If you've had a TV or router fried during a storm, you've probably wondered whether a better surge protector would have saved it, or whether you need lightning rods on the roof instead. The two get lumped together, but they protect against different things. Here's a plain-English look at what each one does, where each one falls short, and how to think about using them together.
The short answer
- Surge protectors limit extra voltage that travels through your wiring to your electronics and appliances.
- Lightning rods, as part of a full lightning protection system, give a direct strike a safe path to the ground so it doesn't go through your house.
- Neither one replaces the other. They guard against different parts of the same problem.
What a surge protector does
A power surge is a sudden jump in voltage that can damage or destroy electronics. Lightning is one cause, and the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) notes that surges from lightning can enter a building through power lines and cause electrical fires as well as damage to the building's electrical system, appliances, and electronics. Surges also come from everyday things. The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) reports that the National Electrical Manufacturers Association estimates roughly 60 to 80 percent of surges start inside the home or business, such as when an air conditioner switches on and off.
There are two common types:
- Plug-in surge protectors protect only what's plugged into them. ESFI also points out that a power strip isn't automatically a surge protector, and Triple-I says regular power strips offer little surge protection.
- Whole-home surge protectors are installed where power enters the house. ESFI says they must be installed by a qualified electrician, and Triple-I adds that many electric utilities will rent or sell a surge device for the meter.
If you want one, talk to a qualified electrician or your electric utility. We don't sell or install surge protectors; our work is the roof-to-ground lightning protection system.
What lightning rods do
A lightning protection system has air terminals (lightning rods) on the roof, conductors that carry current around and down the building, and grounding that takes it into the earth. It doesn't attract lightning or stop it. It gives a strike a planned path outside your walls instead of letting it hunt for one through framing, wiring, and plumbing. Our post on how lightning protection systems work goes through each part, and our residential lightning protection page covers what we install on homes.
Why a surge protector can't do a lightning rod's job
The National Weather Service says it plainly: typical surge protectors will not protect equipment from a lightning strike. ESFI agrees that no surge protection can handle a direct lightning strike. A surge device works on the wiring; it does nothing to give a direct strike a safe path from the roof to the ground. That is the job of a lightning protection system.
And why lightning rods don't replace surge protection
The National Weather Service explains that there are three main ways lightning gets into a building: a direct strike, through wires or pipes that run outside the structure, or through the ground. Once it's inside, it can travel through the electrical, phone, plumbing, and TV reception systems. The NWS also notes that lightning surges can damage electronic equipment some distance from the actual strike. A strike on a power line down the street, a tree, or a neighbor's property can send a surge toward your house over the wires, even if your roof is never hit. Rods on the roof are not meant to stop that. That's where surge protection at the panel and at your key electronics comes in.
What to do when a storm is coming
Triple-I suggests considering unplugging expensive electronics when you know a storm is approaching. The National Weather Service adds an important warning: don't unplug equipment during a thunderstorm, because there is a risk you could be struck. So unplug ahead of time if you're going to, and once the storm is overhead, stay put, stay off corded phones, and stay away from plumbing.
So which do you need?
For most homes, the useful question isn't which one, it's what you're trying to protect. If you mostly want to protect your electronics from everyday surges, talk to an electrician about surge protection. If you want to protect the house itself from a direct strike and the fire that can follow, that's what a lightning protection system is for. Many homeowners end up wanting both.
One more tip: if you ever think a strike has hit your home, schedule a lightning protection inspection and read our after-a-storm checklist. A sudden cluster of dead electronics is one sign.
And if you're wondering about your homeowners policy, Triple-I says standard homeowners policies cover damage such as a fire that results from a lightning strike, and that some policies also cover damage from power surges. Coverage differs from policy to policy, so check with your own insurance company.
Where we work
We're a family-owned business, and the Linzy family has installed lightning rods for three generations. We serve homes, farms, churches, and businesses across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kansas, Michigan, Louisiana, Florida, and Alabama, including the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Oklahoma City areas, and take on projects nationwide. See our Arkansas, Mississippi, Kansas, Michigan, Louisiana, and Florida and Gulf Coast service areas.
Get a free estimate
Want to know what a lightning protection system would look like on your home? Call Joe at (682) 490-2850, Monday through Saturday, 7am to 7pm, or use the form below for a free estimate.