Nationwide · Licensed electricians in 47 states + DC
Call now to check electrician availability in your area
Whole-Home Surge Protection · Texas
A whole-home surge protective device (SPD) mounts at the panel and limits voltage spikes before they reach your circuits. The current National Electrical Code requires one for new and replaced services in dwellings; it works best paired with plug-in protectors for electronics.
Heat, hail and the 2021 winter storm have made generators, surge protection and panel capacity priorities; electricians are licensed by the state through TDLR.
Across the South Central, homes deal with long, hot summers, severe storms and occasional hard freezes. Permit offices, utilities and housing stock differ by city, which affects how whole-home surge protection is planned and scheduled. These local guides cover the Texas cities where we have written specific notes.
The Gulf Coast gets frequent thunderstorms, and Houston homes run sensitive electronics, smart thermostats and variable-speed AC equipment that surges can damage. A whole-home surge protective device at the panel, backed by point-of-use protectors for electronics, is the common approach.
Utility: CenterPoint Energy (lines and meters); retail provider of your choice
North Texas spring storms bring hail and frequent lightning, and surges can damage AC equipment, pool controls, garage door openers and electronics. A whole-home surge protector installed at the panel is the usual first step, combined with plug-in protection for sensitive devices.
Utility: Oncor (lines and meters); retail provider of your choice
Hail and lightning arrive together in Fort Worth's spring storms, and the calls that follow are often about fried AC control boards, pool automation, garage door openers and televisions. A whole-home surge protective device mounted at the panel handles surges coming in on the utility line, and plug-in protectors cover sensitive electronics.
Utility: Oncor (lines and meters); retail provider of your choice
1. Check grounding
Grounding electrode and bonding are inspected.
2. Install the SPD
The device is mounted on a breaker or lugs with short leads.
3. Verify
Indicator lights and connections are checked.
Electricians set their own prices; local permit fees and utility requirements add to these factors.
Permits come from the city or county where the home is. For example: Houston: Inside city limits, electrical permits come from the City of Houston's permitting center; unincorporated Harris County and suburban cities have their own rules. Dallas: Electrical permits in Dallas come from the city's Development Services department; suburbs such as Plano, Garland and Irving issue their own. Fort Worth: Inside city limits, electrical permits come from the City of Fort Worth Development Services Department, and Fairmount and other historic districts review exterior changes.
Houston: CenterPoint Energy (lines and meters); retail provider of your choice. Dallas: Oncor (lines and meters); retail provider of your choice. Fort Worth: Oncor (lines and meters); retail provider of your choice.
No. It handles large surges at the panel; point-of-use protectors handle smaller ones near sensitive electronics.
Call now, or send a request and a licensed electrician who serves your ZIP code will contact you.
