“The manual says to unplug during a storm. Can I just use a surge protector instead? Any recommendations?”
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I would think a surge protector would be fine. Make sure you get one that will cover the replacement costs though. If the unit is damaged due to a surge during a storm, even if plugged into a surge protector, the warranty on the unit probably won't cover it. Also be aware that not all surge protectors are the same. Read the packages carefully. Surge protectors offer protection in amounts called joules. If a product has 1,000 joules of protection, that means it can take ten 100 joule hits, or one 1,000 joule hit. Generally, the more joules the better. So be aware that the surge protector will wear out, and need to be replaced. Some surge protectors will actually let you know when they are running out of joules. Again, read the package carefully. This could get very costly. Especially considering the freezer is a lower end model. Some surge protectors offer a warranty (up to a certain amount) on the gear connected to the protector. One Belkin model has a $300,000 Connected Equipment Warranty, and states: "If your electronic equipment is damaged by a surge, spike, or lightning strike while properly connected to this power strip, we will repair or replace it, up to $300,000." You'll probably never need it, but it certainly doesn't hurt to have it. Belkin has similar warranties in effect for other products, but they vary by region. Keep in mind that just because the warranty exists, doesn't mean you'll ever see a dime from it. Some of these power surge protectors have very strict usage guidelines and will make it difficult to collect on the warranty.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.I don't know the official answer, but I assume it's like any electronic device and a surge protector should give you some level of protection. I've got mine plugged into one that also insures some thousands of dollars of equipment should it be destroyed due to a faulty surge protector.
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