Lightning Strikes and Repairs

Lightning strikes are common throughout the Midwest and your home is not immune. However, lightning doesn’t actually have to strike your house in order to damage your electrical system. Ground strikes and strikes to powerlines can also cause problems for the entire neighborhood.

Two of the greatest threats from a lightning strike are power surges and fires.

What is a Power Surge?

Lightning travels from the clouds to the ground from the path of least resistance. Because of the efficiency of residential wiring, the path of least resistance is often the wiring of a house – which causes a power surge.

Power surges can also be caused if lightning strikes a power line in your neighborhood. Power surges cause extra current to flow through the wires. Sometimes the current is so high, even appliances with surge protectors get damaged.

The best way to protect your electronic appliances is to install a whole home surge protector.

Can lightning cause an electrical fire?

Fire is the biggest threat that lightning poses for homes. Most people know that if lightning strikes a house, the roof may catch fire. However, people are often surprised to learn that lightning can also burn the wires of your electrical system, or cause the wires to ignite.

What to do after lightning strikes?

If your house is struck by lightning, the first thing you should do is call the fire department. If the damage is severe, you should evacuate your home. Once the fire department has given an all-clear, you should immediately call WIREONE so that we can perform a surge inspection and advise your insurance carrier about any required remediation.

Lightning is unpredictable and so is the damage caused by it. WIREONE has performed numerous lightning strikes assessments and works with all the major insurance companies. We are available for emergency calls 24 hour-per-day and are standing by and ready to serve you.