With the upcoming holidays and approaching storms, let’s discuss some physical precautions you may want to take so that you do not need to rely on your backup systems.

Surge protectors:

What do they do and why do you need them?

The flow of electricity into your home or office is not always consistent, and there can sometimes be a surge of power. The surge can damage or destroy your computer, therefore a surge protector prevents damage to your equipment by providing a steady stream of electricity to your computer.

Many people ask: Why does a computer require a surge protector, while their washer/dryer which may cost more than a computer does not?

The answer is a washer/dryer does not have small delicate components that a computer or other technology devices may have.

What type of surge protector should you look for?

– Make sure there is an indication light on the protector, so that you can know if the device is being properly protected.

–  Be careful not to purchase a power strip, thinking you are getting a surge protector! (A power strip simply extends the outlet either in distance or amount of outlets).

–  Check to see the insurance policy on the surge protector, to make sure it will cover whatever devices are plugged in.

Are there any issues with surge protectors and why?

YES! Some printers do not work with surge protectors.

Printers may not work with a surge protector, because when a printer turns on it pulls too much electricity for the surge protector.

What is the difference between a surge protector and an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS)?

A surge protector prevents against surges in electricity, while a UPS provides several minutes (or hours) of backup battery life. The objective of a UPS is that when the electricity goes out, you have enough time to shut your systems down properly.

What happens if you don’t use a surge protector and there is an electrical issue?

1. It can cause an issue with the hard drive, where it may create a file system corruption.

2. It can fry the motherboard.