Unplugging TV won’t work « Euro Weekly News

Expats in Spain warned: Unplugging your TV isn’t enough. Failing to yank this during a thunderstorm in Spain could fry your telly – even if the plug’s out.

It’s been four weeks of non-storm rain and storms in most of Spain, and when it storms in Spain, it really storms. When the heavens open and lightning starts cracking, most of us do the sensible thing – stay indoors, whack on the telly, and settle in for a cosy Netflix binge, with chocolate, lots of chocolate. But while the rain pounds outside, a hidden danger could be brewing right in your living room.

We all know the basic advice: unplug your electrical devices during a thunderstorm to avoid damage from sudden power surges. But according to experts there’s one cable that most people completely forget – and it could turn your prized flat-screen into a smouldering write-off.

It’s not just the plug – it’s the aerial

Here’s the 20,000 volt shocker: even if your telly is switched off and the power cable is out, leaving the aerial cable plugged in could still spell disaster. But, why? Because that cable often runs up to the roof of your apartment building or house – the very place lightning loves to strike. If a bolt hits your building’s antenna – surprisingly common in apartment blocks – the surge can travel straight down the wire and into your TV set, doing more damage than a Sunday roast left in a Spanish oven.

Experts warn that the aerial cable acts as a silent conductor, quietly waiting to carry thousands of volts from the stormy skies into your front room.

Isn’t my building protected?

Most modern buildings are fitted with lightning rods designed to absorb and safely divert electric strikes. And electrical systems often include surge protectors to guard against voltage spikes. But here’s the rub: they’re not foolproof.

If a storm is particularly fierce, or your building’s protection isn’t up to scratch, your electronics are still at risk – especially the ones connected to outside elements like an aerial.

The golden rule: unplug everything – properly

If you find yourself in the middle of one of Spain’s notoriously violent electric storms, your safest bet is to unplug all electronics completely – and that means every cable, not just the mains. So if your TV has a coaxial aerial lead, yank that out too. The same goes for satellite dishes, routers with telephone lines, or anything else that links your device to the outside world.

Forget to do that, and you might come back from a storm to find your favourite screen permanently blank.

So next time the sky turns grey, the heavens open up, and the lightning starts dancing, don’t just switch off – switch smart. Unplug it all, especially that sneaky aerial cable. Your gadgets will thank you later.

Stay safe, stay positive, and tune into the Euro Weekly News for more fresh Spanish news written for people living in Spain.

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