I have always used a surge protector on my machines...as well as my computer and tv's. We had one of the big surge protectors take a hit and it just kept beeping. So glad we only had to replace the protector instead of all the computer components that were plugged in to it.
If I know that a big storm is approching, I unplug my computerized machines at the machine. Very simple to undo and redo. Plus, if we are going out of town, the machines are unplugged.