Lightning Strikes Burns Two Villages Homes 8/7/25

[sounding]

One home in Calumet Grove and the other in Sabal Chase - and neither had lightning rods.

[jrref]

For some factual information on Lightning and Surge Protection see this link Nextdoor (https://nextdoor.com/g/m3h0uzuyn/)

[jrref]

One home in Calumet Grove and the other in Sabal Chase - and neither had lightning rods.

Lightning is unpredictable and most won't spend the money which is less than the cost of one cruise, to get a lightning protection system.

Here are some pictures of Villagers who decided to take their chances. If your home gets struck by lightning, it will be a life changing experience for you and your family.

[Tom52]

Do insurance companies offer a discount to homeowners with lightening rods installed?

[Bill14564]

Lightning is unpredictable and most won't spend the money which is less than the cost of one cruise, to get a lightning protection system.

Here are some pictures of Villagers who decided to take their chances. If your home gets struck by lightning, it will be a life changing experience for you and your family.

I can post thousands of pictures of houses that have NOT been hit by lightning.

And getting this in early, while I believe lightning protection helps, there are too few protected homes around to make the claim that a protection system will guarantee your home will not be affected.

Lighting happens, protection systems help, but suggesting that you are at a high risk of your house burning down without one is an exaggeration.

[asianthree]

Posting the date+year and village of All the homes hit by lightning, would be a benefit.

It would also be very informative if you included how many roof tops existed in TV, with each lighting strike. TV has been in existence since the 70s, starting with Mobil homes, some of which were destroyed during tornado, that may have had lighting issues. Even better the number of those who chose to install rods in TV

If residents were aware of the % of home ratio to strike, and damage of either total loss or minimum damage. I am sure that data is available for you to share since this thread is about the need to buy lightning rods

[sounding]

Do insurance companies offer a discount to homeowners with lightening rods installed?

Not that I know of -- at least not for me. However to me, a lightning rod system is well worth the investment, since insurance will never compensate all the loses nor the time and anxiety of suddenly losing your home -- and being on vacation during the loss is even worse.

[sounding]

Posting the date+year and village of All the homes hit by lightning, would be a benefit.

It would also be very informative if you included how many roof tops existed in TV, with each lighting strike. TV has been in existence since the 70s, starting with Mobil homes, some of which were destroyed during tornado, that may have had lighting issues. Even better the number of those who chose to install rods in TV

If residents were aware of the % of home ratio to strike, and damage of either total loss or minimum damage. I am sure that data is available for you to share since this thread is about the need to buy lightning rods

The Villages Lightning Study Group is looking for volunteers to do just that. Learn more at the Weather Club, where "Lightning" presentations are given annually and at many other Villages clubs and groups ... The Villages Weather Club (https://www.theweatherclubvillages.com/)

[dtennent]

In my experience with corporate risk assessment, two factors (among others) that are considered are the likelihood of an event happening and the impact if the event does happen. Usually, even if the likelihood is low, when the impact is very large, efforts are made to mitigate the risk. I was leading the development of a product when a nearly catastrophic event which was considered unlikely actually occurred. After a large effort, we were able to fix the problem and the product went into production. I have become much more conservative in working on risk assessments since then.

[Aces4]

I can post thousands of pictures of houses that have NOT been hit by lightning.

And getting this in early, while I believe lightning protection helps, there are too few protected homes around to make the claim that a protection system will guarantee your home will not be affected.

Lighting happens, protection systems help, but suggesting that you are at a high risk of your house burning down without one is an exaggeration.

In other words, get out of Florida or play lightning roulette?:loco:

[GreggC69]

So - dtennant - curious if you have a lightening protection system on your home. Tx.

[Altavia]

In my experience with corporate risk assessment, two factors (among others) that are considered are the likelihood of an event happening and the impact if the event does happen. Usually, even if the likelihood is low, when the impact is very large, efforts are made to mitigate the risk. I was leading the development of a product when a nearly catastrophic event which was considered unlikely actually occurred. After a large effort, we were able to fix the problem and the product went into production. I have become much more conservative in working on risk assessments since then.

I have a similar background.

Key factors influencing my decision to install lightning mitigation as a preventative likelihood/risk reduction include:

* Seven homes struck within a 3 mi radius of our home in the 4 years here.

* Fires tend to start in the attic with the homeowner unaware until a neighbor notified them.

* CSST Gas lines in attic acting as lightning rods:

- the CSST manufacturer recommends LPS in lightening prone areas if installed.

- Several strikes appear to have been at the garage corner where the iron gas line enters the attic.

- Nearby lighting strikes can punch pinholes in the CSST tubing resulting in delayed/undetected gas leaks, until something ignites them.

* The Villages installs LPS on critical buildings and infrastructure.

* LPS is required by code for schools, retirement homes and hospitals.

* There is discussion to add LPS to the building code -installation cost would be much lower during construction.

* It takes 2-3 years to rebuild a home here destroyed by lightening.

* For us, the cost was less than our $2K deductable.

[sounding]

In other words, get out of Florida or play lightning roulette?:loco:

Every Villages home that has burnt from lightning did not have lightning rods.

[Bill14564]

In other words, get out of Florida or play lightning roulette?:loco:

But where would you move to?
- Coastal hurricanes
- midwest tornadoes
- West coast earthquakes
- northern blizzards
- southwest heat

It's just dangerous to be alive these days

[Bill14564]

Every Villages home that has burnt from lightning did not have lightning rods.

Every Villages home that I have parked my car in front of has not been hit by lightning. Every Villages home that has burnt from lightning has never had my car parked in front of it. Coincidence??


AGAIN: A LPS is probably a really good idea. For most of us, the stress of replacing a home is much more costly than the LPS system.

[Bill14564]

* There is discussion to add LPS to the building code -installation cost would be much lower during construction.



As the LPS is installed OVER the shingles, why would installation cost be much lower during construction?

[Aces4]

But where would you move to?
- Coastal hurricanes
- midwest tornadoes
- West coast earthquakes
- northern blizzards
- southwest heat

It's just dangerous to be alive these days

Nah, just dangerous to be ignorant. Lightning is an issue and it can be hellacious in this area. Why not put up extra protection, particularly if you have a very expensive home or items in your home you'd like to keep and not have them replaced by insurance. Most of us have insurance on our homes but very few will ever need it, should we cancel the policy?

[CFrance]

After we stayed in Florida and experienced the horrendous storms last summer, coupled with two street lights close to us being hit and felled by lightning, we had a LPS installed. I love the storms; I didn't love the worry.

[Aces4]

Every Villages home that I have parked my car in front of has not been hit by lightning. Every Villages home that has burnt from lightning has never had my car parked in front of it. Coincidence??

Like I said, I'd cancel my home insurance if I subscribed to that thinking.. I most likely will never need it.

[Aces4]

I have a similar background.

Key factors influencing my decision to install lightning mitigation as a preventative likelihood/risk reduction include:

* Seven homes struck within a 3 mi radius of our home in the 4 years here.

* Fires tend to start in the attic with the homeowner unaware until a neighbor notified them.

* CSST Gas lines in attic acting as lightning rods:

- the CSST manufacturer recommends LPS in lightening prone areas if installed.

- Several strikes appear to have been at the garage corner where the iron gas line enters the attic.

- Nearby lighting strikes can punch pinholes in the CSST tubing resulting in delayed/undetected gas leaks, until something ignites them.

* The Villages installs LPS on critical buildings and infrastructure.

* LPS is required by code for schools, retirement homes and hospitals.

* There is discussion to add LPS to the building code -installation cost would be much lower during construction.

* It takes 2-3 years to rebuild a home here destroyed by lightening.

* For us, the cost was less than our $2K deductable.

Well said.:beer3:

[Bill14564]

Nah, just dangerous to be ignorant. Lightning is an issue and it can be hellacious in this area. Why not put up extra protection, particularly if you have a very expensive home or items in your home you'd like to keep and not have them replaced by insurance. Most of us have insurance on our homes but very few will ever need it, should we cancel the policy?

Not quite the same. But going along for the moment, I don't have flood insurance or earthquake insurance on my home. Both could happen, am I ignorant to not have those?

A LPS system is not insurance, it is a mitigation strategy. When will you be installing an automatic sprinkler system to quickly extinguish a fire in your home? They can't be that expensive, they are required in schools, hotels, and I believe most public buildings. They certainly are less costly than replacing a home. And I believe more homes are lost to kitchen fires than to lightning strikes.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I have a similar background.

Key factors influencing my decision to install lightning mitigation as a preventative likelihood/risk reduction include:

* Seven homes struck within a 3 mi radius of our home in the 4 years here.

* Fires tend to start in the attic with the homeowner unaware until a neighbor notified them.

* CSST Gas lines in attic acting as lightning rods:

- the CSST manufacturer recommends LPS in lightening prone areas if installed.

- Several strikes appear to have been at the garage corner where the iron gas line enters the attic.

- Nearby lighting strikes can punch pinholes in the CSST tubing resulting in delayed/undetected gas leaks, until something ignites them.

* The Villages installs LPS on critical buildings and infrastructure.

* LPS is required by code for schools, retirement homes and hospitals.

* There is discussion to add LPS to the building code -installation cost would be much lower during construction.

* It takes 2-3 years to rebuild a home here destroyed by lightening.

* For us, the cost was less than our $2K deductable.

So if you don't have gas OR a garage, your risk is significantly lower than a house that has both.

Good to know. Glad I live in a double-wide.

[Aces4]

Not quite the same. But going along for the moment, I don't have flood insurance or earthquake insurance on my home. Both could happen, am I ignorant to not have those?

A LPS system is not insurance, it is a mitigation strategy. When will you be installing an automatic sprinkler system to quickly extinguish a fire in your home? They can't be that expensive, they are required in schools, hotels, and I believe most public buildings. They certainly are less costly than replacing a home. And I believe more homes are lost to kitchen fires than to lightning strikes.

Logic escapes some people. One may skip all the precautions they want, I suppose that leaves more beer money. A conversation with anyone who has lost their home to fire will suffice for the rest of us. Enjoy your game of lightening roulette, to each their own.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Logic escapes some people. One may skip all the precautions they want, I suppose that leaves more beer money. A conversation with anyone who has lost their home to fire will suffice for the rest of us. Enjoy your game of lightening roulette, to each their own.

There are risks with everything in life. You might never get hit with lightning with your fancy new LPS. And then a hurricane shows up and rips your entire roof off the house.

You might never see a hurricane in your neighborhood. And then a tornado whips through and blows your labradoodle a half mile down the street and into the neighbor's BMW windshield.

Maybe you won't see a hurricane, lightning, or tornado. But the next door neighbor flicks his cigarette out his lanai door and a stiff breeze sets your living room on fire.

And maybe none of these things happen, and the limestone gives out under your house and sinks your bedroom into a ground collapse.

[Aces4]

There are risks with everything in life. You might never get hit with lightning with your fancy new LPS. And then a hurricane shows up and rips your entire roof off the house.

You might never see a hurricane in your neighborhood. And then a tornado whips through and blows your labradoodle a half mile down the street and into the neighbor's BMW windshield.

Maybe you won't see a hurricane, lightning, or tornado. But the next door neighbor flicks his cigarette out his lanai door and a stiff breeze sets your living room on fire.

And maybe none of these things happen, and the limestone gives out under your house and sinks your bedroom into a ground collapse.

What this has to do with anything is amusing.. nada. Yes, there are risks to living but that doesn't mean you shouldn't leave your living room. Take precautions that would ameliorate the risks and enjoy your life. Would I put LPS on a manufactured home or seasonal home, no. Would I put LPS on a $300,000. plus home? Yep, but you do you.

[Bill14564]

Logic escapes some people. One may skip all the precautions they want, I suppose that leaves more beer money. A conversation with anyone who has lost their home to fire will suffice for the rest of us. Enjoy your game of lightening roulette, to each their own.

Did you mistype or were you trying to make my point?

A conversation with anyone who has lost their home to fire will likely make you think about that automatic sprinkler system. If four deaths and 4,500 homeowner's claims from lightning is significant to you then 77 deaths from 14,000 home fires should really get your attention.

[Aces4]

Did you mistype or were you trying to make my point?

A conversation with anyone who has lost their home to fire will likely make you think about that automatic sprinkler system. If four deaths and 4,500 homeowner's claims from lightning is significant to you then 77 deaths from 14,000 home fires should really get your attention.

I don't see your point at all. I'd rather have a LPS on my home for lightning than sprinklers in every room like an office/hospital or police department. But then we don't smoke and are careful cooking and neither are pyromaniacs. :icon_wink: You do you.

[Topspinmo]

OK, we know risk of lightning. Now how about companies that are certified and ballpark prices for different style houses that had lightning protection installed. So we can have recommendations and make decisions? Not bickering about what if?

[asianthree]

Our last home the previous owner proposal was $5,000. 2 years later lightning struck 4 houses down, traveling to 6 different houses, killed our irrigation box and a water bill of $800 for non stop 48 hour running.

Rods would not have helped since it wasn’t a direct strike.

[HappyTraveler]

So if you don't have gas OR a garage, your risk is significantly lower than a house that has both.

Good to know. Glad I live in a double-wide.

YES, my deduction as well. What seems to be the key (and if anyone has an accurate answer, it would be appreciated) is how many of Villages homes that suffered significant damage from a lightning strike was a because the strike hit a gas line or hit near it and then the gas line ignited shortly after causing most of the damage?

Very important detail. ^^^

Utilizing insurance is all about assessing probabilities. Many people are over-insured for all sorts of things and it costs them big over a lifetime.

[Topspinmo]

So if you don't have gas OR a garage, your risk is significantly lower than a house that has both.

Good to know. Glad I live in a double-wide.

Isn’t furnace vent sticking up above roof line lightning attraction? And how about those plumbing vent pipes?

[HappyTraveler]

Nah, just dangerous to be ignorant. Lightning is an issue and it can be hellacious in this area. Why not put up extra protection, particularly if you have a very expensive home or items in your home you'd like to keep and not have them replaced by insurance. Most of us have insurance on our homes but very few will ever need it, should we cancel the policy?
You just compared apples to apple pie. Not the same thing but, share a common component.

The apple is the singular lightning strike probability - which is very low and mostly seasonal.

The apple pie includes the comprehensive probabilities of the many things that could happen to your home. It's a different proposition and those varied risks could occur in any of the 12 months of the year.

So, no, you probably shouldn't cancel your comprehensive insurance because your chances of an adverse event are higher. Sink hole, flooding, lightning strikes? All singular events and lower probability, therefore, optional.

[Aces4]

Our last home the previous owner proposal was $5,000. 2 years later lightning struck 4 houses down, traveling to 6 different houses, killed our irrigation box and a water bill of $800 for non stop 48 hour running.

Rods would not have helped since it wasn’t a direct strike.

A direct hit at your home at the time that moved the other way would have burned your home to a crisp. The type of damage you suffered was manageable.

[jrref]

I can post thousands of pictures of houses that have NOT been hit by lightning.

And getting this in early, while I believe lightning protection helps, there are too few protected homes around to make the claim that a protection system will guarantee your home will not be affected.

Lighting happens, protection systems help, but suggesting that you are at a high risk of your house burning down without one is an exaggeration.

The Villages Lightning Study Group has 17 documented cases of homes struck with a Lightning Protection System and there was no damage.

You are correct in that the probability of getting struck by lightning is very low here in the Villages even though central Florida is the lightning capital of the USA, but if it does happen, it will be a life changing experience for you and your family.

For less than the cost of one criuse, you can have a system installed and lower the probability of you home burning down or getting damaged from a lightning strike to near zero since nothing man made is 100%.

[Aces4]

You just compared apples to apple pie. Not the same thing but, share a common component.

The apple is the singular lightning strike probability - which is very low and mostly seasonal.

The apple pie includes the comprehensive probabilities of the many things that could happen to your home. It's a different proposition and those varied risks could occur in any of the 12 months of the year.

So, no, you probably shouldn't cancel your comprehensive insurance because your chances of an adverse event are higher. Sink hole, flooding, lightning strikes? All singular events and lower probability, therefore, optional.

But I don't want to cancel my peace of mind. Other than fire, sink hole and flooding what else do I need to worry about for insurance? Hurricanes and crime are so low it would probably never affect my home.. Therefore, cancel.. right?

[Aces4]

YES, my deduction as well. What seems to be the key (and if anyone has an accurate answer, it would be appreciated) is how many of Villages homes that suffered significant damage from a lightning strike was a because the strike hit a gas line or hit near it and then the gas line ignited shortly after causing most of the damage?

Very important detail. ^^^

Utilizing insurance is all about assessing probabilities. Many people are over-insured for all sorts of things and it costs them big over a lifetime.

This is a crazy discussion, most Villagers haven't suffered anything to require insurance coverage. Why bother then?:shocked:

[jrref]

I can post thousands of pictures of houses that have NOT been hit by lightning.

And getting this in early, while I believe lightning protection helps, there are too few protected homes around to make the claim that a protection system will guarantee your home will not be affected.

Lighting happens, protection systems help, but suggesting that you are at a high risk of your house burning down without one is an exaggeration.

Those were all from last two years alone where we had six home burn to the ground. They were in Linden, Sunset Pointe, Winifred, St. Charles, Rio-Grande.

[Aces4]

So if you don't have gas OR a garage, your risk is significantly lower than a house that has both.

Good to know. Glad I live in a double-wide.

And the good thing about a double-wide is if fire strikes, you can have the units wheeled off and new ones wheeled on and you're not waiting 2 years for demolition and a rebuild.

[CarlR33]

Do insurance companies offer a discount to homeowners with lightening rods installed?Or, since it’s such a great investment can you wave your home insurance for lightning rods, LOL Should I build a flood wall for the potential flood? This is why I have home insurance…..just saying.

[CarlR33]

One home in Calumet Grove and the other in Sabal Chase - and neither had lightning rods.Was there any news of that in the Sunny paper?

[HappyTraveler]

But I don't want to cancel my peace of mind. Other than fire, sink hole and flooding what else do I need to worry about for insurance? Hurricanes and crime are so low it would probably never affect my home.. Therefore, cancel.. right?

Yow, reading comprehension was lacking of my last comment. The bolded proves it. Try again.

Regarding Comment # 39 . Indeed, some portion (have no idea the number) of Villagers don't carry home insurance. My father never did carry insurance in his entire lifetime of home ownership.

[Aces4]

Yow, reading comprehension was lacking of my last comment. The bolded proves it. Try again.

Regarding Comment # 39 . Indeed, some portion (have no idea the number) of Villagers don't carry home insurance. My father never did carry insurance in his entire lifetime of home ownership.

I comprehended just fine. All insurance coverage is based on the fact that nothing probably will happen and that is why it is profitable. Sooo few incidences which you mentioned EVER happen in TVs so why worry about any of it!

[Bill14564]

The Villages Lightning Study Group has 17 documented cases of homes struck with a Lightning Protection System and there was no damage.


Very interesting that such a relatively small number of homes have been struck so many times. Seems like it might be statistically significant.

- Are homes equipped with LPS more likely to be struck? The common/desired answer is no.

- Are the homes equipped with LPS just terribly unlucky?

- Is the determination of a strike somehow flawed and that 17 is inaccurate?

- Are there more strikes on homes than we are aware of because many cause no damage but our homes are not instrumented to document them?

[sounding]

So if you don't have gas OR a garage, your risk is significantly lower than a house that has both.

Good to know. Glad I live in a double-wide.

Most lightning house fires were with gas in attic, but not all.

[jrref]

Posting the date+year and village of All the homes hit by lightning, would be a benefit.

It would also be very informative if you included how many roof tops existed in TV, with each lighting strike. TV has been in existence since the 70s, starting with Mobil homes, some of which were destroyed during tornado, that may have had lighting issues. Even better the number of those who chose to install rods in TV

If residents were aware of the % of home ratio to strike, and damage of either total loss or minimum damage. I am sure that data is available for you to share since this thread is about the need to buy lightning rods

Any time you have a issue where you are deciding to spend money to protect your home from lightning for example, you can look at the problem statistically and when you do your research you will find here in Central Florida, the statistical probability of your home being struck by lightning is one of the highest locations in the USA. So, what that mean is although your probability of your home being struck by lightning is low, not very low, here in Central Florida it's one of the highest in the country.

So, you have two options:
One, do nothing and take your chances and if you do get hit and there is significant damage to your home, or it burns to the ground, you deal with it with your insurance company. But be aware, and we have this documented from almost all cases here in the Villages, you will most likely not be able to live in you your home for about a year while you deal with your insurance company who won't want to pay and then find a deal with someone who is going to re-build your home. It will be a life changing experience not to mention all your personal belongings that you won't be able to replace.

Two, take one less cruise and spend the $2,800-$3,500, the typical cost for a system for a Designer home, smaller homes will be less, and have a Lightning Protection System installed and significantly reduce the risk of any significant damage being done to your home from a lightning strike.

The Villages Lightning Study Group is giving a presentation on 8/19 at Mulberry Grove Rec center at 6PM. We will be able to answer any of your questions with factual data, specifically about lightning strikes here in the Villages for the past 15 years.

Lightning Protection Systems work because when a storm is over your home and the cloud to ground charge potential is strong enough to make a connection to your home, lightning rods will provide a safe path to ground vs it blowing a hole in your roof and destroying everything in it's path seeking ground. It's all about your tolereance for risk, but once you have the information, then you will be better able to make a more informed decision about whether or not to get a lightning protection system.

[sounding]

Was there any news of that in the Sunny paper?

TVDS doesn't normally print lightning hits - because it deters new TV customers. To find out what the TVDS does not print you'll find at the Weather Club ... theweatherclubvillages DOT com

[jrref]

Most lightning house fires were with gas in attic, but not all.

What typically happens when you home is hit by lightning is it blows a hole in your roof, then ricochets around your attic like a bullet seeking ground. As it does this, it's burning and destroying everything in your attic. If it strikes your gas lines or manifold in your attic It will ignite the gas and that fueled fire will accelerate your home burning down. Because of the intense fire from the gas lines, it will appear the fire started there. The strike at Sunset Pointe last year, look at the picture below and notice the garage ceiling totall fell most likely because of the ignited gas lines in the attic right above.

[jrref]

If you want more information on Lightning Protection Systems and Surge Protection, see this link -> Nextdoor (https://nextdoor.com/g/m3h0uzuyn/)

[jrref]

So if you don't have gas OR a garage, your risk is significantly lower than a house that has both.

Good to know. Glad I live in a double-wide.

If you don't have gas all that means is if you home is struck by lightning it's less likely to burn to the ground from the subsequent gas fire. It gives the fire department more time to get to your home and prevent it from burning down.

Not having gas does not reduce the risk of your home being struck by lightning.

[jrref]

Our last home the previous owner proposal was $5,000. 2 years later lightning struck 4 houses down, traveling to 6 different houses, killed our irrigation box and a water bill of $800 for non stop 48 hour running.

Rods would not have helped since it wasn’t a direct strike.

If you have a very large home your LPS system will cost more but I've not heard about any quotes here in the Villages from A1 or Triangle Lightning Protection over $4,000 for a Premier home for example.

Also, lightning didn't travel to the six houses, what happened was, one house was hit or there was a strike near by which caused an Induced Power Surge that traveled to the six homes. Lightning rods will not protect you from these Induced Power Surges. Only adequate surge protection will prevent that damage. See more information here Nextdoor (https://nextdoor.com/g/m3h0uzuyn/)

[jrref]

Very interesting that such a relatively small number of homes have been struck so many times. Seems like it might be statistically significant.

- Are homes equipped with LPS more likely to be struck? The common/desired answer is no.

- Are the homes equipped with LPS just terribly unlucky?

- Is the determination of a strike somehow flawed and that 17 is inaccurate?

- Are there more strikes on homes than we are aware of because many cause no damage but our homes are not instrumented to document them?

Lightning is unpredictible. Everything i've been mentioning are from documented cases here in the Villages.

Unlike a home without a lightning protection system being hit where their is usually a large specticular fire, the problem documenting homes being struck by lightning with a lightning protection system is the homeowner actually knowing that it happened and then knowing to reach out to the Study Group. In the 17 documented cases the homeowner was aware becasue they actually saw and or heard the strike. In one case there was some minor damage to the lightning rod that was struck. Most of the time a strike will occur and the homeowner may not be home or even know about it.

[Bill14564]

Very interesting that such a relatively small number of homes have been struck so many times. Seems like it might be statistically significant.

- Are homes equipped with LPS more likely to be struck? The common/desired answer is no.

- Are the homes equipped with LPS just terribly unlucky?

- Is the determination of a strike somehow flawed and that 17 is inaccurate?

- Are there more strikes on homes than we are aware of because many cause no damage but our homes are not instrumented to document them?

Lightning is unpredictible. Everything i've been mentioning are from documented cases here in the Villages.

Unlike a home without a lightning protection system being hit where their is usually a large specticular fire, the problem documenting homes being struck by lightning with a lightning protection system is the homeowner actually knowing that it happened and then knowing to reach out to the Study Group. In the 17 documented cases the homeowner was aware becasue they actually saw and or heard the strike. In one case there was some minor damage to the lightning rod that was struck. Most of the time a strike will occur and the homeowner may not be home or even know about it.

So if you're ruling out that lightning might strike a home without significant damage and you are standing by the 17 documented strikes then are you saying those with LPS are terribly unlucky or are you saying the LPS results in more likelihood of a home being struck?

It's just statistics..... A relatively high number of strikes on a relatively small number of homes has to have some explanation.

[Aces4]

So if you're ruling out that lightning might strike a home without significant damage and you are standing by the 17 documented strikes then are you saying those with LPS are terribly unlucky or are you saying the LPS results in more likelihood of a home being struck?

It's just statistics..... A relatively high number of strikes on a relatively small number of homes has to have some explanation.

Just like insurance claims in The Villages. It's obvious you aren't interested or by the status of your home don't want LPS. No one is forcing anyone, this is advice for the proactive people who, year after year, don't have claims on their insurance policies but have policies nonetheless. They want the LPS protection at a one time cost and that's their choice which includes extra selling points for their home. Something for everyone in this world.

[jrref]

So if you're ruling out that lightning might strike a home without significant damage and you are standing by the 17 documented strikes then are you saying those with LPS are terribly unlucky or are you saying the LPS results in more likelihood of a home being struck?

It's just statistics..... A relatively high number of strikes on a relatively small number of homes has to have some explanation.

I'm saying here in the Villages we have 17 documented cases and yes lightning can strike the same location more than once. Lightning is just unpredictible. It depends on the storm, how intense it is, it's location to your home and other potentional points, the terraine, etc.. If you do the research you will find the actual statistics that demonstrate having a LPS significantly lowers the risk of you home having significant damage and or burning down to the ground from a strike but it doesn't guarantee your home will not be hit. All the LPS system will do is if your home is hit, is provide a safe path to ground vs damage and fire to your home.

No, having a LPS does not increase the chance of a home being struck.
Just the opposite. What people don’t understand is during a severe storm the storm clouds build up a charge and everything on the ground will build up a charge as well. If your house has enough charge and the cloud above has has enough of the opposite charge, lightning is going to complete the circuit and you will have a lightning strike. If you have lightning rods on your home and your house has the most charge in relation to the clouds above, the rods will be the point where the lightning is discharged and passed safely to ground. If you don’t have rods, the charge will knock a hole in your roof and ricochet in the attic like a bullet looking for ground starting fires all over the place. This is why homes get hit by lightgning even though the house next-door or across the street all lightning rods. It makes no difference.

[sounding]

So if you're ruling out that lightning might strike a home without significant damage and you are standing by the 17 documented strikes then are you saying those with LPS are terribly unlucky or are you saying the LPS results in more likelihood of a home being struck?

It's just statistics..... A relatively high number of strikes on a relatively small number of homes has to have some explanation.

1. There is 100% correlation with lightning hits causing fires - with homes with no LPS.

2. There is 100% correlation with lightning hits and no fires - with homes with LPS.

3. LPS does not attract lighting because there are numerous examples of surrounding trees untouched by lightning while the nearby shorter home was hit ... and examples of surrounding homes with LPS but the the home in-between with no LPS was hit.

4. Every building (except the radio station) at the Villages' Lake Sumter Town has LPS, because who ever designed that town was LPS educated.

[Bill14564]

I'm saying here in the Villages we have 17 documented cases and yes lightning can strike the same location more than once. Lightning is just unpredictible. It depends on the storm, how intense it is, it's location to your home and other potentional points, the terraine, etc.. If you do the research you will find the actual statistics that demonstrate having a LPS significantly lowers the risk of you home having significant damage and or burning down to the ground from a strike but it doesn't guarantee your home will not be hit. All the LPS system will do is if your home is hit, is provide a safe path to ground vs damage and fire to your home.

No, having a LPS does not increase the chance of a home being struck.
Just the opposite. What people don’t understand is during a severe storm the storm clouds build up a charge and everything on the ground will build up a charge as well. If your house has enough charge and the cloud above has has enough of the opposite charge, lightning is going to complete the circuit and you will have a lightning strike. If you have lightning rods on your home and your house has the most charge in relation to the clouds above, the rods will be the point where the lightning is discharged and passed safely to ground. If you don’t have rods, the charge will knock a hole in your roof and ricochet in the attic like a bullet looking for ground starting fires all over the place. This is why homes get hit by lightgning even though the house next-door or across the street all lightning rods. It makes no difference.

Nice explanation, glad you had a chance to repeat it again, but I was looking for an explanation for the statistics. Maybe you are saying LPS owners are unlucky and need all the protection they can get.

[sounding]

Nice explanation, glad you had a chance to repeat it again, but I was looking for an explanation for the statistics. Maybe you are saying LPS owners are unlucky and need all the protection they can get.

Luck increases with increasing protection.

[HappyTraveler]

If you don't have gas all that means is if you home is struck by lightning it's less likely to burn to the ground from the subsequent gas fire. It gives the fire department more time to get to your home and prevent it from burning down.

Not having gas does not reduce the risk of your home being struck by lightning.

The bolded is very much the point. As you articulated in a prior comment, the biggest damage from strikes comes from gas lines being ignited.

If an owner has no gas lines, one rationally assumes that the damage is likely to be much more minimal. Will the Lightening Study Group discuss those kinds of particulars at the meeting on 8/19?

[Bill14564]

Luck increases with increasing protection.

Those few houses have a greater number of strikes, I don’t need that kind of luck.

[Velvet]

I think the problem might be that residential LPS is expensive and the probability of being hit is low, so each person tries to figure out if it is worth it to them.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Isn’t furnace vent sticking up above roof line lightning attraction? And how about those plumbing vent pipes?

We don't have a furnace. Our plumbing pipes are underneath the house in the crawlspace. Our hot water heater is in a nook accessed through the exterior of the house, not the interior or in a garage. We have a metal roof, which might or might not reduce risk, depending on whose website you read.

[Aces4]

We don't have a furnace. Our plumbing pipes are underneath the house in the crawlspace. Our hot water heater is in a nook accessed through the exterior of the house, not the interior or in a garage. We have a metal roof, which might or might not reduce risk, depending on whose website you read.

Honestly, I don't think I would worry about that coverage if I were you but only you can make that determination.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

The Villages Lightning Study Group has 17 documented cases of homes struck with a Lightning Protection System and there was no damage.

You are correct in that the probability of getting struck by lightning is very low here in the Villages even though central Florida is the lightning capital of the USA, but if it does happen, it will be a life changing experience for you and your family.

For less than the cost of one criuse, you can have a system installed and lower the probability of you home burning down or getting damaged from a lightning strike to near zero since nothing man made is 100%.

17 documented cases in what period of time? Ever, since The Villages was first created? In the past year? Five years? Decade?

And how many documented cases during the same period of time, have there been lightning strikes on homes without LPS? Of those documented cases, how many have had minor damage, and how many have had significant damage requiring the homeowner to vacate until the home was repaired/replaced?

[jrref]

The bolded is very much the point. As you articulated in a prior comment, the biggest damage from strikes comes from gas lines being ignited.

If an owner has no gas lines, one rationally assumes that the damage is likely to be much more minimal. Will the Lightening Study Group discuss those kinds of particulars at the meeting on 8/19?

Yes we will and I will have a sample of a gas line that actually took a hit and you will be able to see the hole it made.

[jrref]

I think the problem might be that residential LPS is expensive and the probability of being hit is low, so each person tries to figure out if it is worth it to them.

Correct until a home near where they live is hit and there is a spectactular fire, then it becomes real and they are faced with making a decision. I can tell you as we get more strikes, more people decide to get a system and the two certified installers that work in the Villages are backed up for months.

[jrref]

17 documented cases in what period of time? Ever, since The Villages was first created? In the past year? Five years? Decade?

And how many documented cases during the same period of time, have there been lightning strikes on homes without LPS? Of those documented cases, how many have had minor damage, and how many have had significant damage requiring the homeowner to vacate until the home was repaired/replaced?

The Villages Lightning Study group has been documenting cases since 2004. Usually, we see one or two homes destroyed by lightning per year. But, in the past four years the number of homes destroyed by lightning has increased. Last year alone we had 7 homes destroyed and this year so far another 5 homes destroyed and several damaged. Some of these homes were in Ocala. Why this is happening is anyones guess but the rate of severe storms and lightning strikes and lightning related deaths has increased.

While this is a relatively small number in the big scheme of things, the point is since lightning is unpredictible you just don't know if or when you will be hit. So, as mentioned, you can do nothing and take your chances and if you are hit have that life changing experience or take one less cruise and get a system to greatly reduce your risk to the point where you won't have to worry about this risk.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Honestly, I don't think I would worry about that coverage if I were you but only you can make that determination.

I'm not worried about it at all, not even a tiny smidge. We won't be getting a LPS. Our home is grounded. Metal roof, metal frame, low risk of damage from a strike (potentially increased risk of a strike, but damage would be minimal).

[sounding]

I think the problem might be that residential LPS is expensive and the probability of being hit is low, so each person tries to figure out if it is worth it to them.

As a meteorologist, who's home was affected when a nearby tree was hit by lightning back up north, and since Florida is the lightning capital of the U.S. ... this first thing I did upon moving to TV was to have LPS installed. I now sleep soundly - when at home or away.

[Topspinmo]

We don't have a furnace. Our plumbing pipes are underneath the house in the crawlspace. Our hot water heater is in a nook accessed through the exterior of the house, not the interior or in a garage. We have a metal roof, which might or might not reduce risk, depending on whose website you read.


So got electric furnace?

[Topspinmo]

I see LPS all over villages. You would think some could post ball park cost when had it installed recently. What I found online about costs was $1500 to $2600 for average to small size house? Which reasonable for small house IMO. I’ve made request for estimate on. 2 bedroom CYV. I’ll post if and when I get some figure’s ?

[Bill14564]

Just like insurance claims in The Villages. It's obvious you aren't interested or by the status of your home don't want LPS. No one is forcing anyone, this is advice for the proactive people who, year after year, don't have claims on their insurance policies but have policies nonetheless. They want the LPS protection at a one time cost and that's their choice which includes extra selling points for their home. Something for everyone in this world.

What is obvious to you is not true at all. I am actively considering a system as soon as we have our roof replaced. The difference is, aI will make my decision based on facts and statistics and not because someone can recommend an installer.

Want to throw out as a fact that 17 homes with LPS have been hit by lightning with little damage? Okay, then explain to me why, with an observed ratio of 1:20 LPS to unprotected, there haven’t been over 300 homes burned to the ground in the same period. Either LPS homes are being hit disproportionately or non-LPS homes are being hit with no damage. Either way the statistics give me something to consider before giving up the next cruise (are they really that inexpensive?).

[mtdjed]

[QUOTE=Bill14564;2452322]Every Villages home that I have parked my car in front of has not been hit by lightning. Every Villages home that has burnt from lightning has never had my car parked in front of it. Coincidence??

The above is not relevant.

What would be relevant if the Sample size was large enough, is the relationship between strikes on homes with no LPS verse houses with LPS.

I do have LPS and have for 18 years. No strikes that I am aware of, but then again, if the LPS is effective, how would I know?

What I do know is that I had a lightning event in my yard. My Metal Flagpole which is less high than my Lightning Rods on the house was involved. My observations were a flash and instant thunder meaning close. Immediate loss of cable TV. Outside I noted side of house splattered with mud, several muddy holes in sod about 4 feet from house in a line. Also, a muddy jagged line from the previous line out to my flagpole. Round decorative cap on the top of flag pole blown off of pole and distorted. Also, a pole distortion, between two of the segments. Outside TV cable line was found to be destroyed and needed to be replaced. Surge in house damaged one cable box.

Why the Flagpole and not the lightning rods?? Also note that this was 2nd time cable line had to be replaced after a lightning storm. Makes me wonder whether the Cable line is my real LPS.

[Aces4]

What is obvious to you is not true at all. I am actively considering a system as soon as we have our roof replaced. The difference is, aI will make my decision based on facts and statistics and not because someone can recommend an installer.

Want to throw out as a fact that 17 homes with LPS have been hit by lightning with little damage? Okay, then explain to me why, with an observed ratio of 1:20 LPS to unprotected, there haven’t been over 300 homes burned to the ground in the same period. Either LPS homes are being hit disproportionately or non-LPS homes are being hit with no damage. Either way the statistics give me something to consider before giving up the next cruise (are they really that inexpensive?).

Yes, there are some very reasonable cruises and you can make your own decision as I said earlier in "you do you". When others elect this system, they deserve the same option without derision. The odds may be against a direct strike but the odds are there that it can happen too.

[Altavia]

[QUOTE=Bill14564;2452322]Every Villages home that I have parked my car in front of has not been hit by lightning. Every Villages home that has burnt from lightning has never had my car parked in front of it. Coincidence??

The above is not relevant.

What would be relevant if the Sample size was large enough, is the relationship between strikes on homes with no LPS verse houses with LPS.

I do have LPS and have for 18 years. No strikes that I am aware of, but then again, if the LPS is effective, how would I know?

What I do know is that I had a lightning event in my yard. My Metal Flagpole which is less high than my Lightning Rods on the house was involved. My observations were a flash and instant thunder meaning close. Immediate loss of cable TV. Outside I noted side of house splattered with mud, several muddy holes in sod about 4 feet from house in a line. Also, a muddy jagged line from the previous line out to my flagpole. Round decorative cap on the top of flag pole blown off of pole and distorted. Also, a pole distortion, between two of the segments. Outside TV cable line was found to be destroyed and needed to be replaced. Surge in house damaged one cable box.

Why the Flagpole and not the lightning rods?? Also note that this was 2nd time cable line had to be replaced after a lightning storm. Makes me wonder whether the Cable line is my real LPS.

Possibly because the flag pole is not grounded and flashed over to surface ground. The energy jumped from the flag pole to earth and/or your cable


Your LPS has multiple ground rods deep into the earth safely dissipating the charge.

So your experience is evidence the LPS protected the home. Similar to an umbrella protecting you from the rain.

[lildfromnyc]

I see LPS all over villages. You would think some could post ball park cost when had it installed recently. What I found online about costs was $1500 to $2600 for average to small size house? Which reasonable for small house IMO. I’ve made request for estimate on. 2 bedroom CYV. I’ll post if and when I get some figure’s ?

That would be great..... Thank you

[Captainpd]

Do insurance companies offer a discount to homeowners with lightening rods installed?

Is that part of your decision making process.. I need a discount before protecting my house..

[Indydealmaker]

We paid less than $2000 for ours on an Iris.

[BoatRatKat]

Years ago when we lived in NC we had a badly damaged roof from hail that needed replacement. Since the lightning was scary and frequent there we asked our insurance company if putting a LPS on the roof while getting the new roof would be beneficial. They told us that they do not recommend people add them to their roofs and that they've seen more issues with them than without. I'm not for or against them, just passing along the info given to us from an insurance company 20 yrs ago.

[RoboVil]

Per an AI app, the cost of installing a LPS in The Villages for a 1600 sq ft home was $2050, but some basic systems cost as low as $600. It estimated the cost of LPS for a 2000 sq ft home to be no more than $2500 and a low of $1200. What is typically included: Lightning rods, conductors and ground rods, bonding to gas lines, water pipes and electrical systems, surge protectors. Also, recommended is an UL inspection which is optional. Look for UL-certified installers or those approved by the Lightning Protection Institute. Bonding CSST (corrugated Stainless-Steel Tubing) gas lines is often overlooked but critical. Homes built after 2005 are more likely to have CSST and in newer homes it is very likely.

[Donegalkid]

I have a similar background.

Key factors influencing my decision to install lightning mitigation as a preventative likelihood/risk reduction include:

* Seven homes struck within a 3 mi radius of our home in the 4 years here.

* Fires tend to start in the attic with the homeowner unaware until a neighbor notified them.

* CSST Gas lines in attic acting as lightning rods:

- the CSST manufacturer recommends LPS in lightening prone areas if installed.

- Several strikes appear to have been at the garage corner where the iron gas line enters the attic.

- Nearby lighting strikes can punch pinholes in the CSST tubing resulting in delayed/undetected gas leaks, until something ignites them.

* The Villages installs LPS on critical buildings and infrastructure.

* LPS is required by code for schools, retirement homes and hospitals.

* There is discussion to add LPS to the building code -installation cost would be much lower during construction.

* It takes 2-3 years to rebuild a home here destroyed by lightening.

* For us, the cost was less than our $2K deductable.

I agree, well said with real facts. I would add: there are lightning protection systems (LPS) and then there are LPS installed according to the CODE. Big difference. We had a LPS that was not originally installed per the CODE, rendering it near useless. For example, the conducting cables were placed coming down through my gutter downspouts. CODE violation, a great way to set your house on fire. Another example: conducting rods/posts were not placed far enough away from the house and were not deep enough. CODE violation. SAND is not a good conductor and therefore grounding rods/posts need to be placed DEEPER into the ground for energy dispersement. Based on the above, when we had our roof replaced we had A1 Lightning reroute and improve our LPS so it will perform as intended and is accord with the code. A1 does this work for residential, industrial, commercial LPS in this FL area. Great guys. By the way, my neighbor across the street has had TWO lightning strikes on his home in 20 years. He has a LPS (not done in accord with the code) and received partial protection from the strikes. Not catastrophic damage. Rods are still not placed properly though. So, LPS owners — check your systems. Read the code and get professional advice. A1 seems to know what they are doing. Good luck, all in the “Lightning Capital of the U.S.”

[westernrider75]

Do insurance companies offer a discount to homeowners with lightening rods installed?

State Farm does not at this time.

[jrref]

[QUOTE=mtdjed;2452469]

Possibly because the flag pole is not grounded and flashed over to surface ground. The energy jumped from the flag pole to earth and/or your cable


Your LPS has multiple ground rods deep into the earth safely dissipating the charge.

So your experience is evidence the LPS protected the home. Similar to an umbrella protecting you from the rain.

I believe this is exactly what happened. The cable line is a common path for an induced power surge to enter your home. It happens often. There is a cable surge protector that you can get on Amazon which will help with this problem. You install it where the cable line enters your home. If you have fiber internet, no need to worry about this problem.

https://www.amazon.com/Proxicast-Lightning-Suppressor-Connectors-Replacement/dp/B0DFPLR3RZ/ref=rvi_d_sccl_21/145-6902001-7087523?pd_rd_w=udp0g&content-id=amzn1.sym.f5690a4d-f2bb-45d9-9d1b-736fee412437&pf_rd_p=f5690a4d-f2bb-45d9-9d1b-736fee412437&pf_rd_r=S6XNBB9AR8F1XBTYRSKB&pd_rd_wg=N2sqT&pd_rd_r=f661c747-4161-4c7d-93cd-d81b0b1dabe0&pd_rd_i=B0DFPLR3RZ&psc=1

[ChicagoNative]

Years ago when we lived in NC we had a badly damaged roof from hail that needed replacement. Since the lightning was scary and frequent there we asked our insurance company if putting a LPS on the roof while getting the new roof would be beneficial. They told us that they do not recommend people add them to their roofs and that they've seen more issues with them than without. I'm not for or against them, just passing along the info given to us from an insurance company 20 yrs ago.
Curious as to why your insurance company said this.

[fireman]

Do you mind sharing who you used to install your LPS

Thanks

I have a similar background.

Key factors influencing my decision to install lightning mitigation as a preventative likelihood/risk reduction include:

* Seven homes struck within a 3 mi radius of our home in the 4 years here.

* Fires tend to start in the attic with the homeowner unaware until a neighbor notified them.

* CSST Gas lines in attic acting as lightning rods:

- the CSST manufacturer recommends LPS in lightening prone areas if installed.

- Several strikes appear to have been at the garage corner where the iron gas line enters the attic.

- Nearby lighting strikes can punch pinholes in the CSST tubing resulting in delayed/undetected gas leaks, until something ignites them.

* The Villages installs LPS on critical buildings and infrastructure.

* LPS is required by code for schools, retirement homes and hospitals.

* There is discussion to add LPS to the building code -installation cost would be much lower during construction.

* It takes 2-3 years to rebuild a home here destroyed by lightening.

* For us, the cost was less than our $2K deductable.

[jrref]

What is obvious to you is not true at all. I am actively considering a system as soon as we have our roof replaced. The difference is, aI will make my decision based on facts and statistics and not because someone can recommend an installer.

Want to throw out as a fact that 17 homes with LPS have been hit by lightning with little damage? Okay, then explain to me why, with an observed ratio of 1:20 LPS to unprotected, there haven’t been over 300 homes burned to the ground in the same period. Either LPS homes are being hit disproportionately or non-LPS homes are being hit with no damage. Either way the statistics give me something to consider before giving up the next cruise (are they really that inexpensive?).

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.

[Southwest737]

We live in lightning capital USA. It is a no brainer to have lightning protection.

[Villager24]

Call me superficial, but I just don’t like the look of cables running all over the roof. Are there some lps that run the cables inside?

[jrref]

I'm not worried about it at all, not even a tiny smidge. We won't be getting a LPS. Our home is grounded. Metal roof, metal frame, low risk of damage from a strike (potentially increased risk of a strike, but damage would be minimal).

In your particular case, you are basically right in your assumptions but I would still consult with a lightning protection professional like A1 to see what's proper for your metal home. Typically, they put aluminum rods in a much less complex arrangement and a lot cheaper, so if lightning strikes it hits the rods and the charge is sent safely to ground instead of a random part of your metal structure. In your case without the rods, any part of your metal home could be the end point of a strike, and potentially damage the metal structure of your home since it's not designed to withstand that kind of event. Even though your home is grounded, there is no guarantee that every part of your metal home is making good electrical contact to send the charge safely to ground. If you look closely, most homes and businesses with metal roofs have aluminum rods that are grounded. A LPS system in your case may be cheaper than you think.

[ByebyeMichigan]

Please stop with the fear mongering……there’s 75000 homes here and a handful have been struck by lightning over the last 40 years. Act of God……I’ll take my chances without a lightning rod ……( let me guess, you sell lightning rods for a living ).

[Altavia]

Per an AI app, the cost of installing a LPS in The Villages for a 1600 sq ft home was $2050, but some basic systems cost as low as $600. It estimated the cost of LPS for a 2000 sq ft home to be no more than $2500 and a low of $1200. What is typically included: Lightning rods, conductors and ground rods, bonding to gas lines, water pipes and electrical systems, surge protectors. Also, recommended is an UL inspection which is optional. Look for UL-certified installers or those approved by the Lightning Protection Institute. Bonding CSST (corrugated Stainless-Steel Tubing) gas lines is often overlooked but critical. Homes built after 2005 are more likely to have CSST and in newer homes it is very likely.

This is about right, we paid $1,400 five years ago.

Installation is not rocket science for Villages homes. Attention to detail planning and optimizing the installation is key. Look for someone with the UL training and certifications and at least 5 yrs experience.

Suggest asking for references to look at 2-3 homes they have installed. Ask if the cables can be routed not visible from the street where possible.

Metal bird cages should be part of the protection package.

More info here:

Lightning Protection Overview - Lightning Protection Institute (https://lightning.org/lightning-protection-overview/#:~:text=Copper%2C%20copper%20alloys%20(including% 20brass,be%20embedded%20directly%20in%20concrete).

[Rocksnap]

Is that part of your decision making process.. I need a discount before protecting my house..
What it would tell is, what insurance companies THINK about LPS.
If they think it protects, lowers their liability, they would endorse LPS.
The flip side, they think it makes no difference, or attracts a strike, they may raise your insurance premium.

[airstreamingypsy]

So many people being negative about something that has proven to be effective. Lightning rods work. You may not want them, you maybe can't afford them, or are happy taking the risk. But, they do work.

I had lightning rods or my horse barn and house in SC. One day my barn rods took a direct hit.... my horses were inside. Lightning rods work.

[Bill14564]

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.

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.

[sounding]

Is that part of your decision making process.. I need a discount before protecting my house..

Protection is a personal choice.

[tralemaster]

If my home and roof are both 8 years old, and my insurance company requires me to replace the roof at 15 years (seven years from now), how would that affect a lightning protection system (LPS) if I have it installed now? When the new roof is installed, will the LPS need to be removed and then reinstalled?

[sounding]

Call me superficial, but I just don’t like the look of cables running all over the roof. Are there some lps that run the cables inside?

Use "copper" vs "aluminum" cabling. Copper ages and blends with time -- aluminum does not. Cables are always installed outside the house because the lightning bolt travels on the "outside" edges of the cable ... thus putting cables on the inside is counter-productive.

[asianthree]

If you have a very large home your LPS system will cost more but I've not heard about any quotes here in the Villages from A1 or Triangle Lightning Protection over $4,000 for a Premier home for example.

Also, lightning didn't travel to the six houses, what happened was, one house was hit or there was a strike near by which caused an Induced Power Surge that traveled to the six homes. Lightning rods will not protect you from these Induced Power Surges. Only adequate surge protection will prevent that damage. See more information here Nextdoor (https://nextdoor.com/g/m3h0uzuyn/)

$4,995 for rods, was the paperwork left by homeowner, as was $19,650 for landscaping and $9,850 for driveway.

No house was hit, according to FD and Seco, lightning hit the ground 39’ from any tree, pole, or structure. Traveling through ground to effected homes. The closest home to the strike lost all appliances TV, as did homes on both sides.

The next 2 homes lost some electronics.

We were the farthest last home and only lost irrigation box. That might be because interior was being painted and all appliances were unplugged.

2 homes had Seco surge installed. As did we, which didn’t stop the irrigation problem. Jacobs had to shut water off at the mail box.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

We don't have a furnace. Our plumbing pipes are underneath the house in the crawlspace. Our hot water heater is in a nook accessed through the exterior of the house, not the interior or in a garage. We have a metal roof, which might or might not reduce risk, depending on whose website you read.

So got electric furnace?

Asked and answered.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

In your particular case, you are basically right in your assumptions but I would still consult with a lightning protection professional like A1 to see what's proper for your metal home. Typically, they put aluminum rods in a much less complex arrangement and a lot cheaper, so if lightning strikes it hits the rods and the charge is sent safely to ground instead of a random part of your metal structure. In your case without the rods, any part of your metal home could be the end point of a strike, and potentially damage the metal structure of your home since it's not designed to withstand that kind of event. Even though your home is grounded, there is no guarantee that every part of your metal home is making good electrical contact to send the charge safely to ground. If you look closely, most homes and businesses with metal roofs have aluminum rods that are grounded. A LPS system in your case may be cheaper than you think.

Most homes and businesses are not manufactured homes set on cinderblocks and anchored to cement posts several feet deep into the ground, with metal roofs and metal frames.

[MicRoDrafting]

Lightning is unpredictable and most won't spend the money which is less than the cost of one cruise, to get a lightning protection system..

GRATEFUL for Ceramic Tile Roofing
as our home was Struck by Lightning and merely Shattered a handful of Tile at the Corner of the Peak Gable …

… UNFORTUNATELY
we did NOT have a Whole House Ground Fault Device inside the Circuit Panel, and lost all our TV’s, HiFi System, and other Electronic Devices …

APPEARS that
the Current of the Lightening Jumped to a Flood Light mounted on the Wall at the Peak and Traced the Wire across the entire house in the Attic Space Back to the Circuit Panel

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

So many people being negative about something that has proven to be effective. Lightning rods work. You may not want them, you maybe can't afford them, or are happy taking the risk. But, they do work.

I had lightning rods or my horse barn and house in SC. One day my barn rods took a direct hit.... my horses were inside. Lightning rods work.

Wearing hazmat suits works to keep toxins from the air away from your skin. It's not likely you'll ever have to worry about that, but it's still a possibility. Do you own a hazmat suit? No? Why not?

If I lived in a barn here in Central Florida, the lightning capital of the country, then you betcha I'd have a lightning rod installed. But the fact that they "work" just doesn't really matter, when you live in a metal-framed metal-roofed manufactured home on cinderblocks that's properly grounded and anchored. The odds that the lightning rod will prevent damage, is almost equal to the odds that the damage will be minimized just fine without it.

[pwalsh]

Air traffic control towers are equipped with LPS to protect sensitive electronics for critical air safety operations. They also benefit from instrumentation to count the number lightning strikes received by the LPS. A Federal Aviation Administration study showed that the Tampa control tower recorded 25,000 lightning strikes with no damage. The Orlando control tower experienced 20,000 lightning strikes with loss of one telephone line.

The above demonstrates that LPS do work if they are designed, installed, and maintained according to the national standard on lightning, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)-780, Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems. This standard was first issued by the NFPA in 1904 and has been updated thirty times since by a panel of lightning experts.

CAUTION: this is a buyer beware marketplace because there is no state or local certification for LPS installers and no building permits with follow up inspections. The industry does police itself when LPS firms become “listed” by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) AND their installers pass four closed book proctored exams to qualify as “Master Installers” by the lightning Protection Institute (LPI). Also beware that firms found in the Yellow Pages or on Internet may not meet the above UL and LPI criteria.

In summary, LPS provide a reliable and time-tested method to protect homes from the destructive forces of lightning, ensuring safety and peace of mind for homeowners living here in the Lightning Capital of the United States.

I spent 40 tears in the Air Traffic field, just moved into Shady Brook .. to me its worth the piece of mind.

[BostonRich]

I live in Calumet Grove. We really haven't had much lighting lately. What is the address of the home?

[thelegges]

I have read all the previous posts. So far I have acquired the knowledge that:

Every summer we get thread started about need of lighting protection. With pictures of house hit by lightning. This year it’s a little later than normal.
Should this be a TOTV sponsorship, advertising for a product that clearly two posters are pushing a product. That may or may not be closely tied to businesses that supply this product. Either by referral or just posting to boost business. One post admits that “No quote has been over $4,000 in TV”. Are the quote on a public website, or internal knowledge

Cost is equivalent to taking a cruise. If one doesn’t cruise, because it’s not a budget item does that means it’s only affordable to those that cruise.

If one doesn’t cruise, do you just replace cost with buying less dining, groceries, fuel!

I get informed posts, but this thread seems to be a little more than….

“Sadly this home was damaged by Lightning last night” keep them in your thoughts.

I get post is a need to buy this product or this picture could be your house.

[sounding]

I live in Calumet Grove. We really haven't had much lighting lately. What is the address of the home?

17067 Locustwood. Also, "we" is relative. So far this year southern Villages is getting many more storms and lightning and house fires. More at the Weather Club.

[LianneMigiano]

The Villages Lightning Study Group is looking for volunteers to do just that. The Villages Weather Club (https://www.theweatherclubvillages.com/)
That's a VERY interesting endeavor BUT - if they were actually advantageous, don't you think the lightning protection companies would have studied and have statistics to back up their claims already?

[Heytubes]

What if tall trees surround your house? They attract lightning too.

[sounding]

That's a VERY interesting endeavor BUT - if they were actually advantageous, don't you think the lightning protection companies would have studied and have statistics to back up their claims already?

Exactly right - which is why the Lightning Talk is the most requested talk of 30 talks presented by the Weather Club. The "villages lighting group" has all that fascinating data - and more importantly - actual data from Villages lightning strikes. Don't be a statistic - be informed.

[sounding]

What if tall trees surround your house? They attract lightning too.

There are many cases in the Villages where tall trees were next to a home - yet the homes were hit and burnt. Details and examples are presented at the Villages Weather Club. Be informed - be safe.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

very low probability, true
non zero probability, true
higher probability than many other US locations, very true

LPS, only works if you house is hit by lightening, so its a low probability event.

however, your house is a large investment and is for daily use.
Loss of daily use for an extended period of time can get expensive or very inconvenient.

The displacement for a year or more is the inconvenience avoided with the purchase of the LPS.

Yes, there are no guarantees in life, just risk reduction. . .

We will be getting an LPS just to avoid the hassle and inconvenience of a random event.
Automobile accidents are also random events, and just because it hasn't happened to you, or has happened, doesn't change the probability of a future occurrence. . unless you have been hit by lightening before . . then there is no need for an LPS system. .

[BostonRich]

What if tall trees surround your house? They attract lightning too.

I was thinking the same thing. I see that the house that was struck had no tall trees around it and was pretty exposed.

[sounding]

I was thinking the same thing. I see that the house that was struck had no tall trees around it and was pretty exposed.

That's another bad assumption. Attend Weather Club meetings to find out what the local paper rarely prints.

[Heytubes]

Back when I built pool enclosures (bird cages), by code they had to be grounded. Check yours.

[jrref]

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.

Thanks for your reply. I think you summed things up just fine.

FYI, no one here installs lightening protection systems or surge protection so no one is "pushing a sale". There are only two companies that do work here in the Villages who are Lightning Protection Institute certified and also UL Certified. They are:

Triangle Lightning Protection: 352-483-7020
A1 Lighning Protection: (352) 465-1773

I can tell you, both these companies are booked out several months and as we get more into storm season you will be lucky if you can get them to your home before the end of the year. Last year A1 was booked out to May.

There are other lightning protection companies working here in the Villages that use UL parts and may be UL certified but best to go to the LPI web page and choose from there. Find a Contractor - Lightning Protection Institute (https://lightning.org/about/find-a-contractor/)

The Villages Lightning Study Group is a non-profit group that gives presentations to clear up myths and give factual information on the subject so Villagers can make an informed decision on this topic.

The reason why myself and others get engaged on this particular topic is to dispute the false information many believe and state with "Authority" as if they are experts, misleading Villagers who are looking for information.

[Altavia]

What if tall trees surround your house? They attract lightning too.

If lightening strikes a tall tree, which is a poor conductor, it can flash over to the home which has wiring providing a more conductive path to ground.

[Cmbcab]

One home in Calumet Grove and the other in Sabal Chase - and neither had lightning rods. Odds of your house getting struck by lightning would probably be about same as hitting the lottery I would think, but it happens.

[jrref]

Odds of your house getting struck by lightning would probably be about same as hitting the lottery I would think, but it happens.

Actually, here in Central Florida your chances are much higher getting struck by lightning so check your facts but regardless if you don't win the lottery, no problem, no loss, you continue to live your life. If your home gets hit by lightning and it burns to the ground, you will loose all your personal belongings, you will have to live somewhere else for a year or more, you will have a very stressful life changing event happen. This is what you need to keep in mind.

For those who commented who maybe can't afford a LPS system, one thing to keep in mind is if we have a storm and you hear a loud bang, check your home to see if it was struck and on fire. If so, your only chance of it not burning down is to get the fire department there as quickly as possible. Many times the home was hit and on fire and the homeowner didn't know until they saw the smoke or a neighbor called. Its then too late to save the home.

[HappyTraveler]

That's another bad assumption. Attend Weather Club meetings to find out what the local paper rarely prints.
So, again....although many on this thread don't seem to want to acknowledge this head-on.... that photo in Comment #112 states clearly that the home has attic gas service.

I would hope it doesn't have to be explained that having gas service doesn't create a higher probability of a strike but, it creates a vastly higher probability of serious damage if it's hit or affected by a strike.

It's a hugely important factor. For example, those of you with the Weather Club might chime in if you have info about this: How many strikes on TV houses without a gas line resulted in minimal damage? How many strikes on those kinds of homes had significant damage? Thanks...

[Sparky1959]

One home in Calumet Grove and the other in Sabal Chase - and neither had lightning rods.

And neither does the fire department.

[LookingAtTV]

jrref, thank you for all your posts on LPS and the way you handled questions/comments from others. Definitely a valuable service provided in regard to homeowners learning about LPS or considering whether or not to invest in such a protection device.

[Lightning]

Many respondents on this tread have pointed out the obvious that the chance of your home being struck by lightning is low. That is true but Emeritus Distinguished Professor Dr. Martin Uman, who heads up lightning research at the University of Florida has been studying lightning for over four decades. In his book, The Art & Science of Lightning Protection, he puts in these terms.
“A typical house in Florida will be struck by lightning about once every 50 years. Said another way, one out of 50 houses in Florida will be struck each year. Often there is little damage ; sometime there is total destruction.”
It is difficult to predict uncertain events with insufficient information. Most people would rather deal in absolutes rather than probabilities.
This would suggest that if you are living in the Lightning Capital of the USA you may wish to do your own due diligence to determine your tolerance for risk. A good place to start would be to read the above book that can be found at the Sumter County Library and to research the National Fire Protection Association’s website for NFPA-780, Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems, 2023 edition. See page 70, Annex B, Principles of Lightning Protection.
Another alternative is to invite the Study Group on Lightning for a non-commercial free presentation called Lightning Tips for Villagers as discussed elsewhere on this thread.

[sounding]

And neither does the fire department.

People don't live in fire departments - but they live homes - until they burn.

[HappyTraveler]

People don't live in fire departments - but they live homes - until they burn.
Uhmm, you completely missed his point. He meant the fire houses don't have LPS - which is an interesting point and indicator, if true.

As did the commenter who thought someone might not install an LPS unless they got an insurance premium discount. No, the person asked about that because it is also a worthwhile indicator of how home insurers view both the risk of strikes and/or the probability of an LPS making an important difference in the whole scenario.

Until someone can produce data evidencing otherwise, I'm going with the reality that it's the gas lines that cause the majority of the damage in a strike on a house. Not the strike itself.

[Altavia]

Uhmm, you completely missed his point. He meant the fire houses don't have LPS - which is an interesting point and indicator, if true.


...



Villages fire stations not in metal buildings have LPS.

As do other critical Villages infrastructure such as pump stations, storm water control and many commercial buildings in the squares.

Knowing the Villages does not spend a nickle unwisely was a key factor in my install a LPS investment decision.

[Bill14564]

People don't live in fire departments - but they live homes - until they burn.

I'll see your one burned home and raise you 100+ that are not.

[Bill14564]

...
“A typical house in Florida will be struck by lightning about once every 50 years. Said another way, one out of 50 houses in Florida will be struck each year.

Statistics.....

With about 6,000,000 homes in Florida, one out of 50 means about 120,000 homes are struck by lightning each year. That's a large number but I'll have to take the word of the man who has been working in the field for four decades.

Often there is little damage ; sometime there is total destruction.”
...

According to the Insurance Information Institute (https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-lightning), which claims association with Lightning Protection Institute, there were 4,780 insurance claims for lightning damage in Florida in 2024 which was down from about 6,000 claims in a previous year. I don't know nearly enough about this institute but *IF* that information is correct then it means:
- Over 114,000 lighting strikes did not cause significant damage
- Only 1 strike out of 20 caused enough damage to file a claim.
- There could have been enough lightning strikes that caused little or no damage to explain the high number of documented LPS strikes

OR, the 1:50 ratio is incorrect

OR, the Insurance Information Institute is understating its numbers

It's been very difficult to find statistics on the number of homes hit by lightning in Florida. In several places I've seen the statistic that says there were 60,000 insurance claims across the country and from that, the 4,780 claims in Florida seems reasonable. I'd like to be able to confirm the 4.780 (or 6,000) number and if I do, I'll add the link to this post.

[HappyTraveler]

Statistics.....

With about 6,000,000 homes in Florida, one out of 50 means about 120,000 homes are struck by lightning each year. That's a large number but I'll have to take the word of the man who has been working in the field for four decades.....

Thanks for the info, Bill. Very useful and matters much more than excessive promotion based on cherry-picked info or fear-induced decisions.

This is random but, as a researcher, I think you'll appreciate it. A few years ago I was thinking about my grandmother who died in the 1980s by choking to death on a piece of food. It was bugging me b/c it's such an atypical way to die. So, I decide to do some online research and can you believe that I found statistics for how many people died in America, by age group, in the year that she died - 1985. Amazing! Great info is there to be found.

[jrref]

I'll see your one burned home and raise you 100+ that are not.

But that could be your house right? You just will never know who's next and that's the problem.

[jrref]

Uhmm, you completely missed his point. He meant the fire houses don't have LPS - which is an interesting point and indicator, if true.

As did the commenter who thought someone might not install an LPS unless they got an insurance premium discount. No, the person asked about that because it is also a worthwhile indicator of how home insurers view both the risk of strikes and/or the probability of an LPS making an important difference in the whole scenario.

Until someone can produce data evidencing otherwise, I'm going with the reality that it's the gas lines that cause the majority of the damage in a strike on a house. Not the strike itself.

The evidence is homes without gas, only electric, still burn to the ground from a lightning strike. Homes with gas burn down faster because in almost every case, the gas line ignites and now your have a fire that's fueled.

Come to the presentation and I'll show you what actually happens to the gas pipe and you will see for yourself.

[jrref]

jrref, thank you for all your posts on LPS and the way you handled questions/comments from others. Definitely a valuable service provided in regard to homeowners learning about LPS or considering whether or not to invest in such a protection device.

You are welcome. The focus is not to scare people but to make them aware. Unfortunately, lightning is a scary topic because of the devistation it can cause and the only way for people to think about the risk is to show how "real" it is at least here in Central Florida. Once you understand the risk then at least you can make an informed decision to get a system or take your chances. There is no right or wrong everyone has a different tolerance for risk.

I'll tell you a story that happened last year. There was a strike here in the Villages and although it didn't burn down the house, the resulting fire caused enough damage that the homeowners had to live somewhere else for a year until the house was gutted and rebuilt. I remember talking to the owner a day later and all he could say while staring up at the sky was "how could this happen to me?". He couldn't believe his house was singled-out and struck by lightning. This homeowner was very successful in life and he could have easily afforded a LPS sytem which most likely would have saved his home and that life changing event he and his wife had to endure. But a lightning protection system wasn't ever talked about between him and his wife from what I understand. It was never on the radar. We are living in paradise here in the Villages right? Nothing bad can really happen. We are busy playing Golf and Pickleball, helping others and having fun. If they were aware of lightning and had thought about, given their situation, I'm pretty sure they would have had a system installed. After the home was rebuilt, they now have an LPS system installed. After their strike, many people on that same street had lightning protection systems installed.

Here is a picture if their family room and bedroom from the fire. No gas in this house BTW. I saw the home a couple of months later and they had to strip everything down to the cement block and rebuild. Some of the roof structure had to be rebuilt as well.

[Catfishjeff]

Like I said, I'd cancel my home insurance if I subscribed to that thinking.. I most likely will never need it.

We had to rebuild our home in California after the 1994 Northridge earthquake so having full insurance coverage helps us to sleep at night. I suspect there are lightening rods in our future.

[MandoMan]

For some factual information on Lightning and Surge Protection see this link Nextdoor (https://nextdoor.com/g/m3h0uzuyn/)

There was an article in the other online news source here this morning, seemingly using PR from the lightning rod association, that said there had been ten lightning strikes in The Villages in the past twelve months, but it was actually over this summer and last summer, so really two years, not one year. That makes the problem seem twice as bad. I think the article said there have been four strikes here this year, which would mean six last year.

One thing the article stressed is that lightning rod installers are not licensed, so there are a LOT of scam artists out there. You would do well to use Angie’s List to get a reference to a company that has done a lot of them with high ratings.

A copper or copper-clad ground rod for a lightning system is supposed to be driven into the soil at least eight feet deep. In sandy soil, it usually needs to be deeper, or there need to be more rods. I saw one ground rod here a couple years ago that seemed to be about two feet long. Hey! With 60,000 or so houses here, your chance of getting hit is tiny, so if the rod is too short, chances are you’ll never know, and if you are struck by lightning, you may have a hard time finding your installer, right?

[jrref]

There was an article in the other online news source here this morning, seemingly using PR from the lightning rod association, that said there had been ten lightning strikes in The Villages in the past twelve months, but it was actually over this summer and last summer, so really two years, not one year. That makes the problem seem twice as bad. I think the article said there have been four strikes here this year, which would mean six last year.

One thing the article stressed is that lightning rod installers are not licensed, so there are a LOT of scam artists out there. You would do well to use Angie’s List to get a reference to a company that has done a lot of them with high ratings.

A copper or copper-clad ground rod for a lightning system is supposed to be driven into the soil at least eight feet deep. In sandy soil, it usually needs to be deeper, or there need to be more rods. I saw one ground rod here a couple years ago that seemed to be about two feet long. Hey! With 60,000 or so houses here, your chance of getting hit is tiny, so if the rod is too short, chances are you’ll never know, and if you are struck by lightning, you may have a hard time finding your installer, right?

Typically, grounding rods for a residential lightning protection system are three to four 10ft copper clad rods driven into the ground around your home. Some companies use 20ft ground rods. Although 10ft rods will work fine for homes here in the Villages, the deeper the better for the long term but the 20ft ground rod system will be about $800 more. In either case, at the conclusion of the installation a LPI and or UL Certified installer will take ground readings of your system and give you a copy. Grounding is very important becasue if you don't have a good ground, your system will not work properly. For an additional cost you can have UL come out and inspect your installation and give you a certificate that's good for I believe 5 years if they find it installed correctly.

There are only two companies that do work here in the Villages who are Lightning Protection Institute certified and also UL Certified. They are:

Triangle Lightning Protection: 352-483-7020
A1 Lighning Protection: (352) 465-1773

There are other lightning protection companies working here in the Villages that use UL parts and may be UL certified but best to go to the LPI web page and choose from there. Find a Contractor - Lightning Protection Institute (https://lightning.org/about/find-a-contractor/)

The article in the Villages News today was written by Len Hathaway, the head of the Villages Lightning Study Group. The Villages Lightning Study Group is a non-profit group here in the Villages that gives presentations to clear up myths and give factual information on the subject so Villagers can make an informed decision on this topic.

For more information on lightning and power surge protection see this link -> Nextdoor (https://nextdoor.com/g/m3h0uzuyn/)

[midiwiz]

One home in Calumet Grove and the other in Sabal Chase - and neither had lightning rods.

I've never seen an answer on this. I see the lightning rod groupies and the non (which I definitely am) yet I have not seen anyone WITH a rod system that HAS been hit by lightening on that system.

Those are the people I want to hear from. Early in my IT days I worked for an Electrical engineering firm, based on the basics that I learned from those guys these little rods and little cables aren't enough to handle a normal bolt of lightening. If you are one with a rod system and never has been hit, trust me it's NOT because of the rod system, it doesn't work like that.

So where are the ones that have been hit and have the system?

[thelegges]

But that could be your house right? You just will never know who's next and that's the problem.

I look at this statement as try to send someone screaming into the night. it COULD be MY House. This would be my reason to not used recommend business in this thread.

Better observation

While lighting strikes are rare, sometimes a little extra protection could help you sleep as Lightning Storms approach.

I don’t do fear factor, one excepts whatever is put in front of you.

If you live for fear of what May come, one may never leave their bedroom.

While we are considering rods, even though our insurance company doesn’t give discounts. I will explore through BBB and recommendations from a few insurance adjusters, I am close to

I get passion about something, your thread would definitely scare my in-laws into adding this protection.

[snbrafford]

Do insurance companies offer a discount to homeowners with lightening rods installed?

I’ve had two homes in TV with rods with two different insurance companies and neither offer a discount for rods. Seems ridiculous to me as they are at least as valuable as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

I have sat right underneath a lightening rod when it was hit, corporate office Boca Raton, top floor.

You won't mistake the sound, if you are in the house, or next door.

yes, it is very random. .

first business trip to Ft Lauderdale, staying in a hotel at night, watching the news
a woman was hit/killed by lightening pushing her shopping cart out to her car at Sawgrass Mills.

very, very very low probability, totally random events are something the human brain can't really deal with very well, as one can see with all the postings. . . and thinking that it can't happen to me or you for some reason is one of the signs. .

across the street a giant oak can also hit our house and damage it to be uninhabitable. . its a risk, but also a risk I am willing to take at the moment.

good luck to what ever your decision is. .

[Lightning]

Here is the problem with using data from the Insurance Information Institute they do not disclose how many of the 25 firms writing homeowners policies in Florida that they represent. Unlikely they represent mutual companies like State Farm and Citizens.


Another problem is how many claims are not reported that are under the deductible? If you only experience indirect lightning damage to electronics of a garage door opener or irrigation controller you are talking about $100 each not including the hassle of making the replacement. In a recent case a homeowner had an indirect strike taking out three TVs, washing machine, refrigerator, and coffee maker. This homeowner has a $5,000 deducible and said he would not file a claim because of the fear of a rate hike or worse. How many cases like these are repeated across the state?

If you download the free app My Lightning Tracker you can see where lightning is striking all around you. Fortunately, in most cases the strike is week and causes no damage. The stronger strikes can cause electronic damage and a few large ones can be catastrophic to a homeowner. It is all about your tolerance for risk that only you can decide.

[jrref]

I look at this statement as try to send someone screaming into the night. it COULD be MY House. This would be my reason to not used recommend business in this thread.

Better observation

While lighting strikes are rare, sometimes a little extra protection could help you sleep as Lightning Storms approach.

I don’t do fear factor, one excepts whatever is put in front of you.

If you live for fear of what May come, one may never leave their bedroom.

While we are considering rods, even though our insurance company doesn’t give discounts. I will explore through BBB and recommendations from a few insurance adjusters, I am close to

I get passion about something, your thread would definitely scare my in-laws into adding this protection.

The focus of this thread is not to scare people but to inform and provide factual information based on science as we know it today. There is so much misinformation out there that many never think about this real risk. Unfortunately, scary pictures of Villager's homes burnt to the ground need to be shown so Villagers can see that these events do happen here in the Villages. No one is saying to go run out and get a LPS system. We are trying to bring awareness so Villagers can make their own informed decisions based on their tolerance for risk.

You don't need to take any recommendations or information from this thread. Do your own research.

See these links and you will be able to get any additional information.
Home - Lightning Protection Institute (https://lightning.org/)
Find a Contractor - Lightning Protection Institute (https://lightning.org/about/find-a-contractor/)
lightning information facts - Search Videos (https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=lightning+information+facts&mid=3C2C7E24361114F86DC53C2C7E24361114F86DC5&FORM=VIRE)

[Bill14564]

Here is the problem with using data from the Insurance Information Institute they do not disclose how many of the 25 firms writing homeowners policies in Florida that they represent. Unlikely they represent mutual companies like State Farm and Citizens.


Another problem is how many claims are not reported that are under the deductible? If you only experience indirect lightning damage to electronics of a garage door opener or irrigation controller you are talking about $100 each not including the hassle of making the replacement. In a recent case a homeowner had an indirect strike taking out three TVs, washing machine, refrigerator, and coffee maker. This homeowner has a $5,000 deducible and said he would not file a claim because of the fear of a rate hike or worse. How many cases like these are repeated across the state?

If you download the free app My Lightning Tracker you can see where lightning is striking all around you. Fortunately, in most cases the strike is week and causes no damage. The stronger strikes can cause electronic damage and a few large ones can be catastrophic to a homeowner. It is all about your tolerance for risk that only you can decide.

That's not "another problem," that is the point. Some seem to want to frighten people by stating a one in 50 chance of being struck, 17 LPS-protected homes have been struck, and 10 homes have been destroyed by lightning in the last 12 months. You do you but for the cost of one cruise you won't be living on the street for a year while you argue with the insurance company to get your home rebuilt!

HOWEVER, the one in 50 number includes the strikes that result in those $500 damages that are under the deductible. There is by no means a guarantee that your house will be struck by lightning. If it is struck by lightning, it is by no means certain that it will be destroyed in a fire and appear on the front page of the local paper.

To me it is not a problem that many claims are not reported, it is my point:
- The vast majority of the lightning strikes shown in the app do not hit a building
- The majority of the strikes that it a building cause little or no damage to the structure
And to the points made in both this and other threads:
- An LPS will not protect electronic equipment from a nearby strike that causes a surge

An LPS will most likely protect a home against the strike that causes the catastrophic damage. Many (most?) will live their entire lives, even here in Florida, without experiencing such a strike. There is a good argument to be made for an LPS that does not require pushing fear.

[Aces4]

That's not "another problem," that is the point. Some seem to want to frighten people by stating a one in 50 chance of being struck, 17 LPS-protected homes have been struck, and 10 homes have been destroyed by lightning in the last 12 months. You do you but for the cost of one cruise you won't be living on the street for a year while you argue with the insurance company to get your home rebuilt!

HOWEVER, the one in 50 number includes the strikes that result in those $500 damages that are under the deductible. There is by no means a guarantee that your house will be struck by lightning. If it is struck by lightning, it is by no means certain that it will be destroyed in a fire and appear on the front page of the local paper.

To me it is not a problem that many claims are not reported, it is my point:
- The vast majority of the lightning strikes shown in the app do not hit a building
- The majority of the strikes that it a building cause little or no damage to the structure
And to the points made in both this and other threads:
- An LPS will not protect electronic equipment from a nearby strike that causes a surge

An LPS will most likely protect a home against the strike that causes the catastrophic damage. Many (most?) will live their entire lives, even here in Florida, without experiencing such a strike. There is a good argument to be made for an LPS that does not require pushing fear.

I've seen reality posted here and the advantages of LPS including resting a little easier when there is a miserable lightning storm overhead and stories of actual incidences. I haven't seen the fear pushing but I have seen, which seems strange to me, people who aren't interested in a LPS bashing the thought of having one installed. Huh!

[Bill14564]

The focus of this thread is not to scare people but to inform and provide factual information based on science as we know it today. There is so much misinformation out there that many never think about this real risk. Unfortunately, scary pictures of Villager's homes burnt to the ground need to be shown so Villagers can see that these events do happen here in the Villages. No one is saying to go run out and get a LPS system. We are trying to bring awareness so Villagers can make their own informed decisions based on their tolerance for risk.

You don't need to take any recommendations or information from this thread. Do your own research.

See these links and you will be able to get any additional information.
Home - Lightning Protection Institute (https://lightning.org/)
Find a Contractor - Lightning Protection Institute (https://lightning.org/about/find-a-contractor/)
lightning information facts - Search Videos (https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=lightning+information+facts&mid=3C2C7E24361114F86DC53C2C7E24361114F86DC5&FORM=VIRE)

Perhaps the problem is the delivery:
- The focus is not to scare people but unfortunately scary pictures need to be shown
- No one is saying run out and buy an LPS but here are the two providers and for the cost of the next cruise.....

Maybe it is not your intention to use scare tactics and to pressure people into purchasing an LPS but for me and at least one other, that is the way your delivery comes across.

I'll try to work harder to give the benefit of the doubt.

[jrref]

Perhaps the problem is the delivery:
- The focus is not to scare people but unfortunately scary pictures need to be shown
- No one is saying run out and buy an LPS but here are the two providers and for the cost of the next cruise.....

Maybe it is not your intention to use scare tactics and to pressure people into purchasing an LPS but for me and at least one other, that is the way your delivery comes across.

I'll try to work harder to give the benefit of the doubt.

Thanks for the feedback. I tend to respond with the facts as best I know them which can be very direct. There is just no way to "sugar coat" this topic especially when you interview actual homeowners here in the Villagers who have been struck and lost everything. When you see these people, talk to them, hear their experience, it's a very heartbreaking experience expecially since it could have probably been avoided at a relatively low cost compared to the value of their homes and their personal belongings. Nothing man made is 100% but what we do have high confidence in these systems preventing the devastating fire that occurs in many of these events. In many cases, Villagers were just not aware and many have said if they were aware of this risk they may have installed a system.

I reached out to one of the Villagers who had a LPS system and was hit several years ago. He has a very interesting story to tell. Hopefully he will post it here soon so everyone can get a perspective from his point of view.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

There is a good argument to be made for an LPS that does not require pushing fear.

don't disagree, which was my very first post on the topic, just not this post.

However, insurance is all about an alternative reimbursement in case of loss, and fear of loss is the emotional reaction to the topic of loss of something valuable. .

in business, not so much, but disentangling the two is sometimes difficult. Attempting to use probabilities doesn't work very well either, so . . .

for me, its more about the current economic and repair conditions of getting hit and then spending 1-2 years in paperwork, rental, contractor, ARC hell prevention than actually about the damage to the house.

[Altavia]

don't disagree, which was my very first post on the topic, just not this post.

However, insurance is all about an alternative reimbursement in case of loss, and fear of loss is the emotional reaction to the topic of loss of something valuable. .

in business, not so much, but disentangling the two is sometimes difficult. Attempting to use probabilities doesn't work very well either, so . . .

for me, its more about the current economic and repair conditions of getting hit and then spending 1-2 years in paperwork, rental, contractor, ARC hell prevention than actually about the damage to the house.

Same here, prefer to minimize the risk at this stage of retirement.

We are in lightening alley and observed from the lightening apps numbers of strikes during many storms that seem much higher than reported?

[jrref]

My Lightning Tracker is a great app to show what actually happens when we have these wicked storms this time of year. I was very surprised at the number of cloud to ground strikes.

They have an app for the apple, android and PC. Just go to your app store, search for it and download the free version.

[jrref]

There is a Villager from Hadley who's house was struck by lightning several years ago. He's one of the 17 that was struck here in the Villages that had a Lightning Protection System installed. He's not on Talk of the Villages so he sent me the following to post on this thread so everyone can read about his experience.
>>>>>
At approximately 6:30 PM on June 10, 2014, our house sustained a direct hit by lightning. The thunderstorm had passed, the skies were clearing, we had left for a meeting when the strike occurred.

While at the meeting, a neighbor three houses down the street called me and said his house was struck by lightening and asked for a reference for an electrician, as several of his circuit breakers had tripped wouldn’t reset.

We finished our meeting and headed home. When we turned onto our street, we noticed many of the neighbors standing in their front yards. When we pulled into our driveway, the garage door didn’t work. Uh oh.

Turns out it wasn’t our neighbors house that was hit… it was ours. And the strike blew out circuit breakers up and down our side of the street.

When we entered our home and investigated, we discovered our telephone point of interface had been blown off the outside wall (damaging the neighbor’s vinyl siding), so the telephones were dead, and many lights were out.

On further investigation we discovered our SECO whole house surge protector was totally destroyed, the Eaton whole-house surge protector was tripped, and most of the circuit breakers were tripped. Several of the circuit breakers couldn’t be reset. I checked in the attic, and there was no evidence of fire or structural damage.

SECO arrive that evening and replaced the SECO whole house surge protector and our electrician replaced the bad circuit breakers and checked the house wiring. We also three satellite receivers and a modem destroyed, all of which were connected to the unprotected telephone lines, a washing machine circuit card, and the garage door button.

The following day the lightening protection system technician came and inspected our lightening protection system. The system was unharmed, except for the top air terminal which had 1/4 to 1/2 inch burned off the top. The technician replaced that air terminal, which I subsequently gave to Len Hathaway.

Hope this helps…
Dana
<<<<<<

We talk about and show Dana's experience and show the damaged lightning rod at our presentations.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Thanks for the feedback. I tend to respond with the facts as best I know them which can be very direct. There is just no way to "sugar coat" this topic especially when you interview actual homeowners here in the Villagers who have been struck and lost everything. When you see these people, talk to them, hear their experience, it's a very heartbreaking experience expecially since it could have probably been avoided at a relatively low cost compared to the value of their homes and their personal belongings. Nothing man made is 100% but what we do have high confidence in these systems preventing the devastating fire that occurs in many of these events. In many cases, Villagers were just not aware and many have said if they were aware of this risk they may have installed a system.

I reached out to one of the Villagers who had a LPS system and was hit several years ago. He has a very interesting story to tell. Hopefully he will post it here soon so everyone can get a perspective from his point of view.

So - "the cost of a cruise" - is not fact.
"Relatively low cost compared to the value of their homes" is subjective.

You can go on a cruise for under $700 to the Bahamas, including all fees, parking, food, stateroom, and gratuities. I've seen in this thread talk of LPS starting prices at $1500 and up. $1500 is more than twice the price of a cruise. Therefore, it's not the cost of a cruise.

The value of my home, according to my insurance company, is $38,000. That's how much I'd get with a total catastrophic damage. If I decided to just replace my house because I didn't like it anymore, it'd cost me around $80k to have the old one removed and a new one anchored in and hooked up to utilities. Since mine is a manufactured home, it won't take two years to remove and replace, if it's destroyed by lightning. It'll take a few weeks, at most. The $80k replacement cost, minus the $38k insurance payment, would mean it costs me just $42k to replace my home if lightning strikes it.

$1500 for an LPS is not "relatively low cost" with this perspective in mind.

Also just as an FYI - it's not an "LPS system." The word "system" is redundant. LPS stands for Lightning Protection System. It's like the guy at the bank asking you to punch in your PIN number. The word "number" is redundant, since PIN stands for Personal Identification Number.

[jrref]

So - "the cost of a cruise" - is not fact.
"Relatively low cost compared to the value of their homes" is subjective.

You can go on a cruise for under $700 to the Bahamas, including all fees, parking, food, stateroom, and gratuities. I've seen in this thread talk of LPS starting prices at $1500 and up. $1500 is more than twice the price of a cruise. Therefore, it's not the cost of a cruise.

The value of my home, according to my insurance company, is $38,000. That's how much I'd get with a total catastrophic damage. If I decided to just replace my house because I didn't like it anymore, it'd cost me around $80k to have the old one removed and a new one anchored in and hooked up to utilities. Since mine is a manufactured home, it won't take two years to remove and replace, if it's destroyed by lightning. It'll take a few weeks, at most. The $80k replacement cost, minus the $38k insurance payment, would mean it costs me just $42k to replace my home if lightning strikes it.

$1500 for an LPS is not "relatively low cost" with this perspective in mind.

Also just as an FYI - it's not an "LPS system." The word "system" is redundant. LPS stands for Lightning Protection System. It's like the guy at the bank asking you to punch in your PIN number. The word "number" is redundant, since PIN stands for Personal Identification Number.

So you are a great example of a Villager who based on your analysis, decides not to get a system installed. But, given your several posts would you have done this in-depth analysis for your specific situation if it were not for this thread?

[Altavia]

Hope this helps…
Dana
<<<<<<

We talk about and show Dana's experience and show the damaged lightning rod at our presentations.

Thanks to you and Dana for sharing.

With that level of a strike, there is risk some of the home wiring insulation may be degraded, or degrade over time, especially if metal staples were used during construction.

Suggest installing a Ting device to monitor for arc's. Some insurance companies supply them at no charge.

"Ting pinpoints and identifies the unique signals generated by tiny electrical arcs, the precursors to imminent fire risks. These signals are incredibly small but are clearly visible thanks to Ting's advanced detection technology."

Ting - Electrical Fire Safety, Simplified - Smart+Proactive=Prevention (https://www.tingfire.com/)

[Stu from NYC]

Interesting thread. We have the seco unit and recently put in a whole house surge protector.

Surprised that insurance companies will not offer a discount for protecting your home from lightning.

[jrref]

Interesting thread. We have the seco unit and recently put in a whole house surge protector.

Surprised that insurance companies will not offer a discount for protecting your home from lightning.

I recently sighed up with Frontline insurance for my home and they offer a discount for a whole house surge protector. It's minimal but a discount nevertheless.

[midiwiz]

There is a Villager from Hadley who's house was struck by lightning several years ago. He's one of the 17 that was struck here in the Villages that had a Lightning Protection System installed. He's not on Talk of the Villages so he sent me the following to post on this thread so everyone can read about his experience.
>>>>>
At approximately 6:30 PM on June 10, 2014, our house sustained a direct hit by lightning. The thunderstorm had passed, the skies were clearing, we had left for a meeting when the strike occurred.

While at the meeting, a neighbor three houses down the street called me and said his house was struck by lightening and asked for a reference for an electrician, as several of his circuit breakers had tripped wouldn’t reset.

We finished our meeting and headed home. When we turned onto our street, we noticed many of the neighbors standing in their front yards. When we pulled into our driveway, the garage door didn’t work. Uh oh.

Turns out it wasn’t our neighbors house that was hit… it was ours. And the strike blew out circuit breakers up and down our side of the street.

When we entered our home and investigated, we discovered our telephone point of interface had been blown off the outside wall (damaging the neighbor’s vinyl siding), so the telephones were dead, and many lights were out.

On further investigation we discovered our SECO whole house surge protector was totally destroyed, the Eaton whole-house surge protector was tripped, and most of the circuit breakers were tripped. Several of the circuit breakers couldn’t be reset. I checked in the attic, and there was no evidence of fire or structural damage.

SECO arrive that evening and replaced the SECO whole house surge protector and our electrician replaced the bad circuit breakers and checked the house wiring. We also three satellite receivers and a modem destroyed, all of which were connected to the unprotected telephone lines, a washing machine circuit card, and the garage door button.

The following day the lightening protection system technician came and inspected our lightening protection system. The system was unharmed, except for the top air terminal which had 1/4 to 1/2 inch burned off the top. The technician replaced that air terminal, which I subsequently gave to Len Hathaway.

Hope this helps…
Dana
<<<<<<

We talk about and show Dana's experience and show the damaged lightning rod at our presentations.


As I would have suspected. Same result by putting a flag pole outside in the ground, just that the pole can take more than the system can, either way same result. The difference being that when it strikes the house with no system, there is a "limited" amount of damage depending on the bolt. Max damage would include some sort of effect on the houses on either side of the strike house. When you use the system, (much like a flag pole), yes you are attempting tolimit house damage however IF (which in your case) that lame ground wire they use survives the strike, more than 1 or 2 houses will be effected. This is what occured with all those homes around him losing power etc. The strike actually electrified the ground and sought out other avenues of "release". This is where something the size of a flag pole, much like a tree, has enough to it to help absorb that release of energy and subdue it.

This is exactly why when we were looking at houses I refused anything with or near that system. If I'm going to potentially attract lightening it's going to be with something that can absorb the energy.

[certcars]

Would be a good project for POA to take on, would not you agree? Or some local government agency? Isn’t it their job to keep people safe?

[Runway48]

This has been a good thread. We are in the process of purchasing a home in TV. I can't recall any seller that has listed lightning protection as an asset, either surge protection or LPS. Which is a little surprising given the lightning intensity of the region. We live on Long Island which gets occasional intense lightning storms. My house has never been struck but other houses in the neighborhood have. One near neighbor had his front brick steps blown apart when the metal handrail was struck and another neighbor had his cable box blown off the garage wall by a strike. LPS or whole house surge protection is not common here. As a result of nearby strikes I've lost a TV, a garage door opener, an answering machine and a computer. The computer was individually surge protected, but the surge came through a land phone line to a modem board in the computer. The surge effects are as random as the strikes. A direct or indirect strike can cost anywhere from hundreds to many thousands of dollars and maybe the loss of things that money can't buy. Getting protection is a matter of risk assessment much like travel insurance, how much is at stake. You don't get it if you're traveling to the coast for a long weekend. But if you're doing a two-week cruise to Europe, you probably get it. To me, in Florida having whole house surge protection looks to be essential. The cost of a LPS seems to be less than 1% of the cost of the houses I'm considering. I expect I will get one.

[jrref]

As I would have suspected. Same result by putting a flag pole outside in the ground, just that the pole can take more than the system can, either way same result. The difference being that when it strikes the house with no system, there is a "limited" amount of damage depending on the bolt. Max damage would include some sort of effect on the houses on either side of the strike house. When you use the system, (much like a flag pole), yes you are attempting tolimit house damage however IF (which in your case) that lame ground wire they use survives the strike, more than 1 or 2 houses will be effected. This is what occured with all those homes around him losing power etc. The strike actually electrified the ground and sought out other avenues of "release". This is where something the size of a flag pole, much like a tree, has enough to it to help absorb that release of energy and subdue it.

This is exactly why when we were looking at houses I refused anything with or near that system. If I'm going to potentially attract lightening it's going to be with something that can absorb the energy.

So,...... A couple of points.

1) If what you say were true, all you would need is one lightning rod at the top of the house or maybe bolt and ground one of your old golf Irons to the top of your house and you will be all set.

2) Electicity travels on the surface of the wire which is why stranded wire is better than a single conductor. Even a very large strike only lasts for about a milisecond which is why the wires used to ground your LPS are sufficient to carry the charge safely to ground. By code, each lightning rod needs at least two cable connections to ground. What your eye sees is the heat generated by the strike vaproizing the moisture and what ever else is in the air.

3) If lightning rods attracted lighting and your neighbor's had an LPS, their homes would attract the lightning and yours would be safe. Or maybe your neighbor has a flag pole? Either way, it doesn't work like that and we have multipule cases where a home was hit and burned down here in the Villages while a home across the street and next to it had a LPS which proves the point. The one in Sunset Pointe that burned last year had both and in addition had towering palm trees in the front and the house still got hit.

4) When a home takes a direct hit, an EMP or an induced surge is produced which can and often does travel to neighboring homes destroying their electronic devices if they do not have surge protection.

5) Being serious, Flag poles are never anchored deep enough in the ground to provide an adequate earth ground so lightning typically, doesn't strike flag poles like the ones people put in front of their homes here in the Villages. If I had a flag pole, I would try to ground it with a 10ft ground rod and then, you are right, it would act as an air terminal or lightning rod in front of your house.

As mentioned, a lightning protection system doesn't prevent your home from being hit by lightning but it will reduce the probability that there will be significant damage and fire because the charge will strike the lightning rod and the cables will send the charge safely to earth ground via the ground rods vs striking your roof and setting it on fire. And if you look at the science, having a LPS doesn't increase the chances of your home being hit by lightning.

[jimhoward]

What are these el-cheapo $600 systems of which people speak? Will they keep my house from burning down?

If a drive a 10ft ground rod into the ground and attach a 1-iron to it (even god can't hit a one iron being the joke).....will that actually work?

[sounding]

Interesting thread. We have the seco unit and recently put in a whole house surge protector.

Surprised that insurance companies will not offer a discount for protecting your home from lightning.

I just called USAA and they don't offer discounts for LPS or whole house surge protectors, but the representative said they are points of discussion with management for future policy changes.

[jrref]

What are these el-cheapo $600 systems of which people speak? Will they keep my house from burning down?

If a drive a 10ft ground rod into the ground and attach a 1-iron to it (even god can't hit a one iron being the joke).....will that actually work?

As far as the 1-iron, technically if you earth ground it properly it may provide some protection. I don't believe anyone has tested that yet.

It depends on how small you house is LOL

I don't know where the $600 system came from but typically a LPS can cost about $1,500 for a Villa, to $2,800 for a Designer home to $3,800 for a large Designer or Premier home. Note, there are some very large Premier homes that will be more but I'm sure those Villagers are not concerned with the cost.

[Ignatz]

So how do units like the CMCE Lightning Suppressor come into the discussion?

I’ve seen two houses in our Village that have them installed on the roof. There’s never any one outside to stop and chat with.

I haven’t found any independent information about them in the webs.

Do they work?

[jrref]

So how do units like the CMCE Lightning Suppressor come into the discussion?

I’ve seen two houses in our Village that have them installed on the roof. There’s never any one outside to stop and chat with.

I haven’t found any independent information about them in the webs.

Do they work?

There have been studies on CMCE lightning suppressors for over 20 years and there is no definitive proof that they actually work. You will see some companies that install them saying that they do but when you ask them for any study documentation, you never get it. They are way more expensive than traditional lightning protections systems. Roughly 2x+ more. With most here in the Villages so price sensitive, I don't understand why anyone would consider a CMCE system.

From my personal point of view, these systems may work with a small storm but with a medium to large storm I don't see how the capacitive element in the head could ever "bleed" off that very high charge. And if it can't, it will act as a normal lightning rod and cover whatever area it can on your roof.

I know one was installed in Osceola Hills. Where is the other?

[jrref]

If you don't have whole house surge protection, call Lake Deaton Electric, Dave Robinson on 352-630-3579 and get an Eaton Ultra installed at your circuit breaker panel. This is needed in addition to the surge protector from Seco that is on you meter since that protector is designed to manage surges coming from the electric utility.

Surge protection is also very important when we talk about ligtning since induced power surges happen everytime we have a storm with lightning when lightning hits near your house. There is no spectacular fire so it's not reported but an induced power surge from lightning will damage your electrical devices and appliances in your home. In my opinion, for the one time cost, whole house surge protection is mandatory. Call Dave, he has a very fair price to install this device and does a great job.

For more on surge protection see this link -> With all the recent storms we have had in the past couple of months here in the Villages, many have realized the need for surge protection. (https://nextdoor.com/p/fZxD8Dq3s5xR?utm_source=share&extras=NjQ0NzExNjI%3D&ne_link_preview_links=&utm_campaign=1755004498445&share_action_id=93ec2602-559a-4d3e-bc59-c2a4ab39c673)

[Lightning]

In addition to the good advice that jref provided there have been cases when a flag pole was hit by lightning andthe 2" of rock at the base was blown around and struck a neighbors car across the street. A proper arrangement would be a lighting protection system that is connected to the flag pole per the lightning standard NFPA-780. Remember lightning is unpredictable and you have no ideal what it will do once it reaches the ground - or your house.

[Nana2Teddy]

One home in Calumet Grove and the other in Sabal Chase - and neither had lightning rods.
What was the damage? Total loss?

[Stu from NYC]

I just called USAA and they don't offer discounts for LPS or whole house surge protectors, but the representative said they are points of discussion with management for future policy changes.

Our home insurance is with Allstate and based on this thread asked about a discount and the answer is they do not offer one for surge protector or even LPS.

[thelegges]

There have been studies on CMCE lightning suppressors for over 20 years and there is no definitive proof that they actually work. You will see some companies that install them saying that they do but when you ask them for any study documentation, you never get it. They are way more expensive than traditional lightning protections systems. Roughly 2x+ more. With most here in the Villages so price sensitive, I don't understand why anyone would consider a CMCE system.

From my personal point of view, these systems may work with a small storm but with a medium to large storm I don't see how the capacitive element in the head could ever "bleed" off that very high charge. And if it can't, it will act as a normal lightning rod and cover whatever area it can on your roof.

I know one was installed in Osceola Hills. Where is the other?

There are 13 installed in TV to date.

[thelegges]

What was the damage? Total loss?

You will only see total destruction pics for this thread. Our last 4 villages in 15 years had 29 strikes, (either ground, flag pole or home per each village neighborhood website) but damage didn’t warrant insurance because of higher deductibles. It seems like 29 is high, but also there are thousands of homes in those 4 villages

Current village has had one strike in 2.5 years, with roof damage, requiring repairs. No idea if insurance was involved.

[jrref]

You will only see total destruction pics for this thread. Our last 4 villages in 15 years had 29 strikes, (either ground, flag pole or home per each village neighborhood website) but damage didn’t warrant insurance because of higher deductibles. It seems like 29 is high, but also there are thousands of homes in those 4 villages

Current village has had one strike in 2.5 years, with roof damage, requiring repairs. No idea if insurance was involved.

That's correct because the strikes that you are talking about are not reported and are not in the newspaper. Same with induced power surges you are talking about. They happen all the time but are never reported.

[jrref]

There are 13 installed in TV to date.

Where are you getting this data from and where are these 13 located?
If there are 13 installed, too bad these systems may not work and are providing a false sense of total protection. But at least they will act as a single lightning rod offering some minimal protection.

[thelegges]

Where are you getting this data from and where are these 13 located?
If there are 13 installed, too bad these systems may not work and are providing a false sense of total protection. But at least they will act as a single lightning rod offering some minimal protection.

As you have posted research. It is as easy as using a finger it your voice…

As I said we are researching protection, but our first search many years ago was marine protection for sailboats. Once you watch lightning hit a mast, it takes the wind out our your sails:(

[sounding]

What was the damage? Total loss?

Residents are no longer living there. It can take up to a year to rebuild. Lightning rods would have prevented the loss. Insurance will never replace the time and money lost.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

As far as the 1-iron, technically if you earth ground it properly it may provide some protection. I don't believe anyone has tested that yet.

It depends on how small you house is LOL

I don't know where the $600 system came from but typically a LPS can cost about $1,500 for a Villa, to $2,800 for a Designer home to $3,800 for a large Designer or Premier home. Note, there are some very large Premier homes that will be more but I'm sure those Villagers are not concerned with the cost.

$600 is the cost of a 3-day cruise to the Bahamas. That's the "one less cruise" you've said is all someone needs to cover the cost of installing an LPS.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

So you are a great example of a Villager who based on your analysis, decides not to get a system installed. But, given your several posts would you have done this in-depth analysis for your specific situation if it were not for this thread?

Well, yes. If I had a designer home, I totally would've looked into an LPS, and checked it in depth.

[jrref]

As you have posted research. It is as easy as using a finger it your voice…

As I said we are researching protection, but our first search many years ago was marine protection for sailboats. Once you watch lightning hit a mast, it takes the wind out our your sails:(

Protecting a boat from lightning is a totally different situation and I believe some use CMCE devices which can work because if the capacitor device gets overwhelmed, it will act just like a plain old lightning rod.

I couldn't find any references to homes equipped with CMCE devices here in the Villages so unless you can produce a source, I know of only one installed. Capital Electronics Inc installs these and when they had a meeting on these devices here in the Villages last year, almost everyone left after they told us how much it costs. And they couldn't produce any documentation or studies other than lab testing that they actually work. After that one installation in Osceola Hills we never saw them again. Interesting, several of the neighbors who were on the street of that lightning strike had A1 install a conventional LPS and no one purchased a CMCE system eventhoug the company had two presentations at that location in an attempt to sell systems.

[thelegges]

So how do units like the CMCE Lightning Suppressor come into the discussion?

I’ve seen two houses in our Village that have them installed on the roof. There’s never any one outside to stop and chat with.

I haven’t found any independent information about them in the webs.

Do they work?

There have been studies on CMCE lightning suppressors for over 20 years and there is no definitive proof that they actually work. You will see some companies that install them saying that they do but when you ask them for any study documentation, you never get it. They are way more expensive than traditional lightning protections systems. Roughly 2x+ more. With most here in the Villages so price sensitive, I don't understand why anyone would consider a CMCE system.

From my personal point of view, these systems may work with a small storm but with a medium to large storm I don't see how the capacitive element in the head could ever "bleed" off that very high charge. And if it can't, it will act as a normal lightning rod and cover whatever area it can on your roof.

I know one was installed in Osceola Hills. Where is the other?

Protecting a boat from lightning is a totally different situation and I believe some use CMCE devices which can work because if the capacitor device gets overwhelmed, it will act just like a plain old lightning rod.

I couldn't find any references to homes equipped with CMCE devices here in the Villages so unless you can produce a source, I know of only one installed. Capital Electronics Inc installs these and when they had a meeting on these devices here in the Villages last year, almost everyone left after they told us how much it costs. And they couldn't produce any documentation or studies other than lab testing that they actually work. After that one installation in Osceola Hills we never saw them again. Interesting, several of the neighbors who were on the street of that lightning strike had A1 install a conventional LPS and no one purchased a CMCE system eventhoug the company had two presentations at that location in an attempt to sell systems.

Sometimes it’s good to have excellent memory retention. Here is a post asking about CMCE on 2 homes, in their neighborhood, I copied your response. You only note one that you know of in Osceola Hills. Poster does specify where the Two homes he is asking questions
Maybe you could acquire free research, from posters, since you weren’t able to find any results.

My research time isn’t available for volunteer bases.

[jrref]

I guess we are done? Anyone else pro or con for a Lightning or Surge Protections System?

[jrref]

I keep reading stories here on TOTV and Next Door where people say "My house was hit by lightning and we lost several of our electronic devices" or something to that effect. Well, if your house was actually hit by lightning, you would also probably have a fire as well. What is actually happening is lightning is striking near the home causing an Induced Power Surge which couples to the electrical system in your home causing the damage. This happens all the time since these induced surges can occur every time we have a severe thunder storm and lots of lightning hitting the ground. It's not commonly reported because there is no spectular fire but start talking about power surges and damaged devices at your next dinner party and see how many people start telling you about their experience. For more on the subject see this link -> Nextdoor (https://nextdoor.com/g/m3h0uzuyn/)

As discussed, you don't have to run out and get a Lightning Protection System since that's an individual choice based on your tolerance to risk but I can tell you in addition to the surge protector from Seco on your meter, you need to have the Eaton Ultra or PSP Vortex whole house surge protector installed at your circuit breaker panel to protect you home from these Induced Power Surges that happen all the time. You can use your own electrician or call Dave Robinson on 352-630-3579, he's Lake Deaton Electric. He's installing this protection at a very fair price now that we are in hurricane season. This is not an advertisement but good advice on something every home in the Villages should have installed because we know it works.

[Bill14564]

I keep reading stories here on TOTV and Next Door where people say "My house was hit by lightning and we lost several of our electronic devices" or something to that effect. Well, if your house was actually hit by lightning, you would also probably have a fire as well. What is actually happening is lightning is striking near the home causing an Induced Power Surge which couples to the electrical system in your home causing the damage. This happens all the time since these induced surges can occur every time we have a severe thunder storm and lots of lightning hitting the ground. It's not commonly reported because there is no spectular fire but start talking about power surges and damaged devices at your next dinner party and see how many people start telling you about their experience. For more on the subject see this link -> Nextdoor (https://nextdoor.com/g/m3h0uzuyn/)

Not according to the insurance industry statistics.
Not according to an analysis of LPS-protected strikes.
Not according to my personal experience with two strikes.

Lightning strikes *can* cause fires, particularly if there is a gas line in the attic, but lighting strikes to not always cause fires (perhaps not even frequently).

[jrref]

Not according to the insurance industry statistics.
Not according to an analysis of LPS-protected strikes.
Not according to my personal experience with two strikes.

Lightning strikes *can* cause fires, particularly if there is a gas line in the attic, but lighting strikes to not always cause fires (perhaps not even frequently).

Right, lightning doesn't always cause a fire, but most of the time it does, at least what we have seen with strikes here in the Villages. I will tell you there was a strike two years ago in Fenney where a home was struck but the heavy rain put our the fire before it got started so there was minimal damage to the roof BUT heavy damage to everything electrical inside the home. That homeowner had electric, HVAC, appliance, you name it, trucks at their home repairing stuff for months after that strike.

But my point is, when you find circuit breakers tripped, sensitive electronic devices damaged, perfectly good appliances all of a sudden stop working after you had a severe thunderstorm and you saw and head a lot of lightning and thunder, you most likely got an Induced Power Surge. Installing one of these whole house surge protectors at your circuit breaker panel is not expensive and they work. Nothing is 100% but they can prevent and or minimize electrical damage to your home and there is no reason not to have one installed living here in Central Florida. In fact, in the 2020 electrical code, it's now mandatory in any new build or renovation to install type 1 or 2 surge protection.

[Bill14564]

Right, lightning doesn't always cause a fire, but most of the time it does, at least what we have seen with strikes here in the Villages.

The statistics imply otherwise... at the minimum they imply that there are few strikes that cause fires that result in insurance claims or newspaper reports.

But my point is, when you find circuit breakers tripped, sensitive electronic devices damaged, perfectly good appliances all of a sudden stop working after you had a severe thunderstorm and you saw and head a lot of lightning and thunder, you most likely got an Induced Power Surge.

I misunderstood again - I thought what was highlighted in the previous post was your point.

Absolutely a close thunderstorm could be the cause of sudden problems with electronics but that doesn't say anything at all about whether lightning struck nearby vice whether it actually struck the home.

[jrref]

Absolutely a close thunderstorm could be the cause of sudden problems with electronics but that doesn't say anything at all about whether lightning struck nearby or actually struck the home.

OK so then tell us, how does the close thunderstorm cause these sudden problems with electronics?

[sounding]

I guess we are done? Anyone else pro or con for a Lightning or Surge Protections System?

Thanks jrref for all your value information. Thanks to you and the Villages Lightning Study Group here is my protection system. Left to Right: Lightning rods, Electric meter surge protector, Circuit breaker surge protector (in garage), Surge protection for high value electronics (PC, etc), and numerous in-house surge protectors strips/modules for all other home electronic appliances and devices of value -- including a separate surge protector on my A/C unit.

[Bill14564]

OK so then tell us, how does the close thunderstorm cause these sudden problems with electronics?

Bad wording on my part. I should have phrased it as:

Absolutely a close thunderstorm could be the cause of sudden problems with electronics but that doesn't say anything at all about whether lightning struck nearby vice whether it actually struck the home.

Meaning yes, of course, a power surge coincident with a thunderstorm indicates lightning struck nearby, but "nearby" could mean it actually struck the home. The fact of damaged equipment doesn't tell you whether the home was struck or not.

[sounding]

Bad wording on my part. I should have phrased it as:

Absolutely a close thunderstorm could be the cause of sudden problems with electronics but that doesn't say anything at all about whether lightning struck nearby vice whether it actually struck the home.

Meaning yes, of course, a power surge coincident with a thunderstorm indicates lightning struck nearby, but "nearby" could mean it actually struck the home. The fact of damaged equipment doesn't tell you whether the home was struck or not.

About 30 years ago lightning struck a large tree that was about 50 feet from my home and the surge fried my modem, monitor, and PC video card. Those items were in the room closest to the tree - and nothing else in the house was affected - that I know of.

[jrref]

Bad wording on my part. I should have phrased it as:

Absolutely a close thunderstorm could be the cause of sudden problems with electronics but that doesn't say anything at all about whether lightning struck nearby vice whether it actually struck the home.

Meaning yes, of course, a power surge coincident with a thunderstorm indicates lightning struck nearby, but "nearby" could mean it actually struck the home. The fact of damaged equipment doesn't tell you whether the home was struck or not.

OK Thank you.

[Altavia]

Thanks jrref for all your value information. Thanks to you and the Villages Lightning Study Group here is my protection system. Left to Right: Lightning rods, Electric meter surge protector, Circuit breaker surge protector (in garage), Surge protection for high value electronics (PC, etc), and numerous in-house surge protectors strips/modules for all other home electronic appliances and devices of value -- including a separate surge protector on my A/C unit.

Same here, I've delt with insurance companies three different times (not in FL) for damage from induced lightening and it took months of frustration the get things corrected and reimbursed.

Other exterior items connected via a disconnect box to consider include: tankless hot water heater, SPA, Pool equipment. They are fed by long wires which may be more susceptible to induced surges.

https://a.co/d/gxeelHQ

[jrref]

Same here, I've delt with insurance companies three different times (not in FL) for damage from induced lightening and it took months of frustration the get things corrected and reimbursed.

Other exterior items connected via a disconnect box to consider include: tankless hot water heater, SPA, Pool equipment. They are fed by long wires which may be more susceptible to induced surges.

https://a.co/d/gxeelHQ

This is why if you are thinking about Whole House Surge protection, for a couple hundred dollars you can have one installed by your favorite electrician or Dave Robinson of Lake Deaton Electric who has a very fair price to install the Eaton Ultra right now.

[annecobb]

Very good points! My next question has probably been addressed. What reputable companies have folks have experience with that install lightening protection systems?

[DStahulK]

Hello,
I read in your post that you will have a presentation on Tue., 8/19 at Mulberry Grove Rec. Center starting at 6:00pm. Can you please confirm and let me know what room you will be in.

Thanks
Don Stahulak

[jrref]

Hello,
I read in your post that you will have a presentation on Tue., 8/19 at Mulberry Grove Rec. Center starting at 6:00pm. Can you please confirm and let me know what room you will be in.

Thanks
Don Stahulak

I'm not sure so just ask at the front desk.

[jrref]

Very good points! My next question has probably been addressed. What reputable companies have folks have experience with that install lightening protection systems?

Triangle Lightning Protection
352-483-7020

A-1 Lightning Protection
352-465-0620

[jrref]

Hello,
I read in your post that you will have a presentation on Tue., 8/19 at Mulberry Grove Rec. Center starting at 6:00pm. Can you please confirm and let me know what room you will be in.

Thanks
Don Stahulak

I just found out it will be in the Sprit room at Mulbery Grove Rec Center.