The Dangers Of Hidden Lightning Damage
A lightning strike near or at your home can easily damage the wiring without causing noticeable signs. A lightning strike contains an intense burst of electricity that seeks the fastest route to the ground. Once it hits, the lightning can cause a power surge to run through your home’s electrical system.
The heat generated by the strike can also cause critical components to overheat, even if you don’t see scorch marks. While some of the lightning damage might cause immediate problems, it is also possible for hidden damage to occur that raises the fire risk for your home. Knowing how to respond to a lightning strike helps you restore safety to your home’s electrical system after a storm.
Quick Takeaways
- Lightning can damage your home’s wiring even without visible signs.
- An indirect lightning strike could cause electrical surges that run from utility lines to your home.
- Hidden electrical damage can increase the risk of fires and shocks.
- Flickering lights, tripping brakes and buzzing outlets are warning signs of lightning damage.
- Licensed electricians use special testing and inspection tools to identify damage from strikes.
How Can Lightning Impact a Home’s Electrical System?
A direct lightning strike is one that hits your house, and you can often expect to see visible signs of this occurring, such as burn marks on the roof. Even with a direct strike, a large part of the damage might still be hidden in the wiring behind walls.
Indirect lightning damage is more common. If lightning hits somewhere nearby, it can send a power surge through local utility lines and grounding systems. The resulting voltage spike can harm your home’s electrical system, along with any connected appliances.
What Kinds of Hidden Lightning Damage Should Homeowners Know About?
Being aware of these types of hidden electrical damage helps you know when to call our electricians.
- Melting or weakening of wire insulation
- Loosening electrical connections
- Weakening whole-home surge protectors
- Breaking circuits
- Compromising outlet safety
- Harming home appliances and HVAC equipment
What Are the Most Common Warning Signs of Hidden Damage From Lightning?
After a lightning strike, you might notice odd issues with the electrical system in your home. Or, your home’s appliances might send a few warning signs that damage has occurred.
Watch for Electrical Symptoms
Invisible damage to the electrical system in your home can still create noticeable symptoms over time, including the following:
- Dimming and flickering lights
- Tripping breakers
- Buzzing outlets
- Burning odors near outlets and walls
- Feeling warmth from outlets or the electrical panel
Pay Attention to Appliance and Electronics Problems
Although an appliance issue might be an isolated incident, noticing these problems soon after a lightning strike is cause for concern.
- Multiple devices failing unexpectedly
- Seeing a newer piece of equipment break down
- Having internet and network equipment problems
What Are the Main Risks of Ignoring Electrical Damage From Lightning?
Noticing lights flickering occasionally might not seem like a big deal at first, but ignoring the signs of electrical damage can lead to several hazardous situations.
- Increasing the risk of a fire
- Raising the chances of electrical shocks
- Progressing deterioration of the wires
- Facing costlier repairs in the future
- Being denied for insurance claims due to unaddressed damage
How Do Electricians Check for Hidden Damage?
When our electricians perform a lightning strike evaluation, they work through several important steps. They’ll typically start with a visual inspection to identify clear signs of damage such as broken wires or melted insulation.
A professional electrician can also use special tools to test the circuits and perform thermal imaging. Voltage tests and surge protection assessments can also help detect electrical issues that need correction.
What Types of Solutions Can Electricians Offer to Prevent Lightning Damage?
After we repair any current damage, we can offer you solutions that reduce the chances of you dealing with major damage in the future.
- Install whole-home surge protection
- Replace outdated electrical systems
- Suggest point-of-use surge protectors for vulnerable appliances
- Improve electrical grounding
- Set up routine electrical inspections for greater peace of mind
FAQs
Our electricians often encounter these common questions, and knowing the answers empowers you to avoid further damage from lightning strikes.
Is it possible for lightning to damage a house’s wires without leaving noticeable burn marks?
Yes, many types of damage from lightning involve elements that are behind the walls or in the electrical panel, such as weakened wiring insulation.
How do I find out if lightning damaged my home’s electrical system?
A professional lightning strike evaluation can help you know if your home’s electrical system is safe after a storm.
Is it safe to continue using my home’s electricity after a lightning strike?
In some cases, you can continue to use your home’s electricity after lightning strikes. But, you’ll still need to watch for electrical problems and arrange for an inspection as soon as possible.
Will homeowner’s insurance cover the damage to my home’s wiring after a lightning strike?
Home insurance companies offer varying levels of coverage for lightning strikes. But, having a professional inspection can help you know if there is damage that might be worth filing a claim for repair.
Is a professional inspection necessary after every lightning storm?
No, but you’ll need to schedule an inspection any time you witness a direct strike, suspect that an indirect one impacted your home or notice the signs of malfunctioning wiring.
Schedule a Lightning Strike Evaluation to Protect Your Home After a Storm
Experiencing a lightning strike to your home is frightening, but you can quickly ease the storms of anxiety by calling our friendly electricians. Mister Sparky serves the Gainesville, Florida, area and nearby communities, and we know how strong electrical storms can be here. Don’t put up with any malarky and call Mister Sparky. Reach out to us as soon as the storm clears to schedule a lightning strike evaluation that lets you rest easier knowing your home’s electrical wiring is in good condition.
