Have you ever been "zapped" with an electrical surge at your home before? It can come by a lightning strike or from your power co.
Anything turned on in your house is fried!

My new buddy got zapped by lightning today, fried his TV, well pump, lights, Fridge & more.

I got zapped years ago and since then I have always made sure I have a surge protector at the "ELECTRICAL PANEL".

Here is an example:

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/surgebreaker-plus-whole-house-surge-protector/901424

Best $200 you have ever spent!

The neighborhood I live in has had "issues" over the years with lightning, the prior owner of my home had a grid of lightning rods deployed on the roof and a whole house surge protector installed.

We get very little lightning on the west coast. But a great idea.

Our house has lightning rods, braided copper cables, and at least four ground rods buried 8' in moist soil.

However, over the years, electrical circuits were added to the house, and some of those are probably close enough that a strike could arc to household wiring. Even a breaker box protector can't help in all cases!

Check with your electric company. Ours had a promo with them but I had already had one installed by an electrician friend.
Barry