A power strip is not protection
Panel-level surge protection safeguards everything in the building — including the hard-wired appliances that never touch a power strip.
The average home now holds roughly $15,000 in electronics, and may see up to 100 surges a month that quietly degrade or damage devices. Standard power strips fail to block the surges that actually cause the damage.
A whole-house surge protector typically runs $500 to $700 installed — reasonable against equipment damage that can exceed $10,000. We include a free surge protective device with any full panel service.
What panel-level protection covers
How it is installed
We typically install a breaker-type surge protector directly into the main panel. The device carries an LED indicator — green for normal, red when it needs attention — so checking it takes a glance rather than a service call.
Per 2020 NEC Article 230.67, surge protective devices are now required to be integrated into the electrical systems of homes and businesses.
Questions we get asked
They are fine as a second layer for sensitive electronics, but they cannot protect hard-wired equipment and they do not stop the large surges. The panel device does the real work.
The LED on the device shows green while it is protecting, and red once the unit has taken its lifetime of hits and needs replacing.
The 2020 NEC (Article 230.67) requires surge protective devices on dwelling unit services. If your panel is being replaced, one is going in.
What the neighbours actually say
We recently had Chad from AMS Electrical come out to help us with several projects, and we couldn't be happier with the experience! Chad relabeled our electrical panel, which has made such a huge difference — it's so much easier to navigate now. He also fixed our outlets so that everything is properly connected, which gives us real peace of mind. On top of that, our garage lights had been out since September, and Chad got those up and running again. What really stood out was how knowledgeable and helpful Chad was throughout the whole visit. He took the time to share a lot of great tips and practical advice for things to keep in mind as we remodel our home. Highly recommend Chad and AMS Electrical — professional, thorough, and a pleasure to work with!
AMS installed an ev charger at my house and it was a great experience. They were extremely thorough during the estimation process. Evan did the install and went out of his was to ensure everything was done seamlessly. He answered all of my questions during the process and would highly recommend.
AMS carried out several fixture replacements, and did a brilliant job, led by Phil. Huge shout-outs go to Chad, Andre and Cody. They were professional, courteous, most helpful and they fixed our electrical work - difficult as it was. Beth, on the customer service side was also very good and helpful. Thanks a lot, team!!
“Very clear standardized pricing, not charged by the hour, but by the service.
“The area was cleaned and work completed as promised.
“AMS quickly replied with a reasonably priced quote with the break down of costs.
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