I've read alot of mixed opinions in the past, but with the somewhat recent addition of motherboards in fridges, it seems more of necessity now.

If you do, what are you using?

 

Everything seems to use sensitive electronics these days. Here, in the midwest, we have enough storm activity to cause plenty of electrical surges. After losing a number of devices over the years, I finally installed one of these https://tinyurl.com/pyjf92h

I've used them in two different homes over the past 10 years and I haven't had anything fail from surges since I started using them.

 

Are you worried about external or internal surges?

For one, get a whole-house surge arrestor and stick it in your panel.

 

What's the next best thing for an apartment?

 

In a rental, you're likely limited to point-of-use devices that protect one or two devices. Good ones use MOVs to limit voltage spikes and inductors to supress RF. Good brands like Tripp-Lite and APC will insure your equipment up to a specified dollar amount.

MOVs deteriorate as they kill voltage spikes and will eventually fail. Good surge devices will come with a monitor LED that will indicate when the device should be replaced.

Buy several of these and use them on any expensive equipment that uses a logic board or sensitive electronics. That now includes many washers and dryers, dishwashers, your furnace and A/C, TV, stereo equipment and computers.

 

How big is the complex? Can you ask if they have or will install one?

 

Pull the fridge forward on it's wheels and take off the tiny little cardboard cover on the back. It's generally hiding the main circuit board and mine had a nifty little fuse. I wouldn't think it'd need one beyond that and the one protecting that circuit in the main breaker panel.

 

It's actually a townhouse. I doubt my cheap landlords will will install one.

 

This may sound like a stupid question, but if all you need is a fuse to protect against power surges, why don't all electric items (esp computer and tvs) come fused?

 

Assuming normal operating margin, fuses don't react quick enough to save sensitive equipment. They would be fine to protect the compressor motor (and the wiring to said motor), but probably not the microcontroller running the fridge.

 

Again a surge protector however use the fuses box. Open up the fuses do an "output/input so you can toss the surge protector in the mid.