At DiGregorio Electric, we get that question all the time. We get some incredibly powerful electrical storms in Southeast Pennsylvania that can cause significant damage to homes and property.
In this post, we’ll cover some of the basics on why storms can be so dangerous and how you can protect yourself, your home, and your property from these electrical hazards.
Deaths from lightning strikes are extremely rare. According to the National Weather Service, only approximately 20 people are killed by lightning strikes each year in the U.S. And while the safest place to be during an electrical storm is in your home, roughly 1 in 200 homes are also struck by lightning each year.
Damage is not usually extensive to a home after a lightning strike, but homeowners need to be cautious and aware of the potential harm. We’ll also discuss some cost-effective protective measures, like whole-home surge protection, that you can take to protect yourself, your home, and your electronics before, during, and after electrical storms.
So why are electrical storms so potentially dangerous?
High winds, heavy rains, and lightning can wreak havoc on the power grid and the heavily populated communities in Delaware County when storms rage in southeastern Pennsylvania. In the electrical contracting business, we use the term transient voltage to describe spikes in an electrical circuit, such as your home or the power grid.
Lightning is a powerful transient voltage phenomenon that happens during electrical storms. Some interesting facts about the intensity of lightning from the Washington Post include its temperature, speed, and size. The temperature of a lightning bolt can exceed 55,000 °F, it can travel at speeds above 270,000 miles per hour, and each bolt is about one inch wide.
As a powerful, negatively charged electrostatic force of nature in the atmosphere, lightning often seeks out the net positive charge of the earth. That’s what results in lightning striking homes and buildings that get in its way.
How can you protect yourself and your property during an electrical storm?
Seek shelter inside an enclosed structure with a roof as quickly as possible whenever you see lightning or hear thunder nearby during a storm. Remember, though, lightning can strike anywhere, and it will find the most conductive pathway to the ground.
That pathway can be along electrical wires, plumbing, or even concrete, because it contains steel reinforcing bars, aka rebar. So stay in the middle of an interior room away from power outlets whenever possible during an electrical storm.
If lightning does strike your house, you will most likely feel a strong rumble or vibration along with a loud boom. Most strikes don’t cause much physical damage, but you can’t be too careful. If you smell or see smoke, call the fire department immediately. Also, keep a high level of awareness after the storm. Lightning strikes can cause fires that can smolder for an extended period of time.
If lightning strikes a critical piece of the power grid infrastructure, like a substation or power line, it can cause surges in buildings and homes connected to the grid. These transient voltage surges can potentially cause power outages and severe damage to electronics and electrical equipment in your home.
So it’s also a good idea to unplug expensive electronics, even if they are plugged into an outlet by a power strip type of surge protector.
You might also consider installing a temporary power generator and a whole-home surge protection device. We can help you make an informed decision about these kinds of protective devices and provide additional information on pricing and installation.
What about afterward, especially if there’s been a power outage from a storm?
Electrical storm dangers aren’t over immediately after the storm ends. In extreme cases, you may experience a power outage for hours or even days. If the power goes out and comes back on, always wait at least 10 minutes before plugging your electronics back in.
Also, keep in mind that expensive devices with a circuit board, like computers, phones, and appliances, are highly susceptible to transient voltages. If you’re not careful, property damage can quickly cost up to tens of thousands of dollars.
So what are some cost-effective ways to protect yourself from property damage caused by electrical storms?
A central surge protection device is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect your home, your appliances, and your electronics from transient voltages caused by electrical storms and grid spikes.
So what exactly is a whole-home surge protection device? The global electrical components manufacturers at Schneider Electric provide a great high-level definition:
Visually, it’s not that exciting — it looks like a gray box on the wall by your home’s electrical panel. But what it does is pretty cool. When it senses a voltage irregularity — anything from a lightning strike to a minor flutter of extra voltage — this device kicks into action. It diverts the excess voltage into the ground before it reaches your home’s electronics, keeping them safe from damaging spikes.
These devices can protect your entire home along with your valuable appliances and devices from lightning, grid spikes, and other transient voltages. Individual power strips are not nearly as effective, and they can also get expensive, inconvenient, and unsightly.
Whole-home surge protection and temporary generators are becoming increasingly popular as concerns with the power grid, outages, and electronics protection in general are on the rise.
If you have a home office, your employer might even pay for it.
Do you have questions?
Where can you go for more information and some trustworthy, reliable advice?
At DiGregorio Electric, we understand that sometimes things can unexpectedly go wrong, like electrical storms. When they do, we’re here to help. We want to build a long-term, trusted relationship with you. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions about all things electrical related to your home.
DiGregorio Electric is a family-owned and operated electrical contracting business serving Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware County, and the Main Line for over 30 years. We’re always here to help you with your electrical projects, no matter how big or how small!
Our services include installing outlets, switches, lighting fixtures, home rewiring, kitchen and bath remodels, and electrical system upgrades. We also install surge protection devices to protect your home, appliances, electronics, and electrical infrastructure from transient voltages.
The DiGregorio Electric GOLD Promise is simple—we guarantee 100% satisfaction on all our electrical services. That’s right, we make it right, or you don’t pay.
Interested in hearing more?
Give us a call at (610) 894-7966 or get in touch with our team online today.
