Water damage from Strom

9/26/2019 (Permalink)

When it comes to thunderstorms, lightning is one of the most dramatic (and most dangerous) displays of their power. The storm transferring its energy to a lightning bolt can cause fires to start, electronics to be ruined and home structures to be compromised. Understanding the origins of lightning and how to prepare for it can go a long way in protecting your home.

<h3thunderstorms-develop-lightning">How Thunderstorms Develop Lightning

The electrical charge inherent to all thunderstorms serves as the foundation for thunder and lightning. When a lightning bolt strikes, it is actually the storm dispelling some of its energy into surrounding clouds or toward the ground.

The earth’s atmosphere does not make an ideal conductor of electricity, so lightning will often strike an object it can travel through instead. This is why lightning strikes to homes are so common and so dangerous.

<h3for-home-protection">Tips for Home Protection

Knowing some background info about lightning provides context for protecting your home from the common types of damage that it can cause.

Protect from fire damage. Lightning bolts have been recorded as hitting temperatures of 500,000 degrees, which is hot enough to ignite most building materials on impact. The damage lightning causes to wires can also give rise to electrical fires within a home’s walls, either immediately or in the future. An electrician or the local fire department can often test for hot spots within the walls to determine your risk.

Protect your appliances. As the charge of lightning is routed through the wires, it is transferred to everything in the home’s grid—including things plugged into the wall. Surge protectors are a simple and cost-effective tool that can do wonders in preventing this.

Protect your home’s foundation. Shock waves are produced every time lightning strikes, which is what causes the claps of thunder we hear. At close range, such as when lightning strikes near a home, these waves are strong enough to crack foundations and shatter windows. A structural inspection should be performed if lightning strikes in your home’s vicinity.

If your home has been affected by storm damages or lightning-related fires, give us a call today! We are experts in damage cleanup and can restore your damage quickly.