These days, I have added a new recommendation to the electrical section of my inspections. "Add a whole house surge protector". I learned through experience about this. As our electrical grid ifrastructure ages, we become subject to more problems.
Many of the appliances in our modern houses have computer boards controlling their operation. These boards are very susceptible to damage by power surges. We usually have surge protectors for our home computers, but what about that expensive clothes dryer or furnace. Both have computer control boards. I learned about the dangers when I came home one day to find the furnace not running, the dryer was dead and several other appliances were also dead (repairs came to nearly $1000).
It turns out that the neutral wire on the transformer (on the power pole) came loose. With no neutral wire there is no regulation of the voltage. The power surge was apparently dramatic. When the lineman showed up he did an emergency shut off of the power because of the fire danger.
Since they don't make plug-in surge protectors for 240 volts (dryer) and the furnace is hard wired, the only way to protect them is with a whole house unit. I have one on order and it will be installed as soon as it arrives. The good news is that we got a check for $990 from the power company today.
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