPDs should be replaced after absorbing a significant surge event, or every 5–10 years as a precaution.