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Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a list of the questions we get asked frequently at Therm-A-Guard® about our wildlife protectors. If you do not find answers to your questions on this page, please contact us! We are here to help!

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Frequently Asked Questions

All Therm-A-Guard® models come with a 10-year warranty; however, many utilities across the US and abroad currently have Therm-A-Guards® that have been installed for over 10 years without any degradation in color or physical characteristics of the guard. The long life, with zero material change, despite years of blistering sun exposure, is attributed to the high levels of UV inhibitors added to our raw material.

Model TGB-50007 - Small: $10.50

Model TGB-65010 - Medium: $15.50

Model TGB-82512 - Large: $18.50

Model TGB-10517 - Extra Large: $34.50
Yes, we offer substantial discounts based on volume and order frequency. Please email us with your order interest and we will provide you with a quotation.
Yes. Our medium, large and extra-large guards have hot stick handles and an easy-to-use latching system to install the guards hot when required. Our smallest guard, however, does not have hot stick handles. The smaller guard was designed for use where space and clearance between bushings might be a problem.

Yes! Infrared inspections can now precisely detect hot spots on wildlife guarded equipment using the patented Therm-A-Guard® design. The view is clear enough to easily determine the exact cause of the hot spot and its actual temperature. Conventional solid wildlife guards mask this view and make it nearly impossible to accurately detect and report these hot spots.
Yes. Visual inspections can be performed on Therm-A-Guard® protected electrical equipment without having to remove the guard prior to the inspection. Additionally, sight gauge oil levels in bushings can now be verified along with visual conditions of the bushing.
Wasps and other insects are more prone to build nests in conventional solid animal guards because they will be protected from inclement weather. Therm-A-Guard's® open design allows wind and rain to enter the guard resulting in an environment less likely to be chosen by insects to nest. Additionally, Therm-A-Guard® allows linemen to easily see a nest prior to working on the guarded equipment, insect killer can be sprayed directly through the guard onto the nest preventing insect stings to your workforce.
Most orders leave our warehouse within 2-3 business days. Orders less than 15 cases usually ship UPS Ground; orders over 15 cases are more economical to ship on a pallet via freight truck. We are very flexible and are happy to ship any non standard method that you prefer such as air freight or utilizing your preferred truck line or using your own account number for shipments.

The openings in the Therm-A-Guard® are approximately 3/10" in size. These openings are large enough to allow an unobstructed view of your protected equipment yet small enough to prevent wildlife from coming into contact with the energized equipment.
The Therm-A-Guard® has a body thickness approximately 1/10” thick The bottom bushing skirt grips and top exit lead fingers taper down to approximately 3/100” thick allowing for easy trimming to accommodate various exit lead and bushing skirt diameters.

Yes. The open design of the Therm-A-Guard® allows for increased air circulation around the guarded equipment thus maintaining cooler operating temperatures. Cooler temperatures are critical to the life expectancy of your bushing's gaskets.

Therm-A-Guard® is designed with a truly unique latching system. The system has multiple independent latching points insuring a secure hold to the wildlife guarded equipment. Designed with a conventional hinge system, as opposed to a living hinge, the Therm-A-Guard® can easily be removed and reinstalled without fear of damaging the hinge assembly.
The Therm-A-Guard® Wildlife Protector is manufactured in Tampa Bay, Florida U.S.A. Manufacturing in our ISO certified facility insures quality parts and materials in every Therm-A-Guard®.
Yes. The United States Patent and Trademark office issued US Patent No. 6,486,785 on November 2, 2002.
We offer four (4) sizes of Therm-A-Guard®s that will cover nearly all bushings and potheads; overhead distribution transformers; substation transformers; substation breakers; regulators and reclosures. Please see our guard specification sheets for exact dimensions.

Yes. All Therm-A-Guard® models are UV stabilized with a .75% HALS UV stabilizer. This high level of UV stabilization is more than triple that of most outdoor polyethylene products and will provide a minimum of 10 years of outdoor life without degradation.
Yes. The Therm-A-Guard®s were installed on various sized bushings with top exit leads. The bushings and Therm-A-Guard®s were then subjected to sustained winds beginning at 50 MPH and continuing up to 125 MPH. The Therm-A-Guard® latching system held the guards firmly in place (Wind loads above 125 MPH were not tested). Additionally with our open mesh design there is considerably less surface area for the wind to affect the bushing cover than with a solid wildlife protector.
The Therm-A-Guard® is usually installed around the first skirt (top) below the exposed bushing or pothead connector. It can, however, be installed around the second skirt or the bushing cap if size or clearance is an issue. The larger guards were engineered to allow any one of the three or four hinges to be cut out for side-exit leads. The smaller guard was designed so that solid areas around the two hinges could be cut out to accommodate side exit leads. Additionally, the flexible bushing grips, located at the bottom of the guard, can be easily trimmed to accommodate various size bushings skirt diameters.

Therm-A-Guard® wildlife protectors are produced from an engineering-grade, high-density polyethylene called Marlex 9018, manufactured by Chevron-Phillips Chemical Corporation. (Complete material specifications and data sheets are available). The Therm-A-Guard® has a smooth, highly polished surface allowing rain to wash away contaminants that could otherwise build up. Both the polyethylene material and the colorant additive are UV stabilized.

The Therm-A-Guard® offers so much more than just guarding equipment from wildlife. Here are just a few of the reasons: 

  • It allows infrared inspection programs to be accurate and effective
  • It allows for visual inspections to be performed without removing the bushing cover.
  • It allows workers to safely detect and eliminate stinging insect nests prior to removing the guard for equipment maintenance.
  • It has a real hinge, not a living hinge, allowing the guard to be removed and reinstalled after maintenance without fear of breakage.
  • The superior latching system keeps the Therm-A-Guard® securely around the bushing eliminating the need for tie wraps, tape, rivets, etc.
  • It allows condensation to dry quickly from the electrical connectors being guarded due to its open design.
  • The extremely smooth finish allows contaminants to wash off easily lowering the chance of any tracking issues.