Preventing Lighting from Striking Your Home

Preventing Lighting from Striking Your Home

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 If you have ever lived in a house. You have probably experienced the dread of seeing lightning flash outside your window. It may seem like an innocuous event, but it can cause serious damage to your house. If you are under attack from lightning flashes or frequent strikes from lighting.   Lightning is one of the most dangerous natural hazards for homes because its impact is cumulative over time. It can strike your home at any time with little to no warning and cause extensive damage. Even if the strike does not directly hit your home. It can still spark a fire if it comes into direct contact with anything flammable. This could mean anything from drywall to furniture and even electrical wiring in some cases.

Keep Clear of Lightning Crests

When lightning strikes, it travels from the clouds to the ground at very high speeds. The first few inches of the path are conductive, which means that the electricity can be conducted into your home through nearby objects. Once the electricity makes contact with a surface. It becomes ionized and is no longer conducive. The ionized electricity is called a “crest” and it is the reason why lightning can cause damage. If you can get under the “crest” of the lightning strike, you will be safe. Simply lie down on the ground with your head facing the path of the lightning and you will be able to avoid the strike. Even if you are not able to get under the “crest,” you can remain safe by taking the following precautions.

Install a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)

GFCIs are very useful for minimizing damage caused by lightning strikes. If a lightning bolt strikes a power line and travels into your home, the GFCI in your outlet will shut off the power to your home and protect you from damage. GFCIs should be installed on every circuit in your home. There are various types of GFCIs, so be sure to buy the one that is appropriate for your installation. GFCIs are available at hardware stores, electrical supply stores and online.

Use Weather Stripping and caulking

Weather stripping and caulking are two commonly used materials that can be used to prevent lightning from entering your home. Weather-stripping is a strip of rubber that is used to seal openings. If a lightning strike enters your home through an open window, it will travel along the inside of the walls and be drawn into the electrical system. Weather stripping is a good way to seal off openings and prevent lightning from entering your home. Caulking is also a low-cost way to seal off your open windows. If a lightning bolt strikes your home and you are lucky enough to be inside, the electricity will be conducted into your house and the walls. However, if you are outside and the lightning bolt is too short to reach your home, the electricity will travel outside and be dissipated into the air.

Final Words

Lightning is a dangerous force of nature that can cause serious damage to your home. If you are in an area that is prone to frequent lightning strikes, it is important to take precautions to prevent damage to your home. Keep your outdoor lighting low, avoid tall trees and install a ground fault circuit interrupter. These simple steps can help prevent lightning from striking your home.