News How to protect your tech from lightning strikes Planning ahead never hurt anyone. By Gabriela VΔtu July 7, 2026 9:30 am EST Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images A single thunderstorm can fry your PC, TV, fridge, router, PlayStation and pretty much anything else you have plugged in. It only takes seconds, but the damage can be quite costly, especially as appliances and tech can catch fire in such situations. In fact, "quite costly" is mildly put, because residential electrical fires caused over $1.2 billion in property losses in the US in 2021. The good news is that a few proactive steps can save you from an expensive repair bill. Being quick to act when a storm hits and making preemptive investments in your home's safety are the best ways to help avoid a costly loss.
After all, you don't want to wait until you're replacing a $1,500 PC and your massive TV, right? How does lightning actually damage electronics? Pexels: Π‘Π°ΡΠ° ΠΠ»Π°Π»ΡΠΊΠΈΠ½ In recent years, we're seeing powerful storms more frequently. Climate change has had a direct impact on both the frequency and intensity of such events, so we're likely to encounter more extreme weather incidents as time goes on.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/2208395/how-to-protect-your-tech-from-lightning-strikes/
After all, you don't want to wait until you're replacing a $1,500 PC and your massive TV, right? How does lightning actually damage electronics? Pexels: Π‘Π°ΡΠ° ΠΠ»Π°Π»ΡΠΊΠΈΠ½ In recent years, we're seeing powerful storms more frequently. Climate change has had a direct impact on both the frequency and intensity of such events, so we're likely to encounter more extreme weather incidents as time goes on.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/2208395/how-to-protect-your-tech-from-lightning-strikes/