The first problem here is not truly a surge, but a lowering of the line voltage, just when your items need a higher than normal current. This can (particularly in the case of motors (AC, fridg.) cause damage to the motors themselves. Worse on some than others. After that you can have a series of spikes (surges) as other equipment gets started and quits taking current and the voltage jumps up for a moment. The only way to solve this on a whole house basis is to take the house offline until the power stabilizes.