Lightning damage isn’t always immediately visible. But taking quick action when you notice the signs of a strike is very important for protecting your home. If your area has recently had a severe storm, here’s what to look for:
- Burn marks or charring on roof, siding, or attic: Indicates direct lightning contact with your home’s exterior.
- Tripped breakers or multiple electrical outages: Suggests sudden power surges from a strike.
- Burnt smell or visible scorch marks near outlets: Often points to electrical wiring damage.
- Fried electronics or appliances: Sudden failure can happen from voltage overloads.
- Sudden plumbing leaks or burst pipes: Lightning heat can rupture metal pipes instantly.
Pro Tip: If you suspect a strike, leave immediately and call the fire department.
What Happens When Lightning Strikes a House
Lightning strikes send an instant, high-voltage blast into your home’s electrical and structural systems. The strikes come in two main forms, each causing different types of damage.
Direct vs. Indirect Strikes
A direct strike takes place when the lightning physically hits your home; this type sends a massive current surging through its wiring, plumbing, and structural framework.
An indirect strike happens when the lightning hits a nearby object, like a tree or power line, and the current travels into your home through the ground, wiring, or pipes. Both types can create serious damage that is expensive to fix.
How Lightning Travels Through a Home
When lightning strikes your house, it seeks the quickest path to the ground. This can include:
- Electrical wiring: Lightning travels through your circuits, damaging outlets, panels, and connected devices.
- Plumbing pipes: Metal pipes conduct electricity, sometimes cracking or bursting from the heat.
- Structural framing: Moisture in wood can allow lightning to arc through framing members.
Types of Damage
As we said before, lightning strikes can impact multiple systems in your home at once:
- Electrical: Melted wiring, scorched panels, and damaged outlets.
- Structural: Burn marks, charring, or even fire in attics and walls.
- Appliances and electronics: Destroyed circuit boards and fried internal components.
Detailed Signs of Lightning Strike Damage
Since lightning damage isn’t always immediately visible, it’s imperative to know what to check.
1. Electrical System Damage
- Melted wiring from intense heat surge
- Tripped breakers cutting off power supply
- Scorched electrical panels and fuse boxes
- Hidden faults confirmed using a Megger test
- Potential fire risk from damaged circuits
2. Electronics & Appliance Failure
- Burned circuit boards in sensitive devices
- Voided warranties due to lightning damage
- Complete failure of essential home appliances
- Corrupted data on computers and storage devices
- Costly replacements or repair requirements
3. Burn Marks & Physical Damage
- Siding discolored or melted from strike heat
- Shingles damaged or missing after impact
- Attic areas showing scorching or charring
- Exterior paint blistered or peeled away
- Visible holes or cracks in building materials
4. Strange Smells or Sounds
- Sharp ozone smell after a lightning strike
- Buzzing noises from overloaded circuits
- Popping sounds indicating electrical arcing
- Persistent burning odor inside the home
- Sudden silence from failed electronics
5. Plumbing Damage
- Heat-induced cracks in metal water pipes
- Leaking joints caused by electrical stress
- Loss of water pressure in affected areas
- Hidden leaks behind walls or under floors
- Pipe bursts leading to water damage
Immediate Steps to Take After a Suspected Strike
Acting fast is a crucial part of limiting damage when lightning hits your home. Here’s how to stay safe and protect your property:
- Safety First: Leave if you smell smoke or see sparks.
- Contact Emergency Services: Call 911 if you suspect fire.
- Schedule a Professional Electrical Inspection: Identify hidden hazards before they worsen.
- Check GFCI outlets, breakers, surge protection: Look for tripping or signs of failure.
- Document Damage for Insurance: Photos and notes help with your claim.
How to Protect Your Home from Lightning Damage
You may not be able to stop a storm or lightning, but you can take steps to lower the risk of costly damage.
Whole-Home Surge Protectors
- Blocks high-voltage surges: Stops spikes before reaching circuits.
- Protects entire electrical panel: Covers all connected devices.
- Prevents appliance overload damage: Reduces costly replacements.
- Works automatically during storms: No manual activation needed.
- Extends electronics’ lifespan: Minimizes wear from power surges.
Proper Grounding & Bonding
- Dissipates lightning energy safely: Directs current into the ground.
- Prevents dangerous voltage buildup: Stops charge accumulation.
- Reduces fire risk indoors: Keeps wiring from overheating.
- Complies with electrical codes: Meets safety regulations.
- Improves surge protector performance: Ensures proper operation.
Lightning Rod Systems
- Intercepts direct lightning strikes: Captures the voltage before hitting the home.
- Routes energy into ground: Keeps current away from your wiring.
- Protects roof from burning: Stops fire ignition points.
- Minimizes structural damage risk: Preserves the home’s structural integrity.
- Works with grounding systems: Completes lightning safety setup.
Appliance & Device Surge Strips
- Shields sensitive electronics instantly: Blocks harmful surges fast.
- Easy to install anywhere: No special tools required.
- Prevents data loss damage: Protects computers and drives.
- Affordable extra layer protection: Low-cost safety upgrade.
- Ideal for high-value devices: Great for TVs and PCs.
When to Call an Electrician
If you spot any of the following, call an electrician right away:
- Frequent breaker tripping: Indicates possible wiring faults.
- Burnt smell near outlets: Could signal overheating wires.
- Visible scorch marks: Shows past electrical arcing.
- Buzzing from panels: Suggests loose or damaged parts.
- Flickering or dimming lights: May mean unstable voltage.
FAQ – Lightning Strikes and Home Safety
Here are answers to some common lightning safety questions.
Can lightning strike without you knowing?
Yes. Some strikes cause immediate visible damage, while others may leave hidden issues that surface later.
How far away can lightning cause damage?
Lightning doesn’t have to hit your home directly. Strikes occurring up to a mile away can send surges into your house through power lines or the ground.
Will insurance cover lightning strikes?
The terms and conditions of your policy will determine whether it covers lightning damage. Speaking with your insurance provider is the best way to confirm coverage details and any claim requirements.
What is the difference between a surge protector and a lightning arrester?
The main difference is that a surge protector protects your appliances from voltage spikes, while a lightning arrestor intercepts the lightning before it enters the home.
Protect Your Home – Call Mister Sparky Today
Living in Florida means you are very familiar with severe storms that can produce major lightning damage. Here at Lakeland Mister Sparky, we offer a range of storm protection services. From lightning inspections to surge protection, we handle every step to keep your home secure. We’re Lakeland’s on-time electrician, and we take storm safety seriously.
When you need fast, reliable electrical help from a licensed and insured electrician, give us a call. We’ll work fast so you don’t have to worry about future damage.
Don’t Put Up With Any Malarky! Call Mister Sparky!