Power surges are more common than most homeowners realize—and they can wreak havoc on your appliances. Whether it’s from a lightning storm, a utility grid switch, or a malfunctioning transformer, a sudden spike in voltage can fry sensitive electronics inside everything from your refrigerator to your washing machine.

How Power Surges Damage Your Appliances

Modern appliances are smarter and more efficient than ever—but that comes with a downside. Most are packed with digital displays, control boards, and microprocessors that are highly sensitive to even small fluctuations in voltage. A single surge can cause irreparable damage to these components, leaving you with costly repair or replacement bills.

Common culprits behind power surges include:

• Lightning strikes, especially during summer storms
• Sudden restoration of power after an outage
• Issues from the utility company (grid switching or line maintenance)
• Large appliances cycling on and off, like HVAC systems or air conditioners

Use Surge Protectors to Shield Your Electronics

For small kitchen appliances and entertainment systems, plug-in surge protectors offer a basic level of defense. Not all power strips are created equal, so be sure to choose one that specifically mentions “surge protection” and has a joule rating of at least 1000 for adequate coverage.

While these can help, they’re not designed to protect major appliances like washers, dryers, ovens, or refrigerators—those need something more robust.

Whole-Home Surge Protection: A Smarter Solution

If you’re serious about protecting all your appliances, consider a whole-home surge protector. These are hardwired directly into your electrical panel and provide a first line of defense against external and internal surges. While the upfront cost is higher, it’s a small price to pay compared to replacing a fridge, stove, or dishwasher.

Better still, many homeowners insurance policies may offer discounts for having a surge protection system installed—another good reason to make the investment.

Need Appliance Repairs After a Surge?

If you suspect a surge has damaged one of your appliances, don’t wait. At Morris County Appliance Repair, we’ve been helping homeowners throughout East Dover and Morris County since 1962. We’re fully licensed and insured, and we also sell appliance parts if you’re tackling a repair yourself. Our skilled technicians can diagnose the issue and get your appliances back in working order fast.

Don’t leave your appliances vulnerable. Take surge protection seriously—and if the damage is already done, give us a call today for fast, professional appliance repair service.