Protecting electronics is especially important in a rental property since replacing things damaged by power surges is far more complicated than in a primary home. Power surges are transient increases in voltage that can be caused by many things. Surge protectors are not designed to protect you from direct lightning strikes or to "clean up" noise in an electrical system.

Surge protectors rely on a Metal Oxide Varister (MOV) that bleeds electricity out of the system when a high voltage is detected. In the home electric panel, the Surge protector does nothing unless high voltage is sensed. When this happens, current is shunted from both power rails to ground. Unfortunately, the MOV is consumable and eventually is exhausted, requiring replacement of the device. Installation is not difficult for a homeowner is familiar with installing breakers into an electrical panel; DIY can save a significant installation fee. However, if you tackle this without the prerequisite knowledge, funeral costs are much higher than the installation cost.