Quote:
Originally Posted by jrref
You are doing the right thing. If your roof is going to need to be replaced soon, it's probably best to change the roof then install a LPS.
As far as statistics are concerned, you can argue this point "till the cows come home". The point is, regardless of the statistics, we live in an area where we get the most lightning strikes in the country. This means the probability of your home getting hit by lightning is one of the highest in the country. Given we now see about 5-6 homes destroyed every year here in the Villages, maybe more this year, there is a probability of your home getting hit. The probability is low but it's not that low where you don't need to think about it. Homes are getting hit and some destroyed so as I said before, if your tolerance for risk is high and you like to gamble and take your chances based on statistics, do nothing. No need to comment here anymore. Chances are you may never get hit and you can come back here and tell us about it. If you do get hit and your home burns to the ground, enjoy that life changing experience. Or, take one less cruise and get a system and sleep well and don't worry about it anymore. I got a system as soon as I moved in because I came to the Villages to relax and enjoy myself. If my home got hit by lightning and was destroyed, all that would end and the stress of the ordeal may shorten my lifespan, who knows?
Everyone has their own tolerance for risk and you need to figure out if you want to spend the $2,000-$3,500 depending on the size of your home for some piece of mind or take yet another cruise and have this worry at the back of your mind forever. Everyone's decision will be different.
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The funny thing is, contrary to what a few posters assert, I am not arguing against getting an LPS. In fact, I'm considering it myself. What I am arguing against is overstating risk, abusing statistics, and using fear to make a sale. We question that approach when it comes to termite treatment, whole-house water filters, annuities, and roofers and we should be just as skeptical when it comes to LPS systems.
Is $3,500 a small price to pay to mitigate the effect of a potential lightning strike? Yes.
Am I calling tails on a two-headed coin if I don't pay the $3,500? No.
Are my odds even 50-50 of being struck by lightning? No.
Are my odds zero of being struck by lightning? No.
Some tables show about 7,000 homes struck by lightning in Florida each year
Each year the papers report two or three homes destroyed by lightning (last year was higher)
Do I believe 17 LPS-protected homes have been hit by lightning with little or no damage while only two or three unprotected homes have been hit? Even if those 17 homes were hit over a period of 20 years, I would still expect far more unprotected homes to be hit in the same timeframe. Perhaps many more unprotected homes are being hit but the amount of damage is far less than being talked about in this thread.
Do I believe a home can be hit by lightning without causing catastrophic damage keeping the owner out of the home for two years while it is rebuilt? Absolutely yes - I have lived it myself and seen it with others.
Will my house get hit by lightning this year? Odds are very low.
Will my house ever get hit by lightning? Odds are still low but chances are increasing.
Will my house burn to the ground if it is hit by lightning? Not guaranteed, especially if all electric.
Will my house be significantly damaged if it is hit by lightning? Not necessarily but it could.
Does the decision come down to either paying $3,500 or watching my house burn down? No
Is $3,500 a small price to pay to mitigate the effect of a lightning strike that may or may not happen which may or may not cause damage but could potentially result in my house being destroyed? Yes.