Your WiFi-Enabled Washer and Dryer Are More Vulnerable Than You Think – Here’s How to Protect Them
Modern laundry appliances aren’t just machines that wash and dry clothes anymore. They have a lot of electronics, including wifi, LED displays, etc. Your new smart washer and dryer are essentially computers that happen to clean clothes, making them surprisingly vulnerable to electrical damage that could leave you with expensive repair bills or complete appliance failure.
Why Smart Appliances Need Special Protection
Today, everything plugged-in seems to have some type of sensitive electronic circuitry. The oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer, washer/dryer, microwave and other appliances are no exception. However, high tech products have a weakness. The weakness is increased sensitivity and susceptibility to abnormal power and frequency changes called transient voltage. Transient voltage is more commonly known as power surge activity.
Unlike older mechanical appliances with simple motors and switches, today’s smart washers and dryers contain complex circuit boards, WiFi modules, touchscreen displays, and sophisticated control systems. Electronics like Wi-Fi routers, thermostats, and video doorbells are sensitive to even minor voltage changes. A surge can knock them offline or cause permanent damage. The same vulnerability applies to your connected laundry appliances.
The Real Threat to Your Investment
Power fluctuations can be catastrophic for appliances like refrigerators, washers, dryers, and freezers. It’s no secret that home appliances aren’t cheap, so why risk them going down to something as simple as a power surge? A power surge can create an arc of electrical current within an appliance. The heat generated during this process can permanently damage circuit boards and other components.
The damage isn’t always immediate or obvious. If one surge doesn’t ruin your possessions, multiple smaller surges may. Continued power surges can erode internal parts and shorten the useful life of an appliance. Internal surges have the greatest effect on Wi-Fi equipment because they happen all of the time. In some homes, these events occur hundreds of times each day, whenever major appliances cycle off or on or when devices are plugged in and out. Although the increased voltage associated with internal power surges is often far lower than the voltage associated with larger, external events, its effects are ongoing and cumulative.
Beyond Basic Power Strips: Professional Protection Solutions
There is a difference between a normal surge protector and an appliance surge protector. If you’re protecting a large household appliance, like a refrigerator, normal surge protectors likely won’t be able to absorb enough joules to prevent damage to your system. Appliances use a lot more current than other electronics you normally see around the home, so it’s important to know the difference.
For comprehensive protection, you need both – a surge protector at your panel (type 2) and where the electrical device is plugged into the wall (type 3). Whole home surge protectors can be hardwired to your electrical panel, providing protection to all your home’s outlets at once. Whole home surge protection is often the only way to protect hardwired equipment and appliances that plug into 240-volt outlets.
Professional Installation Makes the Difference
When it comes to protecting your valuable smart appliances, professional installation ensures optimal protection. For residents seeking reliable surge protection Chatham County, NC and surrounding areas, working with experienced electrical contractors is essential. Electrical Service Providers specializes in electrician services for customers in Burlington NC and surrounding communities. Electrical Service Providers (ESP) has been in business since 2002.
Customer satisfaction is important to us. We want you to speak directly to a service representative and not an answering machine. Your problem may seem small, but at ESP it will always receive the attention that it deserves. We dispatch fully stocked trucks. We use Flat Rate Pricing – you will know your cost before we begin your service. Our technicians arrive at your location in uniform in a stocked truck and we always clean up before we leave. You invite us into your home or business; it is our goal to leave it better than we found it.
The Cost of Waiting
Today, dishwashers, ovens and other appliances are built to sell. They are not built to last. This makes the need for quality SPDs even more important. Our surge protectors are a small price to pay for peace of mind that your home appliances are protected no matter what is happening with the power grid.
Consider the math: A quality whole-house surge protection system costs significantly less than replacing a single high-end washer and dryer set. Protecting appliances from the dangers and damage from power surges saves time, money and frustration. The right surge protector, in the right location, with the right installation may even extend appliance life cycle expectancy.
Take Action Before It’s Too Late
Your WiFi-enabled washer and dryer represent a significant investment in convenience and efficiency. Don’t let a preventable power surge turn that investment into an expensive repair bill or replacement cost. If you have a newer, computer-controlled washer/dryer, I would recommend a surge protector. It’s cheap insurance for a usually expensive repair.
Professional surge protection isn’t just about preventing catastrophic failures – it’s about preserving the sophisticated technology that makes your smart appliances so valuable in the first place. With proper protection in place, you can enjoy the convenience of your connected laundry room without worrying about the next storm or power fluctuation.