Whole Home Surge Protection
Whole-Home Surge Protection Services in Marin, Sonoma & Napa County
Your home is filled with significant investments, from smart home devices to essential kitchen appliances. And yes, that includes your tablets and other devices. A single, unexpected power surge can instantly render them useless, leading to costly replacements and frustrating downtime.
Whole-home surge protection is your solution. It’s easy to install, practically maintenance-free, and it provides you with peace of mind. From sensitive medical equipment to home computers, you’ll feel better knowing your home is protected from a power surge.
Our licensed electricians at Ongaro & Sons provide whole-home surge protection installation throughout the North Bay. Contact us today for a consultation about protecting your home.
What Exactly Is a Power Surge?
A power surge is a sudden, rapid spike in voltage, far beyond what your electrical system is designed to handle. These surges can happen for a variety of reasons, both from outside your home and within:
- External Sources: This includes things like lightning strikes or downed power lines during storms, as well as shifts in voltage from the electricity coming into your home from the utility grid.
- Internal Culprits: Surprisingly, many surges originate right inside your house! These often come from large appliances like your heating and cooling system, washer and dryer, or electric stove when they cycle on and off. Poor or outdated wiring can also be a significant factor.
Without the right protection, these sudden spikes in voltage can severely damage your electronic appliances and even your electrical outlets.
How Whole-Home Surge Protection Works
How a Whole-Home Surge Protector Is Installed
Unlike small power strips, a whole-home surge protector is professionally wired directly into your home’s main electrical panel, where all the electricity enters your house. It constantly monitors the voltage levels of the electricity flowing into your home from the utility grid.
When a dangerous surge or spike in voltage is detected, whether from outside or inside your home, the surge protector springs into action, immediately redirecting the excess, harmful voltage away from your home’s wiring and appliances and safely channeling it into your electrical grounding system. Rather than manage a series of smaller power strips, a whole-home surge protector safeguards all your connected electronics and appliances throughout your entire home, acting as the first line of defense against damaging power surges.
Ways to Protect Your Home From Power Surges
Fortunately, there are several ways you can prevent power surges from impacting your home. These three safety measures will protect your electronics and equipment:
- Whole-House Surge Protectors: These mount onto your circuit breaker and are designed to protect your home from electrical voltage spikes and surges. If an abnormality is detected, the protector diverts the extra voltage safely into the ground, protecting your entire home, including your electronics, appliances, and wiring.
- Surge-Protecting Outlets: These redirect energy into the ground via a designated circuit, ensuring surges won’t harm the devices plugged into them. If there are specific devices you’d like to protect, such as your television, these are a great solution and are relatively simple to install.
- Plug-In Surge Protectors: Portable and perfect for home offices and media consoles, this is essentially a power strip with surge protection (remember, not all power strips are surge protectors). Simply plug it into an outlet and then plug your devices into the surge protector.
How Outdated Wiring Can Create Power Surges
Before the 1960s, copper was the most common material for household wiring. Aluminum wiring was widely used between the ’60s and mid-1970s when the price of copper increased, but copper became the preferred material again by the late 1970s.
If you have an older home with aluminum wiring, you may want to consider rewiring. Outdated wiring can become damaged and lead to power surges, temperature changes cause aluminum wiring to easily lose its shape and structure, putting your home at greater risk of electrical fires and potentially voiding your homeowner’s insurance policy.
Does your home have outdated wiring? Contact Ongaro & Sons to schedule an electrical inspection or replacement.
Schedule Your Whole-Home Surge Protection Service
Protect your home's electronics and appliances with a professionally installed whole-home surge protector. We proudly serve Sonoma, Marin, and Napa counties, including Santa Rosa, Novato, San Rafael, Petaluma, and surrounding cities. Call us now at 415-741-2820 or book your appointment online for fast, reliable surge protection installation.
Your Comfort, Our Priority
Ongaro & Sons is your trusted heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, and solar expert, specializing in reliable maintenance and repair services that keep your home running efficiently year-round.
Our certified technicians deliver unmatched expertise with fast, friendly service across Marin, Sonoma and Napa County. From HVAC tune-ups to plumbing repairs and electrical upgrades or solar solutions, we focus on energy-efficient performance and long-term comfort. Count on us to maintain the systems that power your home and keep your environment just the way you like it.
Licensed, Insured, Background-Checked
Our technicians are licensed, experienced, and trained to service all makes and models.
Locally Owned and Operated
Serving the Napa, Marin, and Sonoma communities with personalized, hometown service.
Reliable Repairs
We respond quickly and get the job done right the first time, with no surprises.
Since 1932
Why Ongaro & Sons for Whole-Home Surge Protection
Most of what a surge damages now is not the appliance, it is the electronics inside it.
Schedule Service →Panel-level protection fitted correctly
A whole-home device works only when it is properly bonded with short lead lengths. Fitted loosely it passes inspection and protects far less than the label claims.
Layered with point-of-use where that is warranted
Panel protection handles the large events. Sensitive equipment still benefits from local protection. We will tell you where the second layer is worth it and where it is not.
Grounding checked first
Surge protection depends entirely on the grounding electrode system. If the ground is inadequate the device cannot do its job, so that gets verified before anything is installed.
Sized to the service
Rating is matched to the actual service and expected exposure rather than fitting whichever unit is on the van.
Permitted work by a C-10 licensed contractor
Ongaro & Sons has been family-owned in Marin, Sonoma and Napa since 1932.
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Membership
Ongaro Maintenance Plans
Annual maintenance on your home systems provides safeguards and comfort to you and your family. Members get priority scheduling, discounts, and proactive checkups that catch problems early.
Member Discounts
5% off every repair and replacement, all year long.
Peace of Mind
Proactive checkups catch issues before they become big problems.
Courtesy Reminders
We call you to schedule: never miss a seasonal service.
Value That Lasts
With Ongaro & Sons, you’re investing in quality, integrity, and service that stands the test of time. Explore our current promotions and see the difference real value makes for your HVAC, plumbing, and electrical needs.
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Read MoreFrequently Asked Questions
Do whole-home surge protectors protect against lightning strikes?
While not lightning-proof, it greatly reduces the damage from nearby strikes or power surges through the grid.
Does a whole-home surge protector cover power strips and outlet surge devices?
Yes, it protects the entire system, but local outlet surge protectors still offer additional layer of protection for sensitive electronics.
How long do home surge protectors last?
Most last 5–10 years, depending on usage and the number of surges absorbed. We recommend regular inspection and timely replacement.
Is whole-home surge protection worth it?
Yes, the cost of replacing damaged electronics often far exceeds the one-time cost of installing a surge protector.