Home lightning protection tips

What happens if lightning strikes a house?

Lightning is a powerful electrical spark, usually between the clouds and the ground. It seeks the fastest, most direct route to an area where it can disperse when it discharges. As a result, it usually hits the highest point in the area, where it strikes and then travels down toward the ground. If lightning strikes your house, it can cause burns, explosions, and damage to your electronic devices.

How to prevent lightning from hitting your house

There's no foolproof way to prevent lightning strikes on your home, but there are things you can do to minimize the damage caused by a home lightning strike:

• Unplug: First, disconnect appliances, TVs, computers, and other equipment from outlets. Remember to unplug modems, phone lines, and cable lines.
• Invest in whole-home surge protection: Have an electrician install a whole-house surge protector at your main electrical panel to minimize the effect of surges on your wiring.
• Use point-of-use surge protectors: Get surge protectors (not power strips) for each device you want to safeguard.
• Ground your house for lightning: Your home's electric panel box should have a sound grounding system outside. Lightning looks for the best path to the ground. If it doesn't have one outside, it will search for one inside your home.

How to stay safe with a home lightning protection system

Fortunately, it's possible to get protection from lightning with a home lightning protection system. A home lightning protection system works by equipping your home with a highly conductive path to the ground — a metal strike point attached to wires that lead into the earth. This system allows the lightning to disperse without passing through your house, where it could cause burns, explosions, or other damage to the home.

A lightning protection system usually includes multiple strike points and ground rods that go at least 10 feet underground to disperse the lightning. They also may include special components for tall trees and other similar objects on the property to prevent "side flashing" (e.g., lightning striking an object and jumping to a second object).

Will a home lightning protection system lower my insurance rate?

A home lightning protection system is considered a type of security system and therefore may qualify you for a discount on your homeowners insurance. However, not all carriers provide discounts for home lightning protection systems, so be sure to check with your agent or insurer.

What to do if you know lightning is nearby

In the event of a severe weather watch or warning, it's best to unplug appliances from the wall outlets until the storm passes. That's because lightning strikes at or near your home can lead to electrical emergencies like power surges, power outages, and downed power lines.

And remember, just because the power is on doesn't mean your outlets are working correctly. Reset and test GFCI and AFCI receptacles after a storm. Call an electrician to repair or replace any damaged electrical wiring or outlets. Learn more about how home insurance may cover lightning damage.

What to do if your house is struck by lightning

If you think your house was struck by lightning, first wait until the storm passes to see if there's any damage on the exterior of your home. While some damage may already be visible, such as damaged electronics and fallen trees, direct building damage may not present itself until you head outside.

Once you have a clear look at the damage, contact your insurance company or agent right away. They'll likely encourage you to take photos of the damage immediately in case municipal clean-up happens before they can get to you.