Summer’s here! You’ve stocked up on sunscreen, sunglasses, and even a sun hat. But there’s one s-item you probably haven’t thought about—yet. Surge protection. That’s right. It’s not just for lightning storms anymore. And it might just save your summer comfort (and wallet).
If you’re looking to enjoy summer, be sure surge protection is on your summer essential list. Why? Because in the summer heat, no one wants to go without air conditioning, and the one thing that protects your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit from damaging voltage bursts and power fluctuations is that final s-item: surge protection.
Why Surge Protection?
You may wonder, really? Surge protection? Is it necessary? The answer is “Yes! Now, more than ever.” Here’s why: we live in a time with an increasing demand on the country’s aging electrical grid. With our society’s ever-growing dependency on electronics and all things electrical, we’ve become massive power consumers. Mobile phones, laptop computers, monitors, electronic security systems, and of course, the standards like your refrigerator, washer, dryer, dishwasher, and so on—they all rely on the electrical grid to operate. Many of those appliances now have digital displays and other internal electronics, making them more susceptible to damage from power surges.
Electrical power fluctuations are more common than ever, and all those power zaps take a destructive toll on HVAC systems (and your electronics). Too many zaps –or surges–on the HVAC and you’ll find yourself with no air conditioning in the heat of the summer. This is why surge protection is becoming a fundamental necessity in that long list of “s” products that you need in the summer.
Voltage swings in the summer
When you think of power surges, the first thing that comes to mind may be lightning from a summer storm. Yes, it’s true lightning can play a big part in causing a damaging power surge to HVAC systems, but equally as damaging are the everyday voltage swings that occur when the voltage drops below the normal operating level, or when it spikes and sends an unexpected surge into the HVAC system.
Today, many of our appliances, including HVAC and A/C units, offer smart controls. Equipped with these fancier electronics, the HVAC considers the ambient air and humidity, and it’s designed to run at a more efficient speed to save power. When they work correctly, life is great. But when the systems are hit repeatedly with voltage swings, the fluctuating voltage creates wear and tear on these crucial systems. This results in an unexpected breakdown of the system, with even newer systems being unexpectedly impacted and their electronic life span dramatically shortened.
This wear and tear of unexpected power surges leads to costly repairs or replacement, and let’s be honest, that HVAC system is not cheap. It is easily the most expensive appliance in your home. You may not look at it every day or even think about its usage, but that HVAC or A/C system is working 24/7 to maintain a comfortable temperature and humidity level in your home or office. Replacing it is costly, so costly that you may have to cancel your summer vacation plans just to pay for it.
The good news: protection from voltage swings is easy and inexpensive!
Adding that other “s” of surge protection to your summer list is super easy and not nearly as costly as you might expect. The KG2 Intelligent Voltage Monitoring system protects HVAC equipment from harmful undervoltage and overvoltage events. It’s designed to keep up with the newer electronics in your home in that it monitors the input power and disconnects the power supply when voltage levels fall outside the preprogrammed limits. This prevents damage to those sensitive electronic and mechanical components, which are now common in modern-day HVAC systems.
The DTK-KG2 is particularly useful for protecting inverter-driven compressor systems and mini-splits, ensuring the longevity and reliability of HVAC systems by maintaining stable voltage levels.
The price is reasonable, too. The DTK-KG2 only costs a few hundred dollars, making it a low-cost, one-time insurance policy for that expensive HVAC system. If that system were to break down or need repairs, it would easily set you back thousands and thousands of dollars to replace or repair it. Those new smart electronics may be efficient, but replacing their parts is costly. The investment of a few hundred dollars gives peace of mind that you and your family will remain cool for the summer and can still afford that family vacation.
Your summer list just got an update!
This summer, plan for unexpected power surges or help your customers prepare. A simple, small investment in surge protection could save you thousands of dollars in HVAC replacement costs, not to mention protecting your HVAC or A/C system, could mean you avoid the extremely uncomfortable inconvenience of being without air conditioning during the hottest months of the year.
Be sure to revise your summer list: Sunscreen? Check. Sunglasses? Sun hat? Check, check. Surge Protection. Absolutely—check!
Side note about the DTK-KG2: It’s an Intelligent Voltage Monitor for your intelligent appliances.
The DTK-KG2 is not to be confused with a voltage regulator. The DTK-KG2 simply determines if the voltage is too high or too low, so the voltage swing doesn’t damage the system. Basically, it acts as a traffic cop to make sure the voltage is good before entering your HVAC. And if it’s not in a suitable range, the DTK- KG2 shuts down the system to further the lifespan of its elaborate electronics.
