24/7 Emergency Service
Protect Your Home From Lightning
2/20/2023 (Permalink)
Mother nature can be a pain, but SERVPRO can nurture your home back to safe conditions.
When you have the right fire safety equipment and a solid plan, you can feel assured that your home is protected from fire. Mother Nature, however, often has other ideas.
There were 70,000 lightning damage claims in 2020, and it is estimated that lightning strikes nearly 6,000 times each and every minute. Facing that kind of risk means that the more we can do to mitigate damages, the better.
When a current of energy between the air and the ground creates a giant spark, it is called lightning. Lightning occurs in thunderstorms, volcanic eruptions, forest fires, and even heavy snowstorms.
Lightning is not just a threat during severe weather, either. Dry lightning occurs when there is no rain and is particularly risky as it can quickly spark a wildfire.
While there may be different threats during different seasons, it is wise to prepare your home for strikes year-round.
If lightning strikes your home, you are bound to see a great deal of damage and are at high risk for fire. Fire can start from the heat of the strike or after a surge charges through the wiring in your house.
You may not immediately be alerted if a fire does begin, but you will hear the strike hit your home.
If you experience a bang loud enough to rattle the windows, check the attic and walls for black marks and the smell of smoke. Call the fire department if you do notice any signs, and once they have given you the all-clear, let an electrician check your home’s wiring to ensure it is safe to turn your power on without another threat of fire.
One of the best forms of prevention for your home is the addition of a lightning rod. This pole will divert the heat of the electrical current of a strike into the ground rather than through your home.
A whole-home surge protector is another great addition that will protect the wiring in your house when a surge happens. This can not only save your appliances, but it can also help prevent fire and keep the lights on longer.
An average of 9,000 wildfires are started by lightning each year, and due to the extreme heat that comes along with a strike, these fires threaten wide areas as they burn hot and fast.
Protect your home from the outside by keeping your yard clear of dead or dry vegetation. Look into creating defensible zones with your landscaping as well, as this can divert fire away from structures should one start.
Put a smoke detector in every bedroom and on every level of your house to ensure that you can move to safety as quickly as possible no matter where you are.
If your home is damaged by a fire, call SERVPRO right away. We have industry-leading equipment and years of experience to complete your recovery quickly and completely.
Have you experienced smoke or fire damage in your home? Call us today to get the restoration finished fast.