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With more than 198 million lightning strikes in the United States last year, knowing what to do after your home experiences electrical damage from a storm is crucial. According to Vaisala’s annual report, our home state of Texas led the nation in lightning activity yet again, with over 27 million events recorded in 2022. Shocking, right?
Even if lightning doesn’t strike your home directly, your electrical system can experience enough of a surge to cause damage to wiring, computers, TVs, home entertainment systems, and other appliances. In this blog post, your go-to guys for storm-related electrical damage at The Local Electrician will walk you through what to do after your home is struck by lightning.
Direct Lightning Strike
In the unfortunate case your home has been directly hit by lightning, the first thing you should do is call the fire department so they can check everything out. Direct lightning strikes are known to cause significant damage to electrical systems. It’s also common for damaged wiring in your walls or attic to start a fire that you might not even notice right away.
When an electrical system receives a direct lightning strike, the current creates a massive spike in voltage, which causes a significant power surge. If your home isn’t protected from these unexpected electrical spikes, the electronic devices in your home will likely be out of commission. Even if you don’t notice any electrical damage, you should always contact an emergency electrician after your home has been struck by lightning to ensure there are no problems.
Indirect Lightning Strike
Whether lightning strikes the ground or a nearby power line, a surge of increased voltage can enter your home through wires and pipes that extend outside your property. If you equipped your electrical panel with a whole-house surge protector, the surge should end there.
If the surge is not stopped at your electrical panel, it can travel throughout your home, damaging your wiring and any electronics not plugged into a point-of-use surge protector. Even if you have surge protectors, you should schedule an inspection with an electrical expert after a storm to ensure your outlets and wiring haven’t been compromised.
Electrical Repairs
After a lightning strike, you may find sparks coming from your outlets, warm outlets that fail, ceiling fan malfunctions, flickering lights, and even more electrical issues. These problems can be dangerous and challenging to identify without the right expertise. If these issues aren’t repaired promptly, you could risk further damage to your property. To prevent electrical shock, electrocution, or a house fire, contact an electrician experienced in storm damage repairs.
Has lightning hit your home recently? Your electrical storm damage is no match for The Local Electrician! Visit our website or give us a call today at (832) 688-4419.