Is it necessary to unplug devices during a thunderstorm

 

Is It Necessary to Unplug Devices During a Thunderstorm? Here’s What You Need to Know

When storm clouds roll in and lightning begins flashing across the sky, many people wonder whether they should walk around unplugging every appliance in the house. It’s a common question—and a smart one. Thunderstorms can be unpredictable, and modern homes are filled with electronics that don’t handle sudden power surges well.

So is it really necessary to unplug your devices during a thunderstorm? The short answer: It’s one of the simplest and safest precautions you can take. While not every storm will cause electrical damage, the few that do can ruin expensive electronics in seconds.

Here’s why unplugging can be a smart move—and what alternatives you can use to protect your home.

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Why Lightning Poses a Risk to Electronics

Lightning strikes can generate massive electrical surges, even miles from where the bolt actually hits. Those surges can:

• Travel through power lines

• Enter your home through the electrical system

• Burn out circuits

• Damage TVs, computers, routers, gaming consoles, appliances, and chargers

Even surge protectors cannot guarantee 100% protection against a direct or extremely close lightning strike. If the surge is powerful enough, it can overwhelm most standard surge strips in an instant.

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Unplugging Is the Most Reliable Protection

Unplugging devices physically separates them from the electrical grid, so even a strong surge cannot reach them. That’s why safety experts often recommend unplugging non-essential electronics during severe thunderstorms.

This includes:

• TV and home theater systems

• Desktop computers and laptops

• Modems and Wi-Fi routers

• Gaming consoles

• Kitchen appliances that aren’t in use

• Phone chargers

The process takes only a minute or two and could save hundreds (or thousands) of dollars in damage.

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What About Surge Protectors?

Surge protectors offer helpful but not absolute protection. They can block small, everyday surges—like when a large appliance turns on—but they are not built to handle the raw power of a nearby lightning strike.

If you rely on surge strips, keep these tips in mind:

• Choose protectors with a high joule rating

• Replace them periodically (they wear out)

• Understand that they reduce risk, but don’t eliminate it

For serious protection, whole-house surge protectors installed by electricians offer better (but still not perfect) defense.

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What Happens If You Can’t Unplug Everything?

You don’t have to unplug every device in the home. Focus on the ones:

• Most expensive

• Most sensitive

• Most difficult to replace

• Always plugged into wall power

Refrigerators, freezers, and hardwired devices cannot realistically be unplugged, and that’s okay—they’re built to withstand more than your average electronics.

But your TV, computer, and modem? Those are much more vulnerable.

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Other Ways Lightning Can Enter a Home

Power lines aren’t the only pathway lightning can follow. It may also travel through:

• Phone lines

• Cable/internet lines

• Metal plumbing

• Outdoor antennas

• Satellite dishes

This is why some people unplug their modem or router’s cable line as well—an extra layer of caution.

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Practical Safety Tips During a Thunderstorm

• Unplug sensitive electronics if lightning is close.

• Avoid using wired electronics during an active storm.

• Stay away from corded phones (use mobile phones instead).

• Don’t shower or run water during intense lightning activity, as plumbing can conduct electricity.

• Keep windows closed to prevent wind damage near electronics.

These steps are simple, quick, and grounded in electrical safety recommendations.

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So… Is It Necessary?

Not strictly—your home won’t instantly suffer damage if you leave something plugged in.
But it is the safest, most foolproof way to protect your devices during a thunderstorm.

Think of it as inexpensive insurance:

✔ Costs nothing
✔ Takes seconds
✔ Prevents potentially expensive damage

For many households, that makes it absolutely worth doing.