TechDish: How to Protect Your Equipment During a Storm

Posted on: Fri, 07/02/2010 - 08:15 — us104_techdish

Hey it's TechDish Friday, and this week we're talking about How to protect your computer and other electronic equipment during a storm. With the beastly storms that rolled through last week we saw some pretty wild lightning that came along with it. And when there's lightning, you can count on power surges and spikes to hit your home electronics. Have you done enough to protect your equipment from damage? Do you have a process to follow if or when your equipment does get damaged?

Data Backups protect the things you can't replace

Broken record much? Maybe, but we can't stress enough the importance of backing up your important data. Those family pictures and photos of your kids. Your tax returns from the past five years. Those hundreds of word documents you've written for schoolwork. Your family tree information. Sure, some of this can be recreated, but some things (like photos) just simply can't be replaced, no matter the resources.

If you do not yet have data backups in place, IDEaS Computers is your source for data backup solutions. Many of our external hard drives come with free backup protection software that is easy to install and configure; just select the folders and files you want to protect, and the software will automatically take care of the rest! And with data backup drives starting at under $100, they should be pretty friendly to your wallet.

Home and Renters Insurance may be your best friend

We've seen in the shop a few scenarios where the individual's homeowners insurance actually covered equipment loss due to a power surge during a storm. We've also seen a few scenarios where there wasn't enough evidence or documentation to support the claim. If you are going to make a claim for equipment loss during a storm with your insurance company, here's a few things to keep in mind:

• Be informed.

  Make sure you understand your insurance policy—what is covered, what isn't covered, and under what circumstances that coverage applies to.

• Be prompt.

  If you suffer equipment loss that you want to make a claim against, bring all the equipment in question to a service center as soon as possible for a damage assessment and repair/replacement estimate.

• Be documented.

  Keep a journal of your equipment: what year it was purchased, the manufacturer, model/serial numbers, etc. If it is computer equipment, keep a printout from the original purchase, or make a list of the system specs. This will aid in assessing the replacement cost of the equipment. It is also a good idea to keep a log of events: when did the storm happen, how did you know the storm caused damage to your equipment, when did you bring it in for repair, etc.

IDEaS Computers can help you with damage assessment and repair estimates for computer equipment insurance claims! Feel free to call or stop in with any questions you may have.

Surge Protection and Battery Backups for that extra layer of protection

Remember, a power strip does nothing but extend one outlet into many. What you need to protect your equipment is surge protection. A properly installed surge protector will protect your electronic equipment from spikes and surges caused by a storm. And, if it doesn't, many of them carry a connected equipment protection warranty that will replace your equipment if the device fails; provided you abide by the warranty's terms.

Battery Backups have surge protection built in, but also contain a battery that will keep your computer equipment from shutting down improperly. What's more, most battery backup units have configurable software that will automatically shut down your computer safely when there is a power outage. This is great news for those of us who are on the road when a storm hits!

IDEaS Computers is your surge protection headquarters.

We've got your protection devices on hand, stop in today and get protected! For under $100, you could have a full battery backup/surge protection solution in place at your home. For those of you needing surge protectors for home electronics (televisions, surround sound, gaming units, etc.), we've got you covered on those too.

• APC Performance Series SurgeArrest® Surge Protector

  • Maximum protection level at 3400eP Joules
  • $100,000 lifetime connected equipment protection
  • 11 outlets
  • Phone/Fax modem protection with splitter
  • Coax (television cable) line protection
  • In-store price: $27.99

• Tripp-Lite Battery Backup

  • Up to 45 minutes backup time
  • $100,000 ultimate lifetime insurance
  • 12 protected outlets
  • Phone/Fax/DSL modem protection
  • In-store price: $91.99