The first image that comes to most folks minds when you mention surge protection is a lightning strike. But did you know that the greatest number of damaging surges come from within your own home?
Small surges, most not even noticeable, are constantly hitting your electrical equipment. Alone, these do very little damage. But as time goes on, these little surges have a cumulative effect, until finally your system can take no more.
For this reason, surge protection is like an insurance policy, putting a buffer between your equipment and the surges. You've probably invested a good chunk of change on TVs, computers, and other electronic equipment. Protect that investment with surge protection.