Whole-House Surge Protection: Is It Worth It? 

You’ve got home insurance. You’ve got security cameras. You might even lock your gates at night. But there’s one type of protection some homeowners overlook — and it could be a highly expensive mistake. When lightning strikes, the power goes out, or your utility company sends a sudden voltage spike, your electronics and appliances are at risk of being fried in moments. That’s where whole-house surge protection comes in. At Dove Electric, we often hear: “Is it really worth it?” Here’s the short answer: Yes. Let’s show you why — and exactly what to expect when you install one. 

What Is Whole-House Surge Protection? 

Whole-house surge protectors are devices installed directly at your electrical panel that block dangerous voltage spikes before they can enter your home’s wiring. 

Unlike cheaper store-bought power strips that only protect one outlet, a whole-house surge protector shields your entire home — including: 

• Refrigerators, washers & dryers 
• TVs, computers, game consoles 
• Smart thermostats & home assistants 
• Solar inverters, EV chargers, garage doors 
• HVAC systems and more 

If it’s plugged in, it’s vulnerable. One surge can destroy multiple devices in an instant — even if you never see or hear it happen. 

Why Surge Protection Matters 

We love living in the high desert — but homes in New Mexico face unique electrical risks: 

• Monsoon storms & lightning during the summer months 
• Power grid instability and fluctuations from the utility company 
• Solar energy systems that can interact with your panel 
• Aging electrical infrastructure in older neighborhoods 

Even small surges over time can slowly degrade your appliances and electronics, shortening their lifespan and reducing performance. 

Dove Tip: You insure your house against fire — surge protection insures it against power damage. 

What to Expect During Installation 

Our team at Dove Electric installs whole-house surge protectors in just a few hours — and it’s more affordable than most homeowners think. 

Here’s what happens: 

1. We assess your panel and existing electrical system 
2. We recommend the best surge protector for your home size and setup 
3. We install it directly to your breaker panel — no need to replace appliances or wiring 
4. We test the system and ensure it’s properly grounded 
5. You get documentation for insurance and warranty purposes 

Most jobs take less than half a day with minimal disruption to your power or daily routine. Our installations are backed by product warranties and our satisfaction guarantee. 

How Much Does It Cost? 

Installing whole-house surge protection typically ranges widely depending on your system and breaker panel. Compared to the cost of replacing a fried HVAC system, TV, or computer setup — it’s an investment that pays for itself the first time it works. 

Hear from a Homeowner 

We’ve seen it firsthand — customers who called us after a surge wiped out thousands in electronics. But we’ve also seen the wins: homes protected from full panel damage because they had a surge protector in place. 

“Dove Electric was fantastic! They were very helpful on the phone, professional in getting us scheduled, timely on showing up, priced more than fairly, and very clearly laid out the work we needed to get done on our new house. They’ve given us peace of mind and a solid plan for how to take good care of our new home. We’ve found our new electrician for all our future needs and we highly recommend them.”  – Rachael