Summer storms are hammering the Lake Norman region, and if you live in Mooresville, Cornelius, or the surrounding areas, you’ve likely seen a spike in lightning activity.
These storms don’t just knock out power; they can seriously damage your home’s electrical system, ruin expensive electronics, and even start fires. And without the right protection, the cost of repairs can be steep.
Century Electrical Services is here to help. As a trusted electrical contractor and Duke Energy partner, we provide expert surge and lightning protection tailored to homes and businesses across Lake Norman.
Why Summer Storms Are a Real Threat
North Carolina sees over 500,000 lightning strikes a year, with the most activity during summer. Even if lightning doesn’t hit your home directly, a nearby strike can send a destructive power surge through utility lines.
And that’s just one threat. Smaller, everyday surges can come from inside your home, when large appliances cycle on, or from faulty wiring. These can slowly wear down your electronics and appliances until they fail completely.
What’s the Difference Between a Lightning Strike and a Power Surge?
- Lightning Strike: A direct hit. It causes an immediate, powerful surge of electricity.
- Power Surge: A sudden increase in voltage. It can come from lightning, the power grid, or even your own appliances.
Both can cause serious damage. That’s why protection isn’t just smart, it’s necessary.
What Happens Without Protection?
We’ve seen the damage firsthand in unprotected homes:
- Burned-out TVs and Wi-Fi routers
- Fried computers and home office equipment
- HVAC systems that stop working
- Kitchen appliances that fail without warning
Worse still, power surges can overheat your wiring and spark a fire, especially in older homes with outdated panels.
3 Levels of Surge Protection (and Why You Need All of Them)
The most effective way to protect your home is to use a layered surge protection system. There are three levels; each designed to block surges at different entry points.
Level 1: Utility Meter Protection
Installed at your home’s electrical meter, this level blocks large surges before they ever enter your house. It protects big-ticket items like compressors, HVAC units, and major appliances.
Century Electrical Services installs Level 1 surge protectors as a certified Duke Energy partner, serving customers from Statesville to the South Carolina line.
Level 2: Main Panel Protection
This level goes inside your electrical panel and protects your home’s wiring and all connected circuits. It guards sensitive electronics like TVs, computers, and smart devices.
Level 3: Point-of-Use Protection
These are device-specific protectors like surge strips, HVAC surge protectors, and outlet surge suppressors. They add an extra layer of defense for your most valuable items.
The best protection comes from combining all three levels.
A single power strip won’t stop a surge from a storm, but when layered together, these systems give your home comprehensive defense.
What About Lightning Protection?
Surge protection handles voltage spikes, but lightning protection keeps lightning energy from even entering your system.
It includes:
- Grounding systems to safely redirect excess energy into the earth
- Surge arresters to block high-voltage current
- Bonding to link all metal systems in your home and reduce shock or fire risk
Homes near water, especially those with boat docks or outdoor systems, are at higher risk. Century Electrical Services has deep expertise in dock wiring and lightning protection setups customized for Lake Norman properties.
Why Choose Century Electrical Services?
We’ve been serving Mooresville, Lake Norman, and nearby towns for years, and we know what local homes and businesses need to stay safe.
Here’s what makes us different:
- Certified installers for Generac, Duke Energy, and more
- Custom solutions for every property
- Fast scheduling and fair, transparent pricing
- Emergency services are available when storms strike
Quick Tips to Stay Safe During Storm Season
- Unplug electronics when a storm is approaching.
- Get an annual electrical inspection to catch hidden issues.
- Consider a backup generator to stay powered through outages.
Don’t Wait Until After the Storm
By the time lightning strikes or a surge hits, it’s too late to protect your electronics, your home, and your peace of mind.
Get protected now.
Call Century Electrical Services or schedule your consultation online to set up a full surge and lightning protection system that works at all three levels.
