Protecting Your Home from Lightning Strikes

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The Insurance Information Institute reported more than 60,000 lightning strike claims last year in the United States. Though the odds of lightning striking you are very low, the chance lightning will strike your home is much higher – 1 in 200 to be exact. From house fire to electrical surges, lightning can pack quite a punch on your property. So how can you prepare? Consider some of these preventative measures to help reduce the odds and protect your home. Keep in mind that there isn't a fool proof method, and lightning can be unpredictable.

Lightning Rod
Our first suggestion requires an electrician to install a lightning rod. For this method, the electrician will place a metal rod at the highest peak of your home. The rod is then connected to a copper wire that helps ground the metal rod to a second one located underground. So, when lightning strikes the rod, it sends the energy through the wire and away from your home. This system can cost around $1,000 depending on how many rods your home needs.

Whole-Home Surge Protection
Did you know lightning striking your neighbor's home can travel through the power lines and impact your property? It's an easily overlooked fact, but an easy fix with backup preventatives like surge protectors.

A surge happens when there is a sudden increase in voltage within your home’s electrical system. There are a few factors that can cause a power surge within your home, but lightning is known to cause a lot of damage.  

Surge Protector Devices (SPDs) work by blocking and diverting excess voltage away from your home. When you think surge protector, you probably picture the strip you plug into the wall that has multiple outlets for your electronics. These are great for protecting each device plugged into that outlet, but they don't do much in the way of protecting the whole home.

A whole-home surge protector system will run you about $300-$600 but can save you thousands in the event of a lightning strike. You will want to  hire a licensed electrician to install the system in your home while there, have them inspect your home’s electrical system, as a whole, to make sure everything is in tip-top shape.

When in Doubt, Unplug It
For an easy and immediate solution, we recommend unplugging any major devices and appliances when storms are in the forecast – think computers, televisions, and portable devices. If it’s an item that can't be easily unplugged, just refrain from using it until the storm passes.

If you are feeling up to a DIY project, you can install a surge arrestor at the main electrical panel. This type of surge protector connects to your home's electrical panel (the metal fuse box that is usually located in a wall in your basement) to help filter out higher than normal voltage from impacting your home. This is an easy and inexpensive fix to protect your home and your devices.

Though a rare occurrence, lightning strikes can cause a lot of damage. Being prepared is the best defense and can save you a lot of money.