Are power surges a new problem?
No. Power Surges are a natural result of any electrical activity and have existed ever since Edison ran the first power line. They are generated every time wires, motors or electrical elements are energized or de-energized.
Why don't manufacturers build surge protection inside the equipment?
There are three primary reasons that equipment vendors don't build surge protection inside their equipment. These are (1) Cost, (2) Consumer Demand and (3) Replaceability. Manufacturers, specifically those of consumer electronics, are constantly striving for lower costs in a very competitive environment. When just a few dollars is often the determining factor in product selection, a manufacturer is unable to add costs unless it is demanded by the customer as a necessary feature. Also, a surge protection device should sacrifice itself before allowing damaging power surges to pass into the protected equipment. Should the surge protector suffer damage, it is important that it be replaceable easily and immediately. This is more difficult if the surge protection is built-in to the component.
Are all surge protectors created equal?
No. While the same protection component, known as Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV), is used in most surge protectors as the primary clamping component, the supporting circuitry, circuit board design, wiring techniques, and product features can result in product qualities that range from highly effective to ineffective and dangerous. While not always true, generally "you get what you pay for." If you are purchasing from a reputable source, you will generally have a selection of high, medium and lower quality devices. Nevertheless, the cheaper devices are made that way by sacrificing either protective or safety features.
Is the UL label a guarantee of quality?
Yes and No. While the UL label is mandatory as the minimum indication of safety, it is only a minimum indication of safety. The UL 1449 2nd Edition does not verify that the product meets the manufacturer's specifications nor does it verify the product's capacity to protect. The Surge Voltage Rating only verifies that the product contains suppression components. UL's best surge rating is so easy to achieve that even the least capable product can achieve what appears to be a respectable rating.
Do fuses and circuit breakers protect against power surges?
No. Over-current protection devices such as fuses and circuit breakers (whether thermal or magnetic) respond to heat or currents caused by down line faults. Over-current protection devices are too slow to react to transients because they are designed to protect against long-term over-voltages and faults. If they reacted to every power disturbance, we would be replacing fuses and resetting circuit breakers all day long.
Who is eligible to join?
You must be a residential UI customer. You must have a 200 Amp electric service or less. Customers with 400 Amp electric service, certain other electric service restrictions and mobile homes are not eligible.
How does the warranty coverage work?
If any of your covered home appliances or electronics are damaged by a power surge due to the failure of any HomeGuard surge protection device, you are reimbursed for repair or replacement with no deductible, up to the preset warranty limits.
What is covered?
HomeGuard covers most major appliances, including refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, washers, dryers, even your central heating and cooling equipment. Home electronics plugged into our advanced surge protectors are also covered.
Are all my electronics covered?
No, only those home electronic devices (computers, TV’s, audio/video equipment, etc.) that are plugged into the HomeGuard surge protectors are covered under the warranty.
What plug-in surge protectors are included with the HomeGuard service?
A starter kit of several plug-in surge protectors is included with your HomeGuard service at no additional charge. These devices are sufficient to protect most home electronics found in the average home. Your protection needs may be more or less depending upon your situation. Click here to see all of the plug-in surge protectors included with your service.
Can I order additional plug-in surge protectors?
Yes, additional surge protectors are available for purchase. They can be purchased on-line at www.uinet.com, or by calling 1-877-44SURGE (1-877-447-8743).
Does the meter-based arrestor protect the garage door opener?
No. Garage door openers require a point-of-use protection (single cube) to protect the sensitive electronics.
How do I know the surge suppression products are still working?
The service entrance device has an audible alarm, which will give a beeping sound when it has been damaged. There is also a green LED light that is normally on when the meter-based device is operating normally. If the alarm is beeping, or the green indicator light is out, call UI to have the device replaced.
The eight outlet plug-strips also have an audible alarm, in addition to a green indicator light. If the alarm beeps or indicator light goes out, call UI for a replacement. Each of the wall-mount surge protectors are equipped with a red indicator light, which will be lit when the device is operational. If the light on the suppressor goes out, please contact UI.
The cable and phone line circuits in all of the plug-in surge protectors will cause phone or cable signals to be interrupted if this portion of the device is damaged. To check to see if this is the cause of a cable or phone signal loss. Disconnect the cable or phone line from the surge protection device. If phone or cable service is restored, the surge protector has been damaged and you should contact UI.
If I move to another location in your service area, can I take the HomeGuard equipment with me?
Yes. You must notify our office of your move so that we can schedule the installation of a new one at your new home. Your point-of-use products should be moved with you. Please note that if you move outside of our service area, we are unable to re-install your service entrance device.
Click Here to sign-up on line for Surge Protection.
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