A good whole house surge protector will automatically reduce the damage of an electrical surge.
An easy to install system, a high surge capacity, and multiple modes of protection. These are all key features of a high-quality whole house surge protector.
On the other hand, a bad surge protector will blow up in under 3 months of use, have a low surge protection rating, and leads to a bunch of broken appliances.
We’re here to help. We’ve reviewed the top 7 Whole House Surge Protectors of 2024.
Buy with confidence knowing that your whole house surge protector will keep your appliances safe even when you’re not at home. Let’s jump straight into the reviews.
- 80kA Surge Protection Rating
- LED Lights Provide Full Feedback
- CSA 3rd Edition Type 1 SPD approved
- 10kA Short Circuit Current Rating
- 50k Surge Current Capacity
- Connected Equipment Coverage
- Four modes of protection
- Great value for the money (bargain)
- Bright LED lights to indicate its status
Contents
Top 7 Best Whole House Surge Protector
Square D Whole House Surge Protector – Best Overall
- WHOLE HOME SURGE SUPPRESSOR: The Square D Whole Home Electronics Protective Device is a compact surge suppressor designed for installation in any residential load centre. It...
- DOWNSTREAM PROTECTION: Unlike individual power strip surge protectors that only shield a limited number of devices plugged into them, the Square D HEPD safeguards all...
- APPLIANCE LIFESPAN ENHANCEMENT: By preventing damaging voltage spikes, a surge suppressor extends the lifespan of your electronic devices and appliances. It can save you time...
Discover the value-packed Square D Whole House Surge Protector, crafted for residential load centers at an unbeatable price. Engineered to thrive in both indoor and outdoor environments, this surge protector is your reliable shield against the unpredictable elements, safeguarding your home’s electrical integrity.
For important power sensitive items that can’t use plug strip setups such as stoves, refrigerators, washers, and dryers, this is the best alternative. The Square D Whole House Surge Protector helps reduce surges that would damage household connected appliances and overwhelm plug strips.
The Square D Whole House Surge Protector is the best product on this list. Why? Even if you have a basic level of electrical knowledge, this device can be set up beside the load center with ease.
The Square D ensures peace of mind with its straightforward feedback mechanism. Its LED indicators offer immediate status updates: a green light signals active protection, while a red light alerts you to replace the unit, keeping you informed and your home secure.
Need a surge protector that’s small and compact? The Square D Whole House Surge Protector is designed to fit in virtually any beaker panel. So you don’t have to worry about buying a bulky surge protection device that might not fit your panel.
With a 5 year warranty attached with it, the Square D Whole House Surge Protector has more protection than you think. If a lightning strike occurs near your home and it fails to protect the surge spike, you’re covered to about $50,000 for all of your electrical equipment that was fried.
Check Price- 80,000 amp surge current and 80kA surge protection rating
- LED lights provide full feedback
- CSA 3rd Edition Type 1 SPD approved
- Compact size
- LED brightness can be difficult to see, but newer models have fixed this issue
Leviton Whole House Surge Protector – Premium Choice
- 120/240V Single Phase Panel Mount Surge Protective Device, 4-Mode Protection, 50kA Max Surge Current Rating, NEMA 1 Enclosure, UL 1449 4th Edition Type 2
- Type 2 Single Phase Surge Panel with 4-Mode Protection
- Real-time diagnostic visual indicator shows power and suppression status for each protected phase
When you’re using thousands of dollars worth of electrical equipment in your home, you’re going to need a whole house surge protector if you want to be on the safe side. One lightning strike and you could lose your desktop computer, TV, or your gaming system. The best product for mitigating any danger caused by electrical failures is the Leviton Whole House Surge Protector.
Leviton created this surge panel to protect your home from high voltage spikes – making it ideal for devices such as LED and LCD televisions, PDA products, and computers.
Plus it features a real-time visual indicator that shows the suppression status and power for the device’s protected phase. This 51120-1 surge panel has been created to exacting standards and is compliant with the UL 1449 standard (3rd edition).
For added durability, it has a metal case that keeps the unit protected in the event of an emergency. The enclosure helps make the connection to your current panel convenient and safe.
While the Leviton Whole House Surge Protector can protect your devices from direct lightning, it doesn’t stop there. It gives you surge diversion for your main power sources on the grid.
You can use this surge protector to protect communication lines and AC power connections. With its 4-mode protection mechanism, you don’t have to worry about your appliances becoming destroyed easily.
Each surge protector comes with a limited lifetime warranty. This ensures that you’ll be refunded for the surge and your appliances if they are damaged by a lightning strike. For premium quality reliability and responsive support in the event of an emergency, its best to choose the Leviton Whole House Surge Protector.
Check Price- 10kA Short Circuit Current Rating
- 50k Surge Current Capacity
- Connected Equipment Coverage
- Limited Lifetime Warranty
- For indoor use only
Eaton Whole House Surge Protector – Great Value
- Universally connects to any manufacturer’s load center (breaker box)
- Easy to use
- High quality product
Homeowners that want complete surge protection in their house without breaking their wallet should take a look at this product. It comes with a 22kA SSCR which is good because the currents from short circuits won’t reach the currents from power spikes. Since it boasts a 22kA rating, it’s rated higher quality than most brands in the industry.
Another important feature is its voltage protection rating (L-N: 600V / L-G: 600V / L-L: 1000V / N-G: 800V). Eaton Whole House Surge Protector’s VPR is compared to surge protectors in malls, it’s obvious that its better suited to handle power surges than its competition.
With its maximum surge capacity at 108 kA, rest assured that your appliances are fully protected. The installation process is easy, but we’d suggest you hire an electrician to reduce any problems.
When installing, make sure to connect the surge protector close to the ground and have the neutral (white) wires enter the bus bars. If your home has a larger beaker with a #14 wire, then this is the ideal surge protector for you.
Keep in mind, that you might have to purchase an additional circuit breaker to ensure that this device fits your power panel correctly. When factoring in reliability and your budget, the Eaton Whole House Surge Protector is the best choice.
Check Price- 4 modes of protection
- Its SSCR is 22kA
- Bright LED lights to indicate its status
- Universally defends all the electronics in your home
- The wires can be short, making it difficult to connect to a 50 amp breaker and/or the ground/neutral bars
Siemens Whole House Surge Protector
- FirstSurge Surge Protective Devices (SPDs) are Type 2 and UL / cUL 1449 listed, meeting designated protection requirements
- FirstSurge is constructed using our commercial grade NEMA 4X enclosure allowing for indoor or outdoor installations
- FirstSurge Pro provides 140,000 Amp of surge current capacity per phase
Seamlessly integrate the Siemens Whole House Surge Protector into your home’s electrical system for comprehensive protection. Designed for effortless installation, this device preemptively halts surges, ensuring they never compromise your home’s safety.
In need of some added durability? It has a commercial grade enclosure making it a great choice for both inside and outside installation. This adds a bit of versatility to the device, as it can provide protection as long as it’s installed correctly.
One feature that sets it apart from the competition is its three-stage notification diagnostic (Red Flashing LED, Audible Alarm, LEDs). When the device is no longer able to provide protection, it immediately provides an alert through the red flashing LEDs and audible alarms.
With its fast response time in under a nanosecond, rest assured that your electrical appliances are in safe hands. When a dangerous power surge comes through the load center, it will block it almost instantly.
Some consumers have found fault with the protector’s threads as they appear to be stripped when unboxing. If you find this issue, don’t hesitate to call for a replace. The Siemens Whole House Surge Protector is backed by a 10 year product warranty, so this will give you a better peace of mind than most of its competitors.
Check Price- 14,000 Amp Surge Protection Rating
- 3 Stage Commercial Grade Notifications
- The audible alarm doesn’t include a button
Cutler Hammer Whole House Surge Protector
The Cutler Hammer Whole House Surge Protector is great for single phase 120-40 Vac systems. This system supports installation as close to where the power enters the box for maximum protection.
Also, the Cutler Hammer Whole House Surge Protector is suitable for protecting common household appliances such as home computers, microwave ovens, and refrigerators. Thus, saving over thousands of dollars of important equipment from direct surges regardless of the source of the failure. That said you should still consider a dedicated surge protector for these appliances to prevent internal surges from causing damage (you can check out our guides on the best surge protector for refrigerators and best surge protector for washing machines for more information).
Once it is plugged in, it will provide surge protection for the entire load center. If your electric internal components are damaged, then the LED visual indicators will flash showing that it’s in need of a replacement.
Safety-wise, it does meet the UL 1449 standards and is classified as a Type 2 SPD Plug-On Surge Protection. Thus, making it easy to plug and set this device on your beaker without much hassle.
While its 1 year warranty is useful, you’re better off using this as a replacement surge protector. It’s a panel surge arrestor, making it easy for electricians to keep everything under control during a surge.
This beaker is only designed to fit a CH type hammer box, which can be limiting for some electricians. It won’t fit a cutler hammer br panel or any other non ch hammer panel.
When installing, make sure that it’s placed right on the beaker box before using it. With an insulated screwdriver, you’ll find it easier to install as it will prevent any unnecessary shocks from happening.
Check Price- 25,000 Amps of Surge Protection
- Quick installation
- Only suited for CH breaker boxes
GE Whole House Surge Protector
Next on our list is the GE Whole House Surge Protector. It’s an inexpensive line of defense against direct surges. For instance, it can be installed on a Square D panel and will provide enough protection for all of your appliances.
Installation in the breaker box is straightforward and easy. Snap it into a double pole breaker space then connect the white wire to the ground. On average, it will take at least 10 minutes to install it correctly.
However, some customers have expressed their concern about this product. There have been some reports about the surge protector breaking after unboxing it. If this occurs, make sure you get a replacement.
The GE Whole House Surge Protector is useful for GE breaker boxes that work with national electrical codes. Its indicator light illuminates after the main breaker was turned on.
- Simple installation
- Light notifications
- Low durability
Intermatic Whole House Surge Protector
- SIX MODES OF COMPREHENSIVE PROTECTION - The Intermatic Smart Guard IG2240-IMSK Surge Protector employs TPMOV surge protection technology to safeguard your valuable appliances...
- EASY MAINTENANCE WITH IMODULES - This surge protector comes with three IModules featuring LED lights for quick power and protection status indication. Easily replace IModules...
- CONVENIENT MODULE POWER SWITCH - The included Module Power Switch on IG2240-IMSK allows for the convenient disconnection of power when replacing IModules, ensuring hassle-free...
Keep your appliances safe with the Intermatic Whole House Surge Protector. This consists of a Type 1 enclosure which can be used on metal surfaces and stay safe from unwanted surges.
The Intermatic Surge Protector offers unparalleled flexibility with six distinct modes of protection. Its innovative IModules feature simplifies maintenance, allowing for quick replacements without the hassle of installing a new unit, ensuring your home remains protected with minimal downtime.
The Intermatic Whole House Surge Protector is designed to keep voltage spikes at a certain level. Through its TPMOV (Thermally Protected Metal Oxide Varistor), the device prevents hazardous failure that is associated with MOV technology.
Make sure you have the proper wiring connection needed before using this device. Once installed, you’ll have its tamper proof module doors that keep the surge protector safe and your appliances in order.
Check Price- Six modes of protection
- Durable SPV Unit
- Difficult installation
