When a thunderstorm rolls in, most people do the same quick round of the house: unplug the toaster, the electric kettle, maybe the coffee maker. They’re the appliances that look most exposed, sitting on the counter by the window. But electricians and safety officials point to a different device as the one most vulnerable to a lightning surge, and it’s also one of the most expensive things in the house. Unplugging it the usual way isn’t even enough.
The appliance is the television.
Why the TV is the most exposed
A lightning strike doesn’t have to hit your house to cause damage. A strike nearby can send a powerful surge through power lines, phone lines and cable or antenna connections, and anything plugged in can take the hit. The TV is especially vulnerable because it’s often connected twice: once to the power outlet and once to a cable, satellite or antenna line, which can carry a surge straight into its electronics.
That second connection is the one most people forget. Pulling the power plug while leaving the antenna or cable connected still leaves a path for the surge.
What to unplug, and when
The National Weather Service advises unplugging electronic equipment well before a storm arrives, not once it’s overhead. The priority list:
- The television, both the power cord and the cable, satellite or antenna connection.
- Computers, gaming consoles and the Wi-Fi router.
- Expensive appliances with electronic controls, such as a microwave or a smart oven.
- Chargers for phones and tablets.
A standard surge protector helps with everyday power spikes, but it won’t stop the energy of a direct or very close lightning strike.
It’s worth knowing why this matters financially, too. Lightning-related claims cost U.S. homeowners’ insurers hundreds of millions of dollars a year, and much of that damage is to electronics rather than to the structure of the house. A TV, a router and a computer fried by a single surge add up quickly, and many policies have a deductible that makes small claims pointless. Thirty seconds of unplugging is cheaper than any of it.
What not to do during the storm
Once lightning is close, the advice changes: don’t touch plugged-in electrical equipment or cords, because a surge can travel through them. The same goes for plumbing. Lightning can travel through metal pipes, so the NWS recommends avoiding showers, baths and washing dishes until the storm has passed. Corded landline phones carry the same risk; cell phones are safe to use.
After the storm
If the power went out, wait a few minutes after it comes back before plugging everything in again: the grid can produce spikes as service is restored. Then reconnect the most valuable devices last.
The kettle and the toaster still deserve attention, by the way. Small heating appliances are worth unplugging after use in general, and a few of them should never go on a power strip at all.
Power cord and antenna cable, unplugged before the storm. The screen survives the next storm. That’s the trick.
