15 Aug
Lightning is one of the most dangerous and common weather hazards people face each year. Taking precautions against lightning strikes can save you from costly repairs and damage.
Where do electrical surges come from?
An electrical surge is an increase in voltage that can damage your home’s electrical components and increase the risk of a fire. These surges can be caused by power outages, trees contacting lines, vehicle accidents, and most destructively, lightning strikes. They can also travel down power, phone or cable lines near your home.
Here are some steps to consider when creating a surge protection plan:
- Have a qualified electrician to check your home’s grounding system to ensure it’s working efficiently. A grounding system provides a physical connection between the ground and your home’s electrical components.
- Plug your electronics and appliances into point-of-use Surge Protection Devices (SPDs). If you don’t have SPDs, unplug all sensitive devices during a storm. This includes TVs, computers, charging stations, game stations, and portable appliances.
- Install a whole-house surge protection system to absorb larger surges that come from outside your home. This system also protects appliances that are hard-wired to your home’s electrical panel. This device should be installed by a qualified electrician.
- Lastly, consider a lightning protection system to further ensure your home’s safety from lighting strikes. This system includes devices like air terminals, main conductors, grounds, bonds, surge arresters and suppressors. It also includes tree protection for trees taller than your home. All of these methods can be used to safely deflect lightning into the ground.