Whole-home surge protection in Austin, TX
One nearby lightning strike or grid switching surge can take out your HVAC board, well pump and electronics in a single hit. We install surge protective devices at the panel so the spike is clamped before it reaches your equipment, with a flat-rate price you approve first.
Whole-home surge protection means a surge protective device, or SPD, wired at your electrical panel or service entrance that diverts a voltage spike to ground before it spreads through your circuits. A Type 2 SPD lands inside or next to the panel on the load side and is the right fit for most homes. A Type 1 SPD mounts on the line side at the meter or service entrance and takes the first hit from external surges. We size the device to your home, install it on a dedicated breaker, and still recommend point-of-use strips at sensitive electronics for a second layer.
This is the right call if:
- A storm or nearby lightning strike has already killed a thermostat, GFCI, garage opener or appliance board.
- You run expensive electronics, a home theater, a well pump or lake-house AV gear you cannot afford to replace.
- Your HVAC, refrigerator or oven uses sensitive control boards that fail after a surge.
- You notice lights flickering or dimming when large equipment cycles, a sign of voltage swings on the service.
- You are upgrading or replacing your panel and want an SPD added while the panel is open.
- You only have power strips at a few outlets and nothing protecting the whole house.
Whole-home surge protection options
Type 2 SPD at the panel
This is the device most Central Texas homes need. It mounts in or beside the main panel on a dedicated two-pole breaker and clamps transient voltage on the load side before it reaches your circuits. A Type 2 catches both surges that slip past the service entrance and spikes generated inside the home when motors and compressors switch off.
Type 1 SPD at the service entrance
A Type 1 device installs on the line side at the meter or main disconnect, so it can absorb a direct external surge before it ever enters the panel. It is the heavier-duty first stage and pairs well with a Type 2 for layered protection on homes with a lot to lose. We confirm what your utility and meter configuration allow before recommending it.
Layered protection with point-of-use
A panel SPD knocks a surge down to a safe level, but it does not drop it to zero. We pair the whole-home device with quality point-of-use strips at computers, TVs and AV racks so the last bit of let-through voltage is handled right at the equipment. The panel SPD and the point-of-use units work together, not as substitutes.
Replacement after a hit
An SPD is sacrificial by design. Each surge it diverts wears down the internal components, and after a large event the device may be spent even if the status light still looks fine. If your SPD has taken a known hit or its indicator has changed, we test it and replace the module so you are not left unprotected.
What waiting can cost you
Control boards fail silently
A surge rarely blows every device at once. It degrades HVAC boards, appliance controls and dimmers so they fail weeks later, and by then the storm is forgotten and the repair bill is yours.
Internally generated surges add up
Every time a large motor, well pump or AC compressor switches off it kicks a small voltage spike back onto your wiring. Those repeated internal surges quietly shorten the life of electronics even when no storm is in sight.
A spent SPD gives no protection
An SPD that has already absorbed a major surge can be used up while the house looks normal. Without a check after a big storm, you can think you are protected when the device has nothing left to give.
Our process
- 01
Inspection and assessment
We look at your panel, service entrance and grounding, and ask what electronics and equipment matter most to you. Good grounding and bonding are what let an SPD actually divert a surge, so we verify that first.
- 02
Sizing and flat-rate price
We recommend the right device by its surge current and clamping voltage ratings, explain whether a Type 2, a Type 1, or both fits your home, and give you a flat-rate price before any work begins.
- 03
Installation on a dedicated breaker
We land the SPD on a dedicated two-pole breaker with short, direct leads, because long wiring raises let-through voltage and reduces how well the device clamps. Type 1 devices are wired on the line side at the service entrance where allowed.
- 04
Testing and status check
We confirm the device is energized, the status indicator reads correctly, and the breaker and connections are tight, then show you where the indicator is and what it means.
- 05
Layered protection walkthrough
We point out where point-of-use strips add value at your most sensitive electronics and explain how the panel device and those strips work as a system.
What is included
Every whole-home surge protection job from Magnify Electric includes the same standards, start to finish.
- A grounding and bonding check so the SPD can actually divert a surge to ground.
- A device sized by surge current and clamping voltage, not a generic one-size part.
- Installation on a dedicated breaker with short leads for the lowest let-through voltage.
- Clear labeling of the SPD and breaker in your panel directory.
- A walkthrough of the status indicator so you know when the device needs replacing.
- A complimentary 54-point safety inspection of the panel and grounding that back up your surge protection.
- Guidance on point-of-use protection for a layered setup.
Cost factors
We give you a flat-rate price after we see the job. These are the things that move that number up or down.
Type 2 only vs. layered Type 1 and Type 2
A single panel-mounted Type 2 is the most common install. Adding a Type 1 at the service entrance for layered protection is a larger scope, and we tell you whether your home and electronics justify it.
Device rating and quality
SPDs vary by surge current capacity, clamping voltage and joule rating. A higher-rated device costs more up front and clamps harder and lasts longer, so we match the rating to what you are protecting.
Panel space and grounding condition
If the panel is full or the grounding and bonding need correction before the SPD can work properly, that affects the scope. We inspect all of it before quoting.
Central Texas sees serious lightning and thunderstorms, grid switching surges, and voltage instability during summer peak demand, which is exactly when electronics take a hit. We protect lake homes on Lake Travis and around the Highland Lakes that are full of AV gear and well pumps, newer builds in Leander and Liberty Hill with smart panels and EV equipment, and older Lakeway and Westlake homes where sensitive new appliances now hang off decades-old wiring.
Rated by Central Texas homeowners
Real reviews from our Google Business Profile, in our customers' own words.
Chris and Caden did an amazing job installing my EV charger and helped assist me with other electrical questions I had around my house!! Very professional and kind. I highly recommend them!
Chris and Caden did a great job of installing a dedicated circuit and outlet for us. They were very thorough in checking out the existing circuit outlets and also patient with explaining everything before starting. I appreciated especially the quality of their work, their professionalism, and their willingness to throw in extra work where they saw fit at no charge. In short, I couldn’t be happier about the job they did.
Chris and Caden were awesome - they installed an entire new main panel and a new subpanel very effectively. We knew exactly what to expect at every step in the process, and now everything is up to code! If we need any additional electrical work, we will absolutely call Magnify Electric.
Trayvon is such a professional. He answers any and all questions. Does an amazing job in whatever is needed, and you’d never even know he had been here as he tidies up impeccably. He is our family’s electrician. I’d give 10 stars if able!
Felt lucky to have found Magnify Electric. Christian fixed the issue we were having with our hardwired smoke alarms, installed a whole-house surge protector, and fixed a longstanding light switch issue. He did everything with excellence and efficiency. He did a great job of communicating throughout the process. Thanks so much!
Showed as scheduled. Had to coordinate with PEC and everything went very smoothly. Christian was very professional and completed the job quickly. Very satisfied with the results. I would recommend them to do any electrical work in my home.
Whole-home surge protection questions, answered
Does a whole-home surge protector really stop lightning?
It protects against the surges that travel in on your power lines from nearby strikes and grid events, which are far more common than a direct hit to the house. A panel SPD clamps that transient voltage and diverts it to ground before it reaches your circuits. No device can stop a direct lightning strike to the structure, but that is rare compared to the line-borne surges an SPD is built to handle.
What is the difference between a Type 1 and a Type 2 SPD?
A Type 2 device installs on the load side in or next to your panel and is the right fit for most homes, catching both incoming surges and spikes generated inside the house. A Type 1 installs on the line side at the meter or service entrance and takes the first hit from an external surge. Many homes with a lot of electronics use both for layered protection, and we will tell you what yours needs.
Do I still need power strips if I have whole-home protection?
Yes, and the two work together. The panel SPD knocks a large surge down to a safe level but does not drop it to zero, so quality point-of-use strips handle the small amount of let-through voltage right at your TVs, computers and AV gear. Think of it as layered protection, not one replacing the other.
How long does a surge protector last and when do I replace it?
An SPD is sacrificial, so it wears down each time it diverts a surge, and a single large event can use one up. Most quality devices have a status indicator that tells you when protection is gone. After a major storm or a known hit we recommend checking the indicator, and we replace the device when it is spent so you are not left exposed.
Why does Central Texas need surge protection more than other places?
Our area gets frequent lightning and thunderstorms, and summer peak demand puts the grid under strain, which brings switching surges and voltage swings. Lake homes around Lake Travis and the Highland Lakes also tend to be full of electronics and well pumps that a surge can damage. Those conditions make a panel SPD a practical safeguard here.
Will a surge protector protect my HVAC and appliances?
Yes, and those are often the most expensive things it protects. Modern HVAC systems, ovens, refrigerators and washers run on electronic control boards that a surge can degrade or destroy. A panel SPD clamps the spike before it reaches those boards, which is far cheaper than replacing a board after the fact.
Can you add an SPD when I upgrade my panel?
Yes, and a panel upgrade is the ideal time to do it since the panel is already open. We handle the panel replacement under our panel service and add the surge protective device as part of the same visit. If your panel is staying put, we can still add an SPD on its own.
How much does whole-home surge protection cost?
It depends on whether you need a Type 2 alone or a layered Type 1 and Type 2 setup, the rating and quality of the device, and the condition of your panel space and grounding. We give you a flat-rate price after the inspection, and you approve it before we start. We do not price a device until we have seen what it is protecting.
Licensed, local and upfront
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Flat-rate repair pricing you approve
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TECL 29321, Master 269417
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Family-owned in Spicewood since 2012
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Work guaranteed and done to code
Serving Austin and the Hill Country
We are based in Spicewood and cover the lake communities, the Hill Country and greater Austin. Find your town below for local details.
Headquarters: 22503 State Highway 71 W, Spicewood, TX 78669
Related services
Panel upgrades and repairs
A panel upgrade is the right time to add a surge protective device while the panel is open.
Learn more →Troubleshooting and repair
If a storm has already damaged a device or circuit, we trace and fix it first.
Learn more →Portable generators
Surge protection and backup power are the two halves of storm readiness in Central Texas.
Learn more →TV and home theater
AV racks are the electronics that benefit most from layered point-of-use protection.
Learn more →Smoke and CO detectors
Hardwired detectors are another storm-sensitive system worth protecting and checking.
Learn more →Ready for whole-home surge protection?
Tell us what you need and we will get back to you within one business day. For anything urgent, call us now and talk to a real person.