A lightning strike is one of the worst events that might hit a home’s electrical system. Especially when a direct lightning strike hits a house, there are numerous risks to people and property. Homeowners need to be aware of the consequences of a lightning strike. They also should understand how an electrician can prepare a home for the possibility of a direct lightning strike. Here is what you need to know.
Electrical System Damage
The most likely form of damage will involve the home’s electrical system. A lightning strike can impart tens or even hundreds of thousands of amps of electricity into a system in a tiny fraction of a second. While the lightning will seek a path to the ground, it can overload wiring, electrical panels, devices, and appliances. Anything plugged in is at risk, leading to melting, burning, and charring.
Notably, not all damage may be evident right after a lightning strike. A melted wire could function properly inside a wall with just the insulation gone. It could be an undiscovered fire hazard that has been waiting for potentially years.
Lighting strike damage can also mess up the house’s existing ground system, if there is one. It will change the voltage gradient of the soil, potentially reducing the load of the current grounding system. Also, the grounding rods and connects could be damaged, reducing their effectiveness.
A lightning strike can also ruin the performance of many modern systems. Solar panels, EV charging stations, microprocessors, and communication lines can all perform worse after a strike, even if they’re still functional.
Fire
An overloaded electrical system is always a fire hazard, and a lightning strike is likely the worst overload your home will ever experience. Melted wires can start fires directly. Also, damaged circuit breakers can feed excess power into the system. Also, light sockets and electrical outlets can overheat if used after a strike. Likewise, the excess electricity and heat can trigger chemical reactions that vent gases from materials. Subsequently, the gases can ignite because of the heat and electricity.
Spark gaps are another hazard. In its search for a path to the ground, a lightning strike can jump the gaps to metal pipes or large metal objects in a home. This is similar to how a sparkplug works in an engine, but the spark gap is significantly more significant. Anything caught in the gap could be electrified to the point that it catches fire.
Electrocution
Unsurprisingly, the damage to all of these systems poses an electrocution hazard to anyone in the house at the time of the strike or afterward. Ideally, the electrical panel should kick-off, but lightning could damage it. If you’re uncomfortable checking the electrical panel, ask one of our technicians to do the job.
Indirect vs. Direct Strikes
One fortunate factor is that direct lightning strikes on homes are rare. However, even an indirect strike, such as one that hits a tree near your house, can produce electromagnetic energy that could damage your home’s electrical system. Also, a strike a couple of miles away could cause damage to your neighborhood’s electrical grid that still hits your house.
Houses positioned higher tend to be the most at risk. While Raleigh, NC, isn’t the most mountainous part of the state, there are elevated locations. Extra precautions are in order if you live in one of these spots.
Preparing for a Lightning Strike
The first line of defense is to have a grounding system in the house. Modern electrical codes require grounding systems, but having one of our electricians inspect the system is always a good idea. Especially when you first move into a home, you want to know that the ground lines are present and sufficient. Also, an inspection is a good idea if anything seems to be malfunctioning after a lightning strike occurred in your area.
Whole-home surge protection is your second option, and we strongly encourage it. Surge protection systems provide capacity. The top options available give as much as 200,000 amps of capacity to survive all but the worst direct lightning strikes. Even in a direct strike, the surge protection capacity may mitigate the damage while the lightning finds a path to the ground.
Dawson's Electric is here to protect your Raleigh home’s electrical system. We have been in business since 2005 and have helped with installation, repairs, maintenance, and a full range of repairs. We will help will all your electrical home improvement needs. Contact us today to discuss protection or repair options.
