Seco's surge protector have a ten year warranty. If you get a surge it might protect your appliances or it might not. Have them replace it and there is no installation charge. You can lease it from them for, I think $5.99 a month but there is an installation charge. I would have it installed. Well worth the protection!

In 2021 my insurance company determined that my gas furnace in my garage was fried by lightning after a thorough investigation. Seco sent a representative out and they determined that there was no damage due to lightning. Insurance paid.....Seco did not. Form your own opinion.

Seco will charge a monthly bill. They don’t go bad unless you get a hit. They won’t protect very “sensitive “ electronics, but worth having one. You get what you pay for on these devices.

I rent one from SECO, for a small monthly charge. The first month that I lived here lightning killed a brand new TV. That's when I got the whole house surge guard thing.

Now, I have all my electronics plugged into UPSes and the SECO thing..... so far so good. <knock wood>

Great thread

Rusty Nelson just did a good video on surge protection on his The Villages with Rusty Nelson utube channel. A lot of good information!

Yes, they are worth it.
We personally experienced a lightening strike in side yard. We had a whole house surge protector installed shortly after purchase and it saved us a lot of issues. It took the hit as it tried to enter the house. We know as it has an indicator light. It took out a board in our compressor on the outside but we lost nothing else. Well worth the cost. We didn’t purchase from SECO and purchased from a nearby electric supplier.
We replaced it directly after the hit and wouldn’t be without one after seeing the storm and lightening activity here.

You can pay a one time fee, or do a forever monthly fee. Your choice

SECO Surge Mitigators are good for 15 years, per the SECO warranty. Secondary Surge protection, for sensitive electrical equipment, is important. This includes: computers and related equipment, televisions, garage door opener, irrigation controller, microwave oven, refrigerator, etc. Secondary Surge Protectors are rates by the number of Joules. Here's a handy Guide as to number of Joules are needed for different electrical devices.

A surge protector is a device that protects sensitive electronic equipment from harmful voltage spikes and power surges. It absorbs excess energy much like a sponge absorbs water. They are different from power strips which provide power extension and extra outlets, but offer no protection against power spikes or surges.
What is a power surge?
A power surge is a short-term increase in voltage (or voltage spike) due to lightning strikes or unusual line conditions, like when power companies switch power distribution across grids. It's important to periodically replace your surge protector (once every 3-4 years is recommended in most cases) since power surges wear down the protective components inside the surge protector over time.

Why is surge protection important?
• The average household gets 350 power surges per year.
• Overvoltage, brownouts, power surges and voltage spikes occur five times a day on average.
• Small, frequent power surges cause cumulative damage, shortening the product lifespan.
• Power surges are the number one cause of data loss.
• Over 50% of equipment failure can be attributed to power surge/failure.
• The right surge protection will save your electronics and extend the life of your products.
• Choosing a surge protector will safeguard all your valuable electronics; many are backed by Connected Equipment Warranties.
What is a connected equipment warranty?
A connected equipment warranty covers equipment that is damaged by transient voltage while properly connected through a surge protector to a properly wired AC power line with a protective ground. Brands that offer CEWs will repair or replace any equipment damaged by a power surge, spike or lightning strike while properly connected to their surge protector, up to the listed amount.
What are the basic features of a surge protector?
• Joules of Protection range from 300 to over 4,000 joules to protect all devices from lamps to 4K televisions
• Multiple Outlets: 1, 3, 4, 7 6, 8, and 12 outlet variations accommodate any setup throughout your home
• LED Indicators indicate whether the surge protector is properly grounded and whether your devices are protected
• USB Ports charge mobile device rapidly and safely
• Cord Length: Choose the length that best fits the setup in any room of your house
• Protective Housing resists impact, corrosion, and scratching
How many joules of protection do I need?
Below 1,000 joules protect:
• Lamp
• Digital Alarm Clock
• Cell Phone Charger
• Phone/Answering Machine
• Small Kitchen Appliances
Between 1,000-2,000 joules protect:
• Laptop/Notebook
• Tablet
• Router
• Printer
• Power Tools
2,000 joules and above protect:
• HDTV
• Desktop Computer
• Stereo System
• Gaming Console
• DVR/Blu-ray Players
Additional things to consider
• High Capacity Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV) that offer surge protection for a range of devices. Well-designed surge protectors should not rely on MOVs to absorb surge energy, but instead to survive the process of harmlessly redirecting it to ground. Generally, more joules means an MOV absorbs less energy while diverting even more into ground.
• Over Current Protection (OCP) on USB ports to protect devices while charging.
• EMI/RFI Noise Filtration to reduce noise disruption and provide a clean and protected flow of power to your devices.
• Coaxial, Antenna, and Satellite Lines can also carry surges directly to devices. It’s important to choose a surge protector with these auxiliary protections.
• Safety Snap Covers that deter curious children and prevent metal objects from coming in contact with unused outlets.
________________________________________
Other Frequently Asked Questions
What is a brownout?
A brownout or sag is a short-term decrease in voltage levels and can cause frozen keyboards and unexpected system crashes.
What is a spike? What causes them?
A spike is a significant increase in voltage that can enter electronic equipment through AC, network, serial, phone or coaxial lines, and can damage or completely destroy components.
Spikes are most often caused by:
• Lightning
• Unusual power line conditions
• Noisy electrical surroundings
• Disturbance generated by users
What is line noise?
Line noise is technically referred to as electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI). Line Noise can cause program and file errors.

If you have Seco as your electric provider, they cover all major appliances in the home. Nothing lasts forever. The old one may still work but no warranty!

*** EXCELLENT thorough reply. Totally agree and understand the need for multiple layers of protection. My O.P was simply questioning the cost of the meter base protection versus the in-panel protection. I'll be doing all three layers!

Just had mine replaced and there’s no service charge, but I went with paying it off!

Florida is the Lightning Capital of the Country

If Lighting strikes a house “ like the roof “ there is nothing in the world that will stop that.

Beware about power strip style surge protectors. There are garbage quality and good quality. Do not waste money on anything with garbage "features". How to tell?

Garbage = plastic case (catches fire is overloaded) Good = metal case
Garbage = no power cutting device (catches fire is overloaded) Good = popout circuit breaker
Garbage = no ratings listed, or just minimal protection Good = rated for >3000 joules
Garbage = loose outlet to plug connections (dangerous) Good = solid receptacle that holds plug snugly
Garbage = no warranty Good = lifetime warranty that covers device and connected gear
Garbage = cheap stuff Good = ISOBAR 8 ULTRA

Highly recommend if you have a plastic plug strip to throw it away.