If you’re like most Americans, you’re aware of the dangers lightning poses if an unexpected summer storm suddenly catches you outside. Getting to shelter is your top priority. However, lightning can hit you while you’re protected by walls. Even if you aren’t hit directly, lightning can do severe damage to your appliances and your home itself.
There are a number of electrical safety tips to utilize now, while a thunderstorm isn’t even a blip on the horizon, to protect your home’s wiring as well as your expensive, high-tech appliances and electronics. The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) recommends taking time at least once a year to assess the safety checks you’ve already put in place in your home and consider at what it would cost to replace expensive items damaged by lightning.
Installing a whole-house surge protector is the best step you can take to help lessen the damage that a lightning strike can cause. The best protectors are two-component devices. One component is installed at the circuit breaker box while others are plugged in at outlets close to televisions, computers and similar electronics or appliances.
You’ll also want to consider installing a lightning-proof device on your roof, similar to the old-fashioned lightning rod. It won’t prevent lightning from striking your home, but will direct the bolt to the ground outside rather than through internal wiring which can fry your electronics. In addition, many experts recommend that you unplug your electronics and appliances during a lightning storm.
Your wireless network shouldn’t be ignored either, according to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Lightning strikes can do a real number on the wiring as well as the devices in your home. Extra surge protectors installed on your satellite television line, your cable line dedicated to your computer and your telephone will help protect them during severe storms. It’s also a very good idea to keep data backed up on your wireless devices, which can also be severely impacted by a lightning strike.
Keeping your electronics and appliances safe during a summer thunderstorm is important, but it’s even more crucial that you make sure you and your family are safe. You hear news stories every year about someone who was hit by lightning while using a telephone, although cell phones or cordless telephones are considered safe. The Weather Channel’s lightning experts recommend that you avoid taking a bath or a shower when lightning is nearby. Even plumbing fixtures like sinks and faucets will conduct electricity in certain circumstances.
Some lightning safety steps are common sense, but others might seem extreme to you. However, if you’re one of the several hundred people injured each year by a lightning strike, or among the millions of homeowners who see property damage as a result of a strike, you know that it’s best to take every step possible to prevent further injury or damage.
It’s also a good idea to protect your major appliances, wiring and your home itself with a warranty from American Home Shield. The peace-of-mind is priceless!
Post Author: andyc.
