Tips to Protect Your IT Assets From Electrical Damage

Storms often occur during seasonal changes, which can lead to power surges that damage IT assets. Most of the business world has gone digital within the last decade, and knowing how to protect assets from electrical damage can help prevent data loss and damage to data centers.  

Power surges are typically caused by electrical overloads, such as faulty wiring, lighting strikes, or power restoration after an outage or blackout. Electronics cannot handle too much power at once, or it will damage the device and, in extreme cases, battery fires that can take days or even weeks to fully extinguish. Large amounts of data are now being stored digitally in data centers, and preventing damage is critical in keeping enterprise data safe. 

Electrical damage causes many issues, but there are several ways to prevent a power surge from happening and tips to avoid damage should a surge occur. 

• Faulty wiring can cause electrical damage if poorly managed. This can be prevented by having an electrician inspect the home or office wiring for issues, especially in older buildings.
• The easiest method of device protection during power surges is to unplug devices. It is safest to unplug electronic devices during storms at home or in the office to prevent them from being affected if lightning strikes. 
• Surge protectors are another standard method of protection against power surges. Using surge protectors like power strips and surge protector outlets helps block excess voltage from reaching electronics during a power surge.
• A more expensive method of electrical protection is to install a whole-home surge processor, which is installed at the primary breaker box between an electrical system and the grid. The surge processor is a power strip for a building’s electrical system. 
• High-efficiency AC units are energy-efficient and draw less power, so they are less likely to cause a power surge. This reduces the risk of voltage spikes and can save consumers money on energy bills. 

It is always best to have fire extinguishers on hand in case a fire occurs and a disposition plan for any IT assets that may be damaged during a surge. Partnering with an ITAD provider like HOBI removes the stress of what to do with old, retired, or damaged IT assets and provides an environmentally friendly alternative to landfills.

ITAD facilities ensure IT assets are responsibly disposed of via electronics recycling, no matter the damage. HOBI provides repair and remarketing solutions for devices that can still be used, maximizing asset value. HOBI is an R2v3, RIOS, and ISO-14001 certified IT asset management and disposition enterprise with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. 

For more information about our ITAD services, call 817-814-2620 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.