How Does a Power Surge Cause Damage?

Any level of power disturbance, however small, can cause interruption or damage to the microprocessors in the sensitive electronics and appliances found in the home.

Low-level surges can cause stress on the circuits of your sensitive electronics, leading to early failure. This reoccurrence of low-level surges is often called "electronic rust". High-level surges can result in immediate destruction of expensive circuitry. It is the surges that normally last less than one millisecond (0.001 second) that can damage or destroy household appliances and electronic equipment.

These power disturbances can damage almost any electronic device you own, not just your computer. Sensitive electronic equipment such as TVs, DVD players, surround sound receivers, video games, even microwaves and other appliances are all at risk. And the average cost of household damages caused by power surges can exceed $1,000 in repairs or replacement!