top of page

Frequently Asked Questions

Select a Category to see more questions. Click on a question to see the answer.

  • Q4. Should there be any other colors of lights besides red?
    No, our surge protection devices do not have green or other colored lights. All status indicator lights on Meter-Treater surge protection devices are red. If you're having trouble locating the lights, go to your electric meter outside your home and look for a device attached near the meter where the electric service enters your home. Check around all sides of this device for small red lights.
  • Q6. If the circuit breaker went out, does the surge protector still work?
    Yes, the surge protector will continue to work even if circuit breakers inside your home have tripped. Our surge protection devices are typically installed at the meter-can (between the meter and the meter socket), which is upstream from your home's circuit breaker panel. This means the SPD is still protecting your electrical system at its entry point, even when circuit breakers inside your home have tripped. When you reset your circuit breakers, the protected electrical pathways will be restored. If the red status indicator light(s) on the SPD are illuminated, the unit is working correctly regardless of the state of your circuit breakers.
  • Q3. How many lights should my SPD have and where are they located?
    Different Meter-Treater SPD models have varying numbers of status indicator lights depending on the design. Depending on your specific model, you may have one, two, or more red lights. These lights are typically located on the side of the unit for easy visibility.
  • Q1. What do the red lights on my surge protector mean? Should they be on?
    Yes, the red status indicators light(s) on your SPD should be illuminated. When the red lights are ON, this indicates that your surge protector is functioning correctly and providing protection. If the light is OFF, this indicates that the unit needs service and you should contact your utility provider.
  • Q2. I thought lights being on might mean it's not working. Is that correct?
    No, it's actually the opposite. Our status indicator lights do not change color - they are either on (working) or off (needs service). The red lights being ON is the normal, proper operating condition for your surge protection device.
  • Q5. How do I know if my surge protector is working?
    The most reliable way to verify your surge protection device is working is to check the red status indicator light(s) on the side of the unit. When these red lights are illuminated (ON), your SPD is functioning properly and providing protection. If the lights are OFF, the unit may need service and you should contact your utility provider. These lights are designed to be easily visible without requiring any tools or special knowledge to check their status.
  • Q9. What is the warranty process & how long does it take?
    Once you submit a completed warranty form, our team will review your submitted information and evaluate the SPD to determine if the damage was caused by a surge that the SPD was designed to prevent. The review process typically takes 2-3 weeks from receipt of SPD and your completed warranty form. If approved, payment of fair market value of the damaged item or reasonable repair costs will be made according to the terms of your warranty. Consult your warranty terms for full details.
  • Q13. But I was told that my TV would be covered. Why isn't it?
    We apologize for any confusion regarding coverage. Information provided by third parties may not fully reflect the terms of your specific warranty agreement with us. While our warranty generally covers electrical appliances damaged by eligible surges, specific items may not be covered due to various factors including how the surge entered your home or the nature of the damage. We recommend reviewing your warranty documentation for detailed coverage information.
  • Q12. Why isn't my device covered under the warranty?
    Some items may not be covered under the warranty for several reasons: The damage may have occurred from a source other than an electrical surge The item may be explicitly excluded in your specific warranty terms The surge may have entered through a pathway not protected by the SPD (such as telephone or cable lines) The damage may have resulted from an event outside the SPD's protection capabilities, such as a direct lightning strike The item exceeded its useful life or had pre-existing conditions
  • Q8. How do I send the warranty form back to you?
    You can return your completed warranty form to warranty@metertreater.com or MTI. Attn: Warranty Dept. 1349 S. Killian Dr., Lake Park FL, 33403. If mailing your warranty form, we suggest sending it so that the documents may be tracked.
  • Q14. Why aren't my electronics covered under the warranty?
    The warranty has specific exclusions for stand-alone electronics (like computers, gaming systems, or advanced smart home devices). For specific details about coverage in your warranty, please refer to your warranty documentation or contact your utility provider.
  • Q15. My appliance was damaged and could not be fixed. Why am I only getting [XYZ] dollars?
    Our warranty is designed to compensate you fairly based on the actual cash value of the damaged item at the time of the surge, taking into account factors like age, condition, and depreciation—not the full replacement cost of a new item or reasonable repair costs. This approach is standard in the industry. The compensation amount [XYZ dollars] reflects our assessment of the item's value considering these factors.
  • Q7. How do I file a claim?
    To file a claim, please contact your utility provider, who will guide you through our simple claims process. You'll need to complete a claim form with details about the damaged equipment and the circumstances of the surge event. The form can be submitted to your utility provider or directly to Meter-Treater Inc.
  • Q10. How do I get a copy of my warranty?
    You can obtain a copy of your warranty from your utility provider who enrolled you in the surge protection program. Alternatively, you can contact Meter-Treater Inc. directly with your account information, and we'll be happy to provide you with your warranty documentation.
  • Q16. What happened to my stuff if it wasn't a surge?
    If your equipment was damaged by something other than an electrical surge, such as a power outage, normal wear and tear, or a manufacturing defect, the SPD warranty would not apply. However, these types of damage might be covered by your homeowner's insurance or the manufacturer's warranty for the equipment. We recommend consulting with these providers about non-surge related damage.
  • Q11. Is my device covered under the warranty?
    Generally, most major household appliances connected to your electrical system are covered if damaged by a surge that came through your power lines. For specific information about whether your particular device is covered, please consult your warranty documentation.
  • Q20. What is a direct strike? It struck my tree, why don't I have coverage?
    A direct strike refers to when lightning directly hits your home, a tree very close to your home, or other nearby structures. These events create extremely powerful electrical surges that can often exceed the capacity of any residential surge protection device. When lightning strikes a tree near your home, the energy can travel through the ground and enter your home through multiple pathways, potentially bypassing your meter-based SPD. While our surge protector is designed to handle most common surges, direct or very close lightning strikes create such extreme conditions that they may exceed the protection capabilities of residential surge protection equipment. This is why direct lightning strikes and their resulting damage are typically excluded from standard warranty coverage.
  • Q21. I have a unit and still had damage. Why?
    Even with a properly installed surge protection device, damage can still occur for several reasons: 1. The surge may have entered through pathways not protected by the meter-based SPD, such as telephone, cable, or internet lines 2. The surge may have been exceptionally powerful (like a direct lightning strike or very close strike) that exceeded the SPD's protection capacity 3. Your home may have improper grounding, which affects the SPD's ability to divert surge energy safely 4. The damage might have been caused by something other than a surge, such as a power outage, voltage sag, or equipment failure unrelated to surges Each claim is evaluated individually to determine if the damage resulted from a surge that our unit is designed to protect against.
  • Q18. Where is the SPD located?
    Your surge protection device is typically installed at the electric meter on your home. Specifically, it's installed at the "meter-can" – the connection point between your electric meter and the meter socket. This location allows the SPD to intercept surges at the point where electricity enters your home, before it reaches your circuit breaker panel and your home's electrical system. The SPD has red status indicator lights on the side of the unit that should be visible when you look at your electric meter.
  • Q19. How can surges enter my home?
    Surges can enter your home through multiple pathways besides your electrical service lines, including: · Telephone lines · Cable TV or satellite dish cables · Internet or network cables · Water pipes (in some circumstances) · Direct lightning strikes to the house or nearby structures The Meter-Treater SPD installed at your electric meter protects against surges coming through your power lines, but for complete protection, you may want to consider additional point-of-use surge protectors for sensitive electronics and protection for other service lines.
  • Q22. Does the SPD sound out signals? Can I see it on an APP?
    No, our standard meter-based surge protection devices do not emit signals or connect to any apps. They are passive protective devices that work silently in the background without requiring any monitoring or interaction from homeowners. The only user interface is the red status indicator light(s) on the unit that shows it's functioning properly. There is no app, sound, or other signal associated with the standard residential SPD. The protection works automatically without any need for homeowner intervention or monitoring beyond occasionally checking that the red light(s) remain illuminated.
  • Q17. How does the surge protector work?
    Your meter-based surge protection device works by constantly monitoring the voltage coming into your home. When it detects a surge (a sudden increase in voltage above normal levels), it diverts the excess electrical energy safely to ground before it can enter your home's wiring and damage your appliances and electronics. Think of it as a pressure relief valve for electricity - when the pressure gets too high, it creates an alternate path for the excess energy. The SPD is installed at your electric meter, allowing it to intercept surges at the point where power enters your home, providing whole-house protection.
  • Q24. Can't I just get some surge protector for my stuff?
    You certainly can use point-of-use surge protectors for individual devices or power strips, and we actually recommend these as complementary protection. However, the meter-based SPD we provide offers several advantages: · It protects your entire electrical system at the point where power enters your home · It can handle much larger surges than typical plug-in surge protectors For comprehensive protection, we recommend both our meter-based SPD and quality point-of-use surge protectors for sensitive electronics.
  • Q23. Why am I paying for this service if damage can still occur?
    Your surge protection device is working continuously to protect your home from common electrical surges. The monthly fee provides not only the equipment but also the warranty coverage for eligible damages. While no surge protector can guarantee 100% protection against all possible electrical events, our SPD significantly reduces your risk of surge damage in most situations. The monthly fee provides several valuable benefits: A high-quality surge protection device installed and maintained at your meter Continuous protection against common electrical surges entering through your power lines Warranty coverage for eligible damages to covered appliances and electronics Professional claims processing and investigation services when damages occur
  • Q25. Who is Meter-Treater?
    Meter-Treater Inc. (M-Ti) is a specialized manufacturer of surge protection devices (SPDs) that work with your utility provider to protect your home from electrical surges. We've been in the business of protecting homes and businesses from power surges for many years, designing and manufacturing high-quality surge protection equipment.
  • Q26. Who maintains the SPD? Do I have to?
    You don't need to perform any maintenance on your surge protection device. The SPD is designed to function without requiring any homeowner maintenance or intervention. Your utility provider is responsible for the installation, maintenance, and replacement of the unit if needed. The only thing you need to do is occasionally check that the red status indicator light(s) remain illuminated. If the light(s) go out, simply contact your utility provider, and they will arrange for service or replacement of the unit as necessary under your protection program.
  • Q27. Why are you involved? You are not my utility?
    Meter-Treater Inc. (M-Ti) is the manufacturer of the surge protection device installed at your home, working in partnership with your utility provider. While we are not your utility company, we work closely with them to provide high-quality surge protection equipment and warranty services. Your utility has chosen to partner with us because of our specialized expertise in surge protection technology. When processing claims or answering technical questions, we may need specific information to properly assist you, even though some of this information might already be on file with your utility. This collaborative approach ensures you receive the most knowledgeable service regarding your surge protection equipment while maintaining your existing relationship with your trusted utility provider.

Next?

Discover products based on application...

... or category

bottom of page