Most people don’t: This appliance should be unplugged during a thunderstorm

When heavy thunderstorms approach, the power grid can be hit by sudden voltage jumps, short outages and lightning-related surges that travel through wires, phone lines, antenna cables and even home plumbing.

A single powerful surge can be enough to damage sensitive electronics and, in the worst case, create a fire hazard.

So it’s not just a question of avoiding blackouts. It’s also about protecting the appliances that are most vulnerable to the small, almost invisible jolts in voltage.

In many households, the densest and most expensive electronics are clustered around the television, which is often connected to both the internet and gaming consoles.

Several safety campaigns emphasize the need to prepare well in advance. Don’t wait until the lightning is already flashing outside the window, stay away from switches and cables and leave everything as it is.

Why TVs are particularly vulnerable

Modern TVs such as LED, QLED and OLED models work with highly sensitive power supplies that are designed for a stable and even voltage.

Instead, during thunderstorms, the grid can be hit by sudden voltage spikes, sudden drops, electrical pulses of several thousand volts after a lightning strike and small interruptions that cause the device to restart.

All of this takes a toll on electronic circuits, capacitors and the internal power supply.

Technicians point out that a TV screen is one of the most common appliances to burn out during a storm, along with a modem and TV decoder.

In some cases, in some American examples, the bill can run into the thousands of dollars when both the motherboard and connected equipment are next to go.

Home electronics experts therefore recommend not just pressing the standby button on the remote control. The TV should be completely unplugged and the antenna or cable TV cable should also be disconnected.

The same goes for HDMI cables for decoders and game consoles, because a surge can travel through the signal path and damage multiple devices in a chain.

How to protect your TV and the rest of your home

Ordinary surge protectors only offer limited protection during thunderstorms. Technicians from the Argentine institute INTI warn that lightning-triggered voltage spikes can exceed what equipment can handle, while more advanced UPS solutions and varistor protection provide an extra layer of safety.

Still, they point out that the most effective solution is still to unplug electronics before the storm really gets going.

Several American power companies and advisors mention the same appliances as particularly vulnerable, and at the company Acosta Heating, Cooling and Electrical, the assessment to SouthernLiving.com is that it is not always realistic to unplug everything, but that you need to know the most important devices to prioritize.

The television is at the top of the list, along with modems and Wi-Fi routers, desktop computers, gaming consoles, microwaves, toasters, coffee makers, hair dryers and other heating and kitchen appliances and smart appliances.

At the same time, electrical safety organizations remind you that storm protection is not just about sockets.

You should turn off the air conditioner or heat pump to protect the compressor, stay away from water and plumbing during thunderstorms, and avoid using the dishwasher, washing machine and dryer because they are connected to both electricity and water.

Unplugging the TV and the most sensitive appliances can help you avoid costly repairs and reduce the risk of a sudden lightning strike causing major damage to your living room.