Something as common as a power surge might not seem like a big deal at first. In fact, it’ll usually go unnoticed until it causes equipment to fail. In the worst scenario, a blackout can break down entire systems, making them go dark until critical repairs are made. Protecting the power supply in a garage is important because it helps prevent potential damage to the garage structure and even to any vehicles kept inside the garage. Although it’s inevitable to experience power anomalies, there are ways to protect the power supply in your garage from severe damage.
1. Understand the Basics
There are many potential threats to your garage’s power supply, though there are a few common culprits to be especially mindful of.
Electrical surges and spikes are short-term increases in voltage, usually caused by power outages, short circuits, lightning strikes, or other power malfunctions. At worst, they have the potential to cause catastrophic equipment damage, requiring costly replacement.
To that end, weather is the most common culprit of power outages. Bad weather takes on several appearances including wind from hurricanes and tornadoes can bring power lines down, lightning can knock trees down, which can also bring the grid down, and heavy rain can flood and short-circuit neighborhood power systems.
After that, animals are the next common cause of residential power supply problems. Squirrels are the usual culprit, but rats and mice can also wreak havoc on your home’s wiring.
2. Take Preventative Measures
The best way to protect your power supply is to prevent the problems from occurring in the first place, and preventative measures include the following:
- Power surges: Power surges occur when electricity suddenly flows at a spike, but surge protectors can absorb that extra energy and redirect it away from the garage. That means your power supply doesn’t take the hit or the damage that would follow.
- Weatherproofing: Just one drop of water can destroy an electrical system, potentially even causing a fire. Winter weather is especially dangerous as snow and ice are like ticking time bombs around your outlets. Weatherproofing will help prevent this threat.
- Annual rodent inspections: Regular service will minimize the threat of rodent invasions and destruction.
3. Regular Maintenance
Keeping a regular maintenance schedule for your home’s electrical system and power supply is essential to ensure its safety and longevity. By putting together a routine maintenance schedule and hiring professional technicians, you can have peace of mind knowing that your investment is protected.
Likewise, having a checklist ahead of time ensures you never miss any part of your inspections. Inspections need to be conducted regularly to catch any potential problems before they get serious, so ongoing vigilance is required. But for that extra peace of mind, hiring a professional to conduct their own inspection adds yet another layer of defense for your home to guarantee nothing gets missed.
Knowing you’ve taken all the necessary steps to protect your power supply will ultimately give you peace of mind. You won’t have to question if you’ve missed anything or worry that you’ll have to pay for expensive repairs.
