Electrical surges from lightning strikes pose a significant financial and safety risk to household electronics and appliances. These surges can originate from direct lightning impacts or nearby strikes that induce voltage spikes through a home's electrical wiring, plumbing, and metal components embedded in walls. The resulting fires and device damage represent a major annual cost burden for homeowners.

Protection requires both immediate action during storms and preventive investments. When thunderstorms approach, unplugging devices offers the simplest defence. For ongoing protection, homeowners should install surge protectors with ratings of 2,000 joules or higher on valuable equipment, plug major appliances directly into wall outlets to avoid extension cord overheating, and consider whole-home surge protection systems installed at the electrical panel. Those in storm-prone regions may also benefit from lightning rods or uninterruptible power supplies that combine battery backup with advanced surge protection for equipment needing constant power.