FPL says it protects "major motor-driven appliances," including air conditioners, refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, water heaters, electric ranges and ceiling fans. In most homes, these big appliances are not plugged into small surge protectors.
Is surgeshield backed by FPL?
In the FPL-offered program, the protection devices attach to the electric meter on the house. This is an unregulated product, offered by a subsidiary of FPL parent NextEra Energy called FPL Energy Services. The fine print says SurgeShield is not backed by FPL, but there's a guarantee against damage. What kind of guarantee?
What does the surgeshield warranty cover?
"The SurgeShield's 15-year limited warranty covers up to $5,000 per appliance, per occurrence, with a maximum of $500,000 over the life of the warranty," says the FPL mailer . Appliances not covered are "sensitive electronics such as computers."
What does the electronics surge protection plan cover?
The Electronics Surge Protection plan will reimburse you, up to $6,000 per year, for the repair or replacement of your covered sensitive electronics that become damaged by a power surge. Recently during one of the storms this summer, two of my neighbors lost multiple appliances in their home during the storm.
Do I need a power surge protector?
Power surges can cost thousands of dollars in property damage. Power surges are unpredictable and can enter through your home's electrical, phone, cable and data lines causing damage to your property. Plug-in surge protectors can help keep your devices safe, however they are not 100% effective.
What appliances need surge protectors?
The devices and appliances you want to make sure you plug in, are the expensive ones with microprocessors into your surge protector. This includes TVs, refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, AC units, PCs, laptops, game systems, and phones.
Do I need FPL surge protection?
What FPL Energy Services offers only covers the surges that come down your main electrical line, not if lightning hits the roof or travels into your house through another route. That's why you also need surge protection where you plug in electronic devices, Kirkwood said.
Does FPL install surge protection?
FPL offers free installation for its SurgeShield, but then wants $9.95 a month. In the FPL-offered program, the protection devices attach to the electric meter on the house. This is an unregulated product, offered by a subsidiary of FPL parent NextEra Energy called FPL Energy Services.
Are surge protection programs worth it?
Surge protection protects your appliances and devices from voltage spikes. Given the amount of power that appliances and devices now have, surge protection is more important than ever. If you have too much voltage running through an outlet, it can cause electrical issues or even a fire.
Is it worth getting a whole house surge protector?
Do Whole House Surge Protectors Really Work? Yes! A whole-house suppressor instantly blocks the surge from entering home circuits to provide comprehensive lightning protection. Individual plug-in suppressors can't protect electronics that aren't plugged in, but are hard-wired instead.
Are surge protectors necessary in Florida?
On average, Florida see 25.3 lightning strikes per square mile and 1.45 million lightning strikes total each year. These strikes typically cause over $6 million in property damage. Using a surge protector can help you avoid becoming part of this statistic.
What is a surge protection plan?
Surge Protect, provided by Allied Warranty, can help defray the costs of repairing or replacing your TV and other damaged electronics by up to $4,000. * By paying a small amount each month along with your Reliant electricity bill, you don't have to worry about the costs of an unexpected power surge.
Are some surge protectors better than others?
A higher joule rating is the best indicator of greater protection. Choose a surge protector with a joule rating at the very least in the 200 to 400 range. Sensitive or costly equipment, such as computers, displays and audio/video equipment, warrants a joule rating of at least 1000.
What is a power surge protector?
A surge protector guards against the damage that sudden power surges can cause. It works by pulling the current from one outlet and passing it through to the devices you have plugged into the surge protector.
What is the cost of a whole house surge protector?
It costs $300 on average to install a whole-house surge protector, with a typical range between $70 and $700. Generally, that number will fluctuate depending on how high-end of a system you want, and if you'll need an electrician to install it for you.
What should you not plug into a surge protector?
Here are some examples of high-capacity appliances that you should not plug into a power strip:Refrigerators.Washing machines and dryers.Sump pumps.Space heaters.Portable air conditioners.Microwave ovens.Toasters.Coffee makers.More items...•
Do refrigerators need surge protectors?
Small, cheap appliances like lamps, can be plugged directly into the wall. But bigger or more important items, as well as appliances that require constant power, such as computers, printers, televisions, and refrigerators, should all use surge protectors.
Superior Product
How is the SurgeShield Plus interconnection device different from a transfer switch? The SurgeShield Plus interconnection device offers several advantages over traditional transfer switches: - The SurgeShield Plus surge protector with the backup portable generator inlet plug and interconnection device is installed outside your home at the electric meter in less than 15 minutes.
Operation Instructions
What happens when the utility power is restored, and my backup portable generator is operating through the SurgeShield Plus device? Your backup portable generator continues to power your home until you turn it off, or the backup portable generator runs out of fuel.
What kind of guarantee does FPL have?
What kind of guarantee? FPL says it protects "major motor-driven appliances," including air conditioners, refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, water heaters, electric ranges and ceiling fans. In most homes, these big appliances are not plugged into small surge protectors.
How much does Kithil charge for surge protection?
After a career of dealing with lightning protection, he wants to be as safe as possible: That's why he installed the circuit breaker and surge protection for $300, which he figures is a cheaper alternative than a $9.95 charge every month.
Why is surge protection important in Florida?
Surge protection is a key issue in Florida because the state receives more lightning strikes per year than any other state, according to federal records, and lightning is the overwhelming cause of voltage surges. ("But your state is not 'the lightning capital of the world,' as Florida newspapers often claim," says Kithil.
When did Florida Power and Light offer surge protection?
Jul 29, 2011 (The Miami Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- In mailings sent this month to its millions of customers, Florida Power & Light offered "invaluable peace of mind" through a new power surge protection plan for their major home appliances such as air conditioners and refrigerators. Cost: $9.95 a month.
Is FPL a legitimate service?
But in the mailing to customers, FPL Product Manager Joe Nestor says the FPL device offers "superior protection" with "thousands of dollars in potential savings." An analyst at the state office that represents utility consumers calls it "a legitimate service." Surge protection is a key issue in Florida because the state receives more lightning strikes per year than any other state, according to federal records, and lightning is the overwhelming cause of voltage surges.
Which country gets three times as many thunderstorms as the FPL?
That honor goes to Kigali, Rwanda, which gets annually about three times as many thunderstorms, the forces that create lightning.) All utilities -- including FPL -- work hard to protect their grids against lightning, which otherwise would create havoc with the power.
Do surge protectors have a safety guarantee?
Some have guarantees about paying for damaged appliances, though there's a lot of fine print with those guarantees. Clark and Kithil note that many computer surge protectors bought at office supply stores have a safety guarantee and also offer to pay for damaged equipment, again with a lot of fine-print exceptions.
SurgeShield and Electronics Surge Protection Program Bundle
Enjoy maximum surge protection at the lowest rate. Combine the SurgeShield program for protection of your appliances with Electronics Surge Protection for up to $5,000 yearly reimbursement coverage for your sensitive electronics and save $4.95 per month!
SurgeShield, Electronics Surge Protection 2K and Personal TechPro Bundle
Enjoy maximum surge protection and unlimited tech support at the lowest rate. Combine SurgeShield, Electronics Surge Protection with up to $2,000 reimbursement coverage per year, and Personal TechPro to receive a special bundled price per month.
SurgeShield, Electronics Surge Protection 5K and Personal TechPro Bundle
Enjoy maximum surge protection and unlimited tech support at the lowest rate. Combine SurgeShield, Electronics Surge Protection with up to $5,000 yearly reimbursement costs and Personal TechPro to receive a special bundled price per month.
