How to Deal With a Lightening Strike to Your Home

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By KRLawrence
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Deal With a Lightening Strike to Your Home

Our house got struck by lightning. There were more issues that came from this than you could imagine. Here is a checklist of some of the things you need to look for if your house or yard is struck.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

flashlight
Insurance policy number and phone number

Step 1

If you have a strike close to your house or that hits your house, you will likely know it. Often it causes multiple circuits to trip in your home. This is great. When they trip they are preventing the serge from damaging more items in your home. Go to the circuit board and write down which circuits have tripped. One at a time, turn them back on and go to the areas of the house affected to assess further damage.
Step 2

Check all Ground Fault receptacles in your house. Reset any that have tripped. If they don't reset, it could be that the outlet or the GFI on that outlet has burnt out and it may need to be replaced. This is a common problem... you find that the fan in your bathroom is not working but everything else is and you fix the problem with the GFI in the garage. It does not have to make sense... it depends on how the house was wired when it was built. Check all of the outlets.
Step 3

Now check appliances. Things that easily go include anything that was currently in use and items with less tolerant systems. What was on at the time? Was there a computer plugged in? Was the washer on? Microwaves go easily too so check that one out. Phones can go easily. Take a small lamp or nightlight with you as you go from room to room. Check every outlet and all items that were plugged in at the time. If you have items plugged into a surge protector, check the device. Sometimes is burns out but saves the items that were plugged into it. Make lists and take photos of any black or soot coloring at the place where the items were plugged in. This is all indicative of possible damage. Receivers for your TV are also easily impacted devices.
Step 4

Call your insurance office and file a claim. If you have good service, they will likely have preferred providers they can send to your home to handle all the work. Often you have to find providers yourself. With a list of items that are affected, you will avoid missing anything that would slow down your claims process.

Comments

jenng said

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on 11/14/2009 Great article on How to Deal With a Lightening Strike to Your Home 5*

on 7/8/2009 Important article, though I'm praying I never need it! We have daily lightening storms during "wet season" here in Florida, and many house (and people!) are struck by lightening each week. Thanks for posting this article!