How to protect your electronics during storm

For the last few days, Bangladesh has been experiencing heavy rainfall accompanied by thundershowers. 

Turbulent weather or storms, not only pose a great danger to you but to your valuables as well. 

The best course of action is to remain indoors and wait it out. At the same time, knowing what to do to protect your electronics during a storm can prevent electrical safety hazards and minimize the risk of injury.

Unplug your devices

When severe weather approaches, one of the simplest things you can do is unplug your computer and all electrical household appliances and cords from outlets. 

The sudden power surge caused due to lightning can impair your home’s wiring system. By disconnecting your devices, you are severing the electrical connection which will prevent the electronics from being damaged and keep you out of harm’s way.

Use surge protectors

Unplugging all the devices may not be possible as you may be in a time crunch or simply away from your home. 

In such scenarios, you must use a surge protector that defends your devices against sudden voltage spikes. 

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Small surge protectors from the store are designed to protect home electronics from daily power surges caused by tripped circuit breakers or short circuits. They don’t stand a chance against a lightning strike, which can jolt your electrical system with 100,000 amps.

Instead, get a whole house surge protector to provide you with more robust protection. You can install it right next to your electrical panel, and it will cut the power to your whole house the instant it senses a systemic power surge. 

With a whole house surge protector, you don’t have to worry about your electronics being destroyed by a storm when you’re not home. 

Avoid using any electronics

Avoid using any handy electronics that use electrical cords or may be connected to the power grid, such as laptops or landlines. 

Do not plug them into the power socket to charge them as voltage spikes may destroy the device battery or even the charger. Feel free to use cordless phones and previously charged cell phones to maintain steady communication in case of any other emergencies.

Keep away from metal surfaces

After unplugging your appliances, make sure to keep them away from metal surfaces since metal is a good conductor of electricity. Remove your toaster from the metallic serving tray and move your corded phone away from the deep freezer.

Invest in a Lightning Rod

Talk to your landlord and other apartment owners and think about installing a lightning rod on the building’s rooftop that will absorb lightning and prevent further damage. 

These rods will not only protect your home but also essential structures such as power lines and lamp posts by opening up an alternate pathway and directing the lightning straight to the ground. 

Although these devices can be fairly expensive and require a certain amount of effort to install, this far outweighs the cost and effort that would be needed to replace the electrical system of the entire building.

Do not use wet appliances

Lastly, if any of your electrical appliances get wet during a storm, do not turn them on or use them until you are able to call a technician and get them checked. For example, if you have placed your washing machine in the living room balcony and it gets soaked during the storm, call a professional before using it.