A power surge lasts a fragment of a second, but the effects can be highly destructive. Excess electricity can harm electronic devices, household appliances, electrical wires, and even start a fire.
While we can’t anticipate the next power surge, we can protect our homes. In this article, we’ll review the best whole-house surge breakers on the market and help you find the right one for your needs.
- 140kA surge protection
- 10x6x4 inches
- 3-stage warning system
- UL-listed
- NEMA 4X-rated
- 10-year warranty
- Price: $479
- 108 kA surge protection
- NEMA X4-rated
- 2 status LED lights
- 2.38×5.25×7.5 inches
- UL-listed
- 5-year warranty
- Price: $154
- 50 kA surge protection
- NEMA 1-rated
- 7.9 x 7.9 inches
- 0.28g weight
- 2 LED indicator lights
- UL-listed
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Price: $291
- 50kA surge security
- NEMA 3R-rated
- 6.5 x 8.2 x 8 inches
- LED status indicator
- 5-year warranty
- CSA approved
- Price: $199
- 10kA surge capability
- NEMA 1-rated
- 3 protection modules
- 2 LED lights
- 10.7 x 3.7 x 10 inches
- 10-year warranty
- UL approved
- Price: $583
Whole-House Surge Protectors: What You Need to Know
If you’re not an expert in this area, skimming through whole-house surge protector reviews will likely leave you puzzled. That’s why we think the path to finding the perfect product should start with understanding the fundamentals of a whole-house surge protector. So, let’s do a quick summary:
- Whole-house surge protector shields your home’s wiring system, devices, and appliances from dangerous power surges.
- A power surge is a burst of energy that moves through the electrical wiring system, damaging anything from the electrical wire to plugged-in devices. They can be caused by a lightning strike, an electric overload in a wall outlet , faulty cabling, etc.
- Whole-house surge protectors are certified for safety by Underwriters Laboratories (labeled “UL-listed”) and by the Canadian Standards Association (labeled “CSA-rated”).
- Surge safety is quantified in kiloAmps (kA). The number indicates the level of electrical current the whole-house surge protector is able to withstand from a power surge , with the minimum surge protection being around 10kA.
- Whole-house surge protectors are classified as NEMA 1 to NEMA x4. It’s a grading system for electrical device enclosures developed by The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). It defines the environments in which a whole-house surge protector can be securely placed and used.
Review Time: The Best Whole-House Surge Protectors
Now that you know what the technical terms related to whole-house surge protectors mean, let’s move on to the reviews.
Here are the best whole-house surge protectors that currently dominate the market.
1. Siemens FS140 Whole-House Surge Protector
- 140kA surge protection
- 10x6x4 inches
- 3-stage warning system
- UL-listed
- NEMA 4X-rated
- 10-year warranty
- Price: $479
- Massive surge capability
- Installed both indoors and outdoors
- Resistant to dust, water, wind, ice, corrosion
- You’re continuously informed about the surge protector’s health and status
- Meets the necessary safety standards
- Backed up by a warranty guarantee
- May not fit inside smaller circuit panels
- Expensive
The Siemens FS140 Whole House Surge Protection has a massive surge capability of 140kA, ideal for people living in surge-prone regions.
It’s NEMA 4X-rated, which means you can install it indoors and outdoors because the casing is resistant to dust, water, wind, ice, and corrosion.
The Siemens FS140 whole-house surge protector measures 10x6x4 inches, so it’s slightly larger than the other items on our list. As a result, it may not fit inside smaller circuit panels.
The model has a three-stage warning system: an audible alert, a state LED, and a service LED. It’s very helpful if you want to be continuously informed about the health and status of your system.
The FirstSurge whole-house surge protector is UL-listed and meets the necessary safety standards. It also comes with a 10-year warranty.
2. Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA Whole-House Surge Protector
- 108 kA surge protection
- NEMA X4-rated
- 2 status LED lights
- 2.38×5.25×7.5 inches
- UL-listed
- 5-year warranty
- Price: $154
- Amazon’s top pick
- Budget-friendly price
- Ease of installation
- Meets the necessary safety standards
- Backed up by a warranty guarantee
- Installed both indoors and outdoors
- Resistant to dust, water, wind, ice, corrosion
- May not fit inside smaller circuit panels
- Some customers haven’t received screws for installation
Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA provides 108 kA of surge protection. It’s a powerful, cost-effective option for those who aren’t ready to spend much on surge security.
It’s NEMA X4 rated for internal or exterior use and is completely resistant to dust, water, wind, ice, and corrosion.
It has two LED lights that indicate the state of your surge protection. If both are illuminated, it means your home is entirely secure.
The Eaton variant is generally suitable for every type of circuit panel, but its measurements of 2.38×5.25×7.5 inches may prevent compatibility with smaller circuit panels.
The surge protector is UL-listed, satisfies all safety requirements, and has a 5-year warranty. It has also received the title of “Amazon’s Choice,” and consumers laud it for its budget-friendly price and ease of installation.
3. Leviton 51120-1 Panel Protector
- 50 kA surge protection
- NEMA 1-rated
- 7.9 x 7.9 inches
- 0.28g weight
- 2 LED indicator lights
- UL-listed
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Price: $291
- Resistant to dirt
- The metal casing of the protector increases its resilience and lifespan
- Compact and straightforward to set up
- Meets the necessary safety standards
- Backed up by a warranty guarantee
- Limited to indoor use
- A bit pricey for some
- Not resistant to water, wind, ice, or corrosion
The Leviton 51120-1 Panel Safeguard protects against surges of up to 50kA. It’s NEMA 1-rated, which is perfect for people needing indoor surge protection only.
The NEMA 1 rating also indicates that this whole-house surge protector is resistant to dirt but not water, wind, ice, or corrosion. Nonetheless, the metal casing of the protector increases its resilience and lifespan.
The whole-house surge suppressor measures 7.9 x 7.9 inches and weighs only 0.28g. It’s also applauded for being simple to set up.
The Leviton 51120-1 Panel Safeguard has two LED indicator lights. You are vulnerable to a power surge if any of the lights are turned off.
The product is UL-listed, guaranteeing safety and convenience, and offers a limited lifetime warranty.
4. Intermatic IG1240RC3 Whole House Surge Protector
- 50kA surge security
- NEMA 3R-rated
- 6.5 x 8.2 x 8 inches
- LED status indicator
- 5-year warranty
- CSA approved
- Price: $199
- Can be installed indoors or outdoors
- Protected against rain, dust, and ice
- Compact size
- Meets the necessary safety standards
- Backed up by a warranty guarantee
- The package’s instructions are unclear and difficult to follow
The Intermatic IG1240RC3 Whole House Surge Protector provides surge security up to 50kA. It’s NEMA 3R-rated and can be used indoors or outdoors.
The NEMA 3R rating means that the casing is protected against rain, dust, and ice. There’s also a tiny drain opening on the bottom that allows for air and fast dispersal of any water.
The whole-house surge suppressor measures 6.5 x 8.2 x 8 inches. Its small size enables it to fit in most breaker panels, making it a great model if you have a smaller circuit panel and are worried about whether a surge protector will fit inside.
The whole-home surge suppressor has a green LED indicator for protection state. If it’s turned on, it indicates the gadget is protecting.
The whole house surge suppressor has a 5-year warranty and is CSA approved, ensuring your peace of mind.
5. Intermatic Smart Guard IG2240-IMSK Whole House Surge Protector
- 10kA surge capability
- NEMA 1-rated
- 3 protection modules
- 2 LED lights
- 10.7 x 3.7 x 10 inches
- 10-year warranty
- UL approved
- Price: $583
- Cutting-edge model
- Thermally Protected Metal Oxide Varistor (TPMOV)
- Replaceable modules
- Meets the necessary safety standards
- Backed up by a warranty guarantee
- Bulky device
- Must be installed indoors
- Pricy for some
The Intermatic Smart Guard IG2240-IMSK is one of the top cutting-edge whole-house surge protectors on the market, so this model is excellent for people who need superior protection.
The model employs a Thermally Protected Metal Oxide Varistor (TPMOV), significantly lowering the likelihood of unanticipated failure. It’s made up of a separating mechanism that keeps track of the condition of the metal-oxide disk, a volt restraining component, and two signaling indicators.
Its drawback is that with a NEMA 1 classification, you can only install it indoors. However, it’s an excellent choice for people who only need a surge protector for indoor electronics.
Here, we should also mention that the unit has a 10kA surge capability, which is high but significantly lower than the other whole-house surge protectors.
It’s built with three separate protection modules, so even if one module malfunctions, your house will still be secure. Plus, each module is replaceable.
The whole-house surge protector has two LEDs, one for power status and the other for safety. It’s cylindrical, dark, and has a door.
It measures 10.7 x 3.7 x 10 inches, so it may not be as compact as other models on our list. Due to its size, you must install it outside of the circuit panel.
The whole-house surge suppressor has a 10-year warranty and is UL-approved, fulfilling all required safety requirements.
Summary of the Top Whole House Surge Protectors
| Siemens FS140 Whole-House Surge Protector | Best overall |
| Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA Whole-House Surge Protector | Most budget-friendly |
| Leviton 51120-1 Panel Protector | Best for indoor use |
| Intermatic IG1240RC3 Whole House Surge Protector | Best compact size |
| Intermatic Smart Guard IG2240-IMSK Whole House Surge Protector | Most advanced |
Conclusion
So which one is the best whole-house surge protector for you? Considering all factors, we believe the Siemens FS140 comes on top as the best whole-house surge protector.
Its surge protection ability? It has 140kA of electric power, which is massive. Plus, it’s NEMA 4X-rated, so feel free to install it indoors or outdoors. The casing is impervious to dust, precipitation, weather, ice, and corrosion!
Additionally, the model has a three-stage warning system, a unique feature found only in this model — the others only have LED indicators for the health and state of your system.
And last but not least, the FirstSurge whole-house surge suppressor is UL-listed and also includes a 10-year guarantee.
So what more can we ask for from a whole-house surge protector? We believe that this model covers almost everything. However, if you have a limited budget, you might prefer the more affordable Eaton CHSPT2ULTRA. Whichever one you choose, we’ve ensured that it’s among the best on the market.
