Lightning Safety Message | Majestic Handyman Ogden

Protect your home from the danger of lightning

Unlike in the past when you could do nothing to protect yourself when lightning struck, today’s technology can help you to protect yourself. It will be possible to protect your property as well, thanks to the lightning protector installation.
If you live in an area that is prone to lightning, you need to observe some precautions even as you plan to install a lightning protector.
  1. Avoid using any electric appliance or even a telephone that is attached to the electric wing of the building.
  2. If your sink or any other object is attached to the plumbing system in your building, avoid using them until the lightning subsides.
  3. In the event that lighting occurs, count 30 seconds before hearing a thunder clap. If the thunder occurs in less than thirty seconds, take cover.
To start with, here are some of the risks that are associated with lightning:
  • Step potential: this refers to the ground on which the lightning will strike directly. If you are in such a location, you can also be a step potential, which is quite lethal.
  • Touch potential: this is when a lightning strike is captured, then carried by metallic objects. When you come into direct contact with the metallic object, you could suffer the effects of the lightning.
  • Side flashing: as the lightning flashes, it is possible for the current to strike you or any other project within its reach.
 Now, to the main issue, what makes a good lightning protection system?
  • The ability to intercept oncoming lighting flashes
  • Conduct oncoming lightning currents to the earth
  • Make the lightning disappear into the earth
  • Come up with equipotential bonds that will inhibit potential differences in regards to structures, internal circuits, and the system.
Getting the right lightning protector will do what you cannot do on your own… protect your home against lightning. It will keep you, your loved ones and your electric appliances safe. The protector will reduce the effects of lightning.
If you do not install a lightning protector in your home, the lightning currents will look for any conductor in your building. This could be phones, electric cables, electric lines, gas pipes, water pipes, or the building. This could result in raging fires, shattered glasses; formation of cracks in the concrete, and most of the appliances in the building will get damaged.
Consider this, a house you invested all your life’s savings building goes up in flames within seconds and you don’t get a chance to save a pin. It is such a pain and if you did not have an insurance cover, you may never get to that level again.
To avoid such occurrences, you should consider investing in lightning installation that will only cost a fraction of what your home is worth. A $3000 worth of lightning protector is enough to protect your building worth $500 000.
If you plan to get lightning insurance for your building, most insurance providers will decline to provide a cover if you do not have a lightning protector. For others, they will charge a higher amount for the insurance cover if you do not have a lightning protector.
The Lightning Protector Installation Procedure
Once you make a decision to install your lightning protector, you’ll need to look for a qualified handyman to do the job. Here is the procedure he will follow to install a lightning procedure in your home:
Step 1: Assessment
The handyman will seek to know the following in regards to your building:
  • Value of the property in your building
  • Number of people living in that building and the number of hours they spend in the building.
  • Nature of the electric system in the building
  • Sensitivity of the equipment in the building
  • How close the building is to flammable objects
Once the handyman is able to get the above report, he will determine the most appropriate protection for the building. He will also suggest the right surge protection types that will be appropriate for the building.
Step 2: Designing the lightning protection device
After completing the assessment, the handyman will inform you of the level of protection your building will require. Once you give him the go-ahead to proceed with the project, he will design the lightning protector. He will also determine the number of aerials and down conductors that he will install.
Step 3: installation
After the preparations are complete, they handyman will then carry out the lightning protector installation. He will ensure that he installs a complete system that includes:
  • Strike terminating devices
  • Conductors
  • Interconnecting bonding
  • Surge protection devices
  • Ground terminals
Getting a handyman to install your lightning protector is the best option as he has enough experience to know what is right for you. He will also advise you on the best brand that will last longer without requiring additional repairs or remodeling.
To reduce the cost of installing a lightning protector, you can team up with your neighbors and install a lightning protector that will protect all the buildings. This way, you’ll still get the best protection without spending too much. The handyman carrying out the lightning installation will help you to choose the best protector.
Will lightning protector installation guarantee a discounted price for an insurance cover?
Getting a lightning protector will also be beneficial when searching for an insurance cover. For most companies, a home that already has a lightning protector has some form of security and will be charged less for the insurance cover. This means you will be saving more though you will have incurred a higher price to install the protector.
If you consider the cost of installing other systems such as plumbing or security systems, installing a lightning protector is less expensive. Even at that, when you consider the value of the items in your building, the cost of a protector is not too much. All you need to look out for is getting a certified handyman to carry out the installation. A person who has carried out a lightning protector installation in the past is your best bet. He should be able to show you photos of his previous installations and through them, you’ll gauge his competence.
​​

​Majestic Handyman Ogden