As a little side note. How many of you turn off the water to your washer when you leave on vacation? Our daughter came home from a 3 week vacation to several inches of water in the whole house.

While we do have surge protectors, I always unplug my sewing machine. I do unplug the TVs, if we are having a storm. I have heard of people turning off the water to the washer, but we never have. We do, generally, unplug the water softener. Guess these are all the more reasons to just not go away! LOL

I unplug everything and turn off everything except the water to one toilet when we go away. I always have someone come in for the cats, so they might need to use the potty. Gotta have water in there.

Oh yes I sure do. I think it is a small investment to make to protect my electronics and appliances. But I do unplug my sewing machine every time I use it. Habit really.

I have a computerized sewing machine. I use a surge protector on it. I have met a woman who's Bernina 730 got fried because she did not use one, that convinced me!!!
We don't get lightening storms around here.
there are protectors on all the computers but not on the television. DH wouldn't mind so much if our television blew up, then he could finally get a flat screen!!!

I have a computerized quilting system on my longarm and I have two surge protector attached to it. Both in line with each other. If the first fails, then the secoud will catch the surge of bad juice. Zeke..........

I use protectors, but unplug my LA anyway.

Even with surge protectors, the only sure protection is to unplug. My hubby sold home and car electronics for years and has heard every story there is (tho' I'm sure there are more sensational stories).

I too unplug, not only for safety, but for a small measure of conservation. Why pay for the electricity when it's plugged in but not being used?

I have surge protectors on everything. Both PC's, he TV, the air conditioners, and MOST importantly - the fridge. My circuit breaker box was hit by lightning a few years ago. Fortunately, all it did was turn off all the breakers. I didn't lose anything.

However, my daughter's house lost electricity, not through a strike, but because of a power outage during a thunderstorm and when the power came back on, the surge burned up her fridge. That's when I added another one.

I use surge protectors on machine & computer - I am partially disabled, and couldn't get down and unplug every time, though I realise that I probably should. Drives me potty. I even wish I had an iron that had an on/off switch, instead of having to unplug the thing each time. We don't get that many storms, and I do have good insurance.