Your house can be struck by lightning. Lightning is a powerful natural phenomenon, an electrical discharge occurring in the atmosphere during thunderstorms. This discharge can happen between clouds, within a cloud, or between a cloud and the ground. While houses offer shelter, they are not immune to lightning strikes.
How Houses Attract Lightning
Lightning seeks the path of least resistance to the ground. Houses, especially those with certain features, can offer this pathway. Tall structures, including homes, are more likely targets because they reduce the distance lightning travels to earth. Houses on hills or in open areas without taller surrounding structures also act as preferred targets.
Building materials play a role in this attraction. Metal components like antennas, gutters, and certain roofing materials are electrical conductors. These elements provide a convenient path for electrical discharges. Even nearby tall trees can attract lightning, and a strike to a tree can then “jump” to an adjacent house, causing damage.
Consequences of a Direct Strike
A direct lightning strike can have extensive consequences. The electrical system is vulnerable, as lightning overloads wiring, electrical panels, and devices with a voltage spike. This surge damages appliances and electronics, leading to melted components, charred insulation, or devices that stop working.
Structural damage is another concern due to the explosive force and heat generated by a lightning bolt, which can reach temperatures of 50,000°F. This heat ignites combustible materials like wood and insulation, leading to fires that may start in attics or within walls. The shockwave can also damage roofs, chimneys, and the main structure, causing cracks. Metal plumbing systems can conduct lightning, risking damage and gas leaks. Sensitive electronics can also be damaged without a direct hit due to electromagnetic pulses or surges through power, phone, or cable lines.
Safeguarding Your Property
Homeowners can implement measures to protect property from lightning strikes. One approach involves installing a lightning protection system, often called lightning rods. These systems provide a safe, low-resistance path for lightning current to travel directly to the ground, diverting it from the house’s structure and internal systems. A complete system includes air terminals (rods) on the roof, conductors, and earth electrodes (grounds), with metallic systems like plumbing and electrical wiring bonded to it.
Whole-house surge protectors offer defense by limiting damaging voltage spikes to appliances and electronics. These devices are installed at the electrical panel or meter to protect against surges entering through utility lines. While whole-house protectors are comprehensive, point-of-use surge strips can protect individual sensitive devices. Proper electrical grounding also contributes to safety by helping dissipate electrical current.
Personal Safety Inside Your Home
While a house provides shelter during a thunderstorm, some activities should be avoided for personal safety. Approximately one-third of lightning-strike injuries occur indoors. Avoid contact with water during a storm, refraining from showering, bathing, or washing dishes, as lightning can travel through plumbing. Even with plastic pipes, water conducts electricity.
Staying away from windows and doors is also recommended, as these can be entry points for lightning or flying debris. Unplugging sensitive electronics from outlets is a wise step, as lightning can induce electrical currents in power lines, causing surges that damage devices. Corded phones should not be used, but cordless or cellular phones are safe. Avoid leaning on concrete walls or lying on concrete floors, as these may contain metal rebar or other conductive materials that transmit electricity.