What Causes Lightning Strikes On Homes And How To Prevent I
Lightning strikes are a leading cause of serious home damage all throughout the United States. In Tampa, FL, the frequent storms and hurricanes make the homes here more vulnerable to lightning strikes.
And if your property has certain features, it might be even more likely to be struck. Understanding these risks is crucial to protecting your home so it doesn’t suffer major damage.
Home Located on High Ground
If your home sits elevated on a hill or ridge, it will have a higher chance of getting struck by lightning. This is because lightning usually hits the tallest object in the area. Fortunately, just because you’re at the highest point doesn’t mean you’re out of solutions for keeping your home safe and protected.
With a lightning protection system, it becomes much easier to safeguard your property. These setups include air terminals (lightning rods) combined with down conductors and a grounding system. All of the components work together to guide the lightning safely into the ground before it can damage your home.
Tall Trees Close to the House
It’s very common for lightning to strike tall trees, and if those trees are close to your house, it can jump from the trees to your gutters, roof or windows. This type of jump is what we call a side flash, and it can cause just as much damage as a direct strike. Electrical surges that occur during side flashes may leave your home with fried circuits or damaged appliances.
The best way to keep this from happening is to trim back all tall trees near the home. You should also make sure there aren’t any limbs hanging over the roof. If you happen to live somewhere where it’s not possible to remove or trim the trees, you can install grounding rods alongside the trees to direct lightning safely into the ground.
Metal Roof or Fixtures
Metal is an excellent conductor of electricity, which makes metal roofs, gutters and vents vulnerable during storms. The metal doesn’t increase the risk of lightning strikes, but it does make it easier for electricity to travel throughout your home’s structure if it does hit.
To reduce the chance of serious damage, you should make sure all metal parts of the home have proper grounding. It helps to have an electrician check all the connections and bonding points to ensure the system can safely carry the electrical current into the ground and away from living areas.
Chimney Extending Above Roofline
If your home has a chimney, it likely rises above the rest of the roof, making it a common strike point. Lightning strikes can crack the chimney right open, damage the interior liner and even start a fire inside the home.
Placing a lightning rod at the top of the chimney is an effective way to lower the risk of a direct strike. It must have a proper connection to a conductor and grounding system to safely redirect the electrical energy into the ground.
Unprotected Electrical or Plumbing Systems
When lightning strikes a property, its current can run through wires and pipes. This is why it’s so important to protect the electrical and plumbing systems with surge protectors and proper grounding. You don’t want a power surge to burn out appliances or burst pipes because of a sudden jolt.
We’ll have to look at your electrical panel and plumbing layout to determine the best type of surge protection and grounding to use. For homes with modern electrical systems, a whole-home surge protector will usually work better than individual plug-in devices. For houses with older wiring, a layered setup combined with updated grounding will provide the ultimate protection.
Lack of Lightning Rods
We’ve already talked about putting lightning rods near chimneys, tall trees or metal fixtures. But these aren’t the only places your property needs protection.
A lot of homes in high-risk areas will add them to detached garages and storage sheds to give extra protection for structures not connected to the main grounding system. Some properties will even bury them underground to direct lightning away from landscaping features, walkways or outdoor equipment.
Nearby Water Sources or Pools
Water, just like metal, is a strong conductor of electricity. Homes near swimming pools, ponds, lakes or fountains come with a greater chance of getting struck because of the moisture-rich environment and the conductive surface area. The lightning can even strike the water and travel through the ground or pipes into your home. This is what makes having a properly grounded lightning protection system of such value for keeping your house and family safe.
Improper Grounding of Electrical System
When was the last time you had your home’s grounding system inspected for wear and corrosion? If it’s been more than five years, it’s time for a professional inspection.
We’ll carefully check all grounding rods and conductor connections to make sure there isn’t any damage or deterioration. If we spot any weak points, we’ll know to adjust the setup or replace the worn-out components.
Use of Outdoor Electronics During Storms
Don’t ever use electronics outdoors, like lawn equipment or holiday lights, during a storm. This increases the risk of lightning strikes due to exposed wiring and wet surfaces. And if lightning were to strike nearby, it could travel through a cord, damage the equipment and even injure you if you’re holding or touching it.
Keeping all outdoor electronics unplugged during storms is a simple way to stay safe and protect your gear. Putting them in a dry spot until the storm passes makes for smart, low-risk storage.
Mister Sparky is here to help you prep your home for lightning strikes. We help with whole-home surge protection, grounding systems and more. Don’t put up with any malarky; call Mister Sparky now!
