How to Protect Your Home from Lightning and Power Surges

Lightning doesn't need to strike your house directly to cause damage. A strike on a nearby tree or power line can send a surge through your home's wiring, phone lines, and even plumbing.

A whole-house surge protector, installed by a licensed electrician at your main electrical panel, is the most effective single upgrade — it catches large surges before they reach your home's wiring and appliances.

Point-of-use surge protectors add a second layer for your most sensitive electronics — computers, TVs, and anything with a circuit board benefits from one, since a whole-house unit alone won't stop every surge.

Proper grounding matters. Your electrical panel should have a solid grounding system; if lightning strikes nearby and your home isn't well grounded, it increases the risk of the surge finding its own path through your wiring.

During an active storm, avoid touching anything with a cord, stay away from plumbing fixtures, and unplug particularly sensitive electronics if you have time before the storm arrives.

For homes in high-risk areas, a professionally installed lightning protection system — rods and conductors that guide a direct strike safely to the ground — is worth discussing with a licensed electrician.

Use our marketplace to compare local electricians for surge protection and grounding work.