How to Protect a Garage Door Opener Against Lightning

Lightening storms can pose a lot of danger for outdoor appliances and electronics. Fortunately, there are methods for protecting them. Specifically, there are steps you can take to protect your garage door against lightning.

Things You'll Need

• Lightening rod
• Suppressor kit

Instructions

1. Install a lightning rod. This will help protect your home by attracting the lightning, causing it to strike the rod instead of your house or garage. Some people mistakenly think that a rod attracts extra lightning, but this is not true. It simply redirects lightning that is going to strike regardless of what is in the area, causing it to strike the rod instead of nearby structures, helping to avoid ensuing catastrophes such as a house fire.

2. Consider installing a rooftop aerial in addition to a lightening rod. Rooftop aerials are definitely not supposed to be lightning rods, but naturally works as one. This is because they are constructed of metal and are at the top of your home. Make sure these are grounded to help avoid direct lightning strikes. This addition will act as added protection.

3. Protect your electronic garage door opener with a power surge suppressor kit. A surge suppressor or protector works by monitoring the voltage it allows to pass through the system. If the voltage surges or spikes, the surge suppressor or protector redirects the excess electricity into the outlet's grounding wire.

Tips & Warnings

• Lightning rods do not stop electrical surges due to lightning strikes.