Another Home in the Villages Hit by Lightning

[jrref]

Another Home in the Villages Hit by Lightning. This time in Deluna during Friday night's storm.
There is an article this morning in the Villages News. There was no one home and by the time the fire was reported and the fire department got there it was too late. Although the interior is gutted at least the structure is mostly still standing, So, far 11 homes here in the Villages have been struck by lightning in the past 12 months. The highest number so far.

[Arctic Fox]

My good friend Mr Google says that 1 in 200 houses in the USA are struck by lightning each year.

If The Villages has 60,000 homes then one would expect on average 300 to be struck each year

Factor in that Florida has more lightning than most states...

[asianthree]

I was going to post this Saturday but didn’t want to take the wind out of your sails.

But the pictures of the actual fire are impressive

[dewilson58]

My good friend Mr Google says that 1 in 200 houses in the USA are struck by lightning each year.

If The Villages has 60,000 homes then one would expect on average 300 to be struck each year

Factor in that Florida has more lightning than most states...

& a majority of homes don't have protections, so is there a correlation between no protection and being significantly below the national average ?? :shrug:

[Bill14564]

& a majority of homes don't have protections, so is there a correlation between no protection and being significantly below the national average ?? :shrug:

:BigApplause::BigApplause:

correlation/causation/probability
lies/statistics/incomplete data

[asianthree]

Either way I wish God speed for those folks to get back there life. Unfortunately now they will have to deal with there insurance company and advise them to get a attorney, John Tolley is a good choice

After the hurricane damage we had, adjuster was at our house in 3 days. Check in hand on day 19. Guessing it’s either current knowledge of insurance policy, or a good adjuster

[Dedejohnson]

Another Home in the Villages Hit by Lightning. This time in Deluna during Friday night's storm.
There is an article this morning in the Villages News. There was no one home and by the time the fire was reported and the fire department got there it was too late. Although the interior is gutted at least the structure is mostly still standing, So, far 11 homes here in the Villages have been struck by lightning in the past 12 months. The highest number so far.

Are there no lightning rods up?

[Boffin]

Correlation is not and does not prove cause and effect.

[kkingston57]

& a majority of homes don't have protections, so is there a correlation between no protection and being significantly below the national average ?? :shrug:

We had damages to our home last year from lightning. It hit the outside cable box and the wires running into the house became so hot that the heat burned the vinyl siding. Even if we had protection nothing would have prevented our house from getting damaged. People who lived 2-3 blocks away described it as the loudest they ever heard.

[asianthree]

I have to ask, how many homes have lightning protection in all of TV. I am sure there is an actual number not a guesstimate.

With close to 70,000 roof tops it would be good information. Plus how many of those home had lightning strikes after installing?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Of all the homes in The Villages that do NOT have lightning protection systems, how many of them have NOT been hit by lightning?

[Aces4]

Of all the homes in The Villages that do NOT have lightning protection systems, how many of them have NOT been hit by lightning?

That doesn't make any difference. Lightning protection systems are not mandatory. These systems are for those who want to take the extra precaution against the wicked lightning which affects Florida. It's rather like boots in the rain, you can wear them or take a chance ruining your best pair of shoes. There appears to be much consternation about others who may elect a LPS, it their prerogative unless the Constitution changes.

[dewilson58]

Of all the homes in The Villages that do NOT have lightning protection systems, how many of them have NOT been hit by lightning?

Over 99.5%.

:MOJE_whot:

[Bill14564]

Of all the homes in The Villages that do NOT have lightning protection systems, how many of them have NOT been hit by lightning?

That doesn't make any difference. Lightning protection systems are not mandatory. These systems are for those who want to take the extra precaution against the wicked lightning which affects Florida. It's rather like boots in the rain, you can wear them or take a chance ruining your best pair of shoes. There appears to be much consternation about others who may elect a LPS, it their prerogative unless the Constitution changes.

I missed the part in the Constitution where it guaranteed my right to install lightning rods.

I haven't seen any consternation about others who may elect a LPS but I have seen much criticism of those who elect against installing a LPS.

If rain is in the forecast:
- Will it rain at all?
- Will it rain at my house?
- If it rains at my house, will there be a puddle?
- If there is a puddle, will it be in my path?
- If it is in my path, will I not see it and step in it?
- If I step in it, will it ruin my shoes?

If all those are "yes" then I will be sorry I didn't wear the boots. However, a very large percentage of the time one of those will be "no" and the boots will not be needed.

I don't recall anyone criticizing the choice to wear boots.
Those wearing boots have criticized pull-on shoe covers as not boot-like enough.
Those wearing boots have shown the same ruined pair of shoes over and over again.

This area has a lot of puddles
There is an increased chance that your shoes will get wet
All the shoes that get wet will need to be dried
A few of the shoes that get wet will be ruined
If your shoes get ruined you'll wish you wore boots

[Cliff Fr]

Another Home in the Villages Hit by Lightning. This time in Deluna during Friday night's storm.
There is an article this morning in the Villages News. There was no one home and by the time the fire was reported and the fire department got there it was too late. Although the interior is gutted at least the structure is mostly still standing, So, far 11 homes here in the Villages have been struck by lightning in the past 12 months. The highest number so far.

I think it's to be expected when you have so many houses very close together with very few trees of any size.

[bark4me]

Are there no lightning rods up?
Several have them but they also attract lightning

[Rocksnap]

Several have them but they also attract lightning

That’s the age old question. Do you have any information to back that up? Far as I know, it’s all hit or miss. Lightening goes wherever it’s at when the time comes. As there are houses with LPS that stand next to a house that does not have LPS, the non protected house gets hit, the LPS house does not. Weird, I know.

[Nana2Teddy]

Are there no lightning rods up?

I live in DeLuna. There are quite a few homes here with an LPS, but of course the majority do not as in all villages. The storm was especially wicked that night (Saturday not Friday). Monday night we also had 5” of rain in less than two hours along with even more intense lightning than Saturday night. On Saturday night though we had not only that villa struck, but also a street sign at the entrance to one of the two for our veranda neighborhood knocked down with a strike and a water main broken at that spot too. Our veranda neighborhood lost water for awhile, with some of us getting it back sooner than others. It was truly the worst night of lightning we’ve had in our three summers here so far. The storm on Monday night filled our ponds to almost overflowing, and gave us some ponds where we normally only have them after a hurricane. It’s been a wild few days!

[sallyg]

After the hurricane damage we had, adjuster was at our house in 3 days. Check in hand on day 19. Guessing it’s either current knowledge of insurance policy, or a good adjuster
What insurance co?

[ByebyeMichigan]

The villages has approx 75k homes. 11 have been struck by lightning in the last 12 months. Chances are still VERY small that your home gets hit …..I hear this same chatter this time of the year that ya better order up some lightning rods……if ya got an extra $4k sitting around then order em up …… I’ll still take my chances without …….

[Bill14564]

The villages has approx 75k homes. 11 have been struck by lightning in the last 12 months. Chances are still VERY small that your home gets hit …..I hear this same chatter this time of the year that ya better order up some lightning rods……if ya got an extra $4k sitting around then order em up …… I’ll still take my chances without …….

Eleven have had enough damage to make the news. I wonder how many have been struck but didn't burn down and only required some new shingles.

[coleprice]

Lightening is prevalent in Florida, so on rare occasion houses will be struck by lightening. Since there are over 60,000 homes in The Villages, spread over 200 square miles, it is statistically anticipatable that on VERY RARE OCCASION, a Villages home will be struck by lightening.

[jrref]

I have to ask, how many homes have lightning protection in all of TV. I am sure there is an actual number not a guesstimate.

With close to 70,000 roof tops it would be good information. Plus how many of those home had lightning strikes after installing?

I don't know the answer to this question but I can say for sure A1 and Triangle Lightning protection, two of the companies installing system here in the Villages are always booked up many months out every year. The more strikes, resulting fires, and coverage in the news papers, the more people see the risk as real and the more get systems.

[jrref]

109621To re-cap, if the storm conditions are right and your house has the highest ground charge, your home will be hit, no question. The only thing lightning rods do is when the strike occurs, they will have the highest charge on your home and the lightning will strike the rods and not your roof. When lightning strikes your roof 99.9% or the time it will blow a hole in your roof, starting a fire, and ricochet around your attic like a bullet destroying everything in it's path looking for earth ground. Lightning rods don't attract lightning, your neighbors rods or tall trees won't protect your home and everyone around you will get an induced power surge destroying their electronic devices if they don't have adequate surge protection.

Getting hit by lightning is a low probability but here in Central Florida, the lightning capital of the USA, the risk is still low but great enough to be aware. Remember, lightning is unpredictable so although it may only strike and destroy a small number of homes, you will never know it that one stike will hit your home and if it does you will have that life changing experience recovering from it. It all comes down to your tolerance for risk. If you have a high tolerance, then do nothing and take your chances. If you have a lower tolerance for risk then spend the $2,000-$3,000 for a system and sleep better at night. Either way, it's important to be Aware of the facts so you can make an informed decision that suits your specific tolerance for risk.

Again, these people decided to take their chances and did nothing.

[Bill14564]

...
When lightning strikes your roof 99.9% or the time it will blow a hole in your roof, starting a fire, and ricochet around your attic like a bullet destroying everything in it's path looking for earth ground.
....

I sure would like to see some data supporting that statement.

I am personally aware of three strikes that did NOT start fires.
(one hit my house while I was in the room, another left marks on the floor where my wife was standing, and the third required a lot of work convincing the insurance company that lightning does strike in central WA state)

[VAtoFLA]

Lightening is prevalent in Florida, so on rare occasion houses will be struck by lightening. Since there are over 60,000 homes in The Villages, spread over 200 square miles, it is statistically anticipatable that on VERY RARE OCCASION, a Villages home will be struck by lightening.

More like 60 Square Miles, but I agree with your point.

[jrref]

I sure would like to see some data supporting that statement.

I am personally aware of three strikes that did NOT start fires.
(one hit my house while I was in the room, another left marks on the floor where my wife was standing, and the third required a lot of work convincing the insurance company that lightning does strike in central WA state)

Which is why I stated that fires occur 99.9% of the time. There was a home in Fenney last year hit but the rain was so intense, it put out the fire and there was minimal damage to the roof. Major damage to their electrical system though.

Also, many will say they were struck by lightning but in reality, they were not. What happeded was lightning struck near by their home and they got a Lightning Induced Power Surge. This is very common and happens almost every severe lightning storm we get. The home that got one in the Enclave the other night, no one will ever know about because there is no spectatular fire and nothing about it in the newspaper. I was told about it because the neighbor next store wanted information about a LPS and surge protection system after the hit.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

109621To re-cap, if the storm conditions are right and your house has the highest ground charge, your home will be hit, no question. [snip] Lightning rods don't attract lightning, your neighbors rods or tall trees won't protect your home and everyone around you will get an induced power surge destroying their electronic devices if they don't have adequate surge protection. ---


Part 1 says "if your house has the highest ground charge during optimal conditions, your house will be the one the lightning will be attracted to most."
Part 2 says "these things that stick up higher than the peak of your house, making your house the highest ground charge, will not attract the lightning."

How is this so?

[BlueStarAirlines]

I live in DeLuna. The storm on Monday night filled our ponds to almost overflowing, and gave us some ponds where we normally only have them after a hurricane.

I'm sorry...but I also live in Deluna and I think there needs to be some clarification. Yes, the ponds were full during and right after the storm, but the pond drainage system works and a few hours later the ponds were back to their normal levels. The water retention areas that are dry outside of the rainy season have water. Everything worked exactly as it was supposed to.

[darkim]

Eleven have had enough damage to make the news. I wonder how many have been struck but didn't burn down and only required some new shingles. Wow … that must be the effects of the new “gentle” lightning strikes. 😀 Stay Safe

[asianthree]

I don't know the answer to this question but I can say for sure A1 and Triangle Lightning protection, two of the companies installing system here in the Villages are always booked up many months out every year. The more strikes, resulting fires, and coverage in the news papers, the more people see the risk as real and the more get systems.

Truthfully, I didn’t expect an answer.

My thoughts are if we were looking at 20,000 to 30,000+ installations that answer would’ve popped up.
However I understand both companies are busy installing are booked up several months advance. Which also may make the customer uncomfortable waiting, or look at other avenues.
It doesn’t really answer how many they are doing per day per week per month it’s just a question still no answer.

However since you run a club about lightning strikes. What are the stats of a house struck next to one with protection? How many house from the 12 houses struck was there a home protected?

How does one know if your rod was struck saving your house?

Our homes on coastal areas, have systems installed, (only 11 out of 800) but no house in the community has been struck. Even though there are great lightning storms as frequently as FL

[Aces4]

I missed the part in the Constitution where it guaranteed my right to install lightning rods.

I haven't seen any consternation about others who may elect a LPS but I have seen much criticism of those who elect against installing a LPS.

If rain is in the forecast:
- Will it rain at all?
- Will it rain at my house?
- If it rains at my house, will there be a puddle?
- If there is a puddle, will it be in my path?
- If it is in my path, will I not see it and step in it?
- If I step in it, will it ruin my shoes?

If all those are "yes" then I will be sorry I didn't wear the boots. However, a very large percentage of the time one of those will be "no" and the boots will not be needed.

I don't recall anyone criticizing the choice to wear boots.
Those wearing boots have criticized pull-on shoe covers as not boot-like enough.
Those wearing boots have shown the same ruined pair of shoes over and over again.

This area has a lot of puddles
There is an increased chance that your shoes will get wet
All the shoes that get wet will need to be dried
A few of the shoes that get wet will be ruined
If your shoes get ruined you'll wish you wore boots

I feel for you, I can see you are struggling..

If one isn't aware that the Constitution allows one the freedom to choose and live one's life as one sees fit, as long as one doesn't intrude on the rights of others, one now knows. If one hasn't witnessed the railing against the installation of an LPS in this thread, one may want to reread all posts considering that subject. And if the simplicity of wearing boots throws one off, there is no way they can handle such a thought of installing a LPS. It appears to me that some people don't want a LPS, which is fine, but are jealous of those who decide to take that extra step. Gee, another lightning strike in The Villages this week. Isn't lightning roulette fun?

[JRcorvette]

After the hurricane damage we had, adjuster was at our house in 3 days. Check in hand on day 19. Guessing it’s either current knowledge of insurance policy, or a good adjuster

You had a very good adjuster and company!

[Aces4]

Our homes on coastal areas, have systems installed, (only 11 out of 800) but no house in the community has been struck. Even though there are great lightning storms as frequently as FL

And that is lightning roulette, if the coastal areas of which you speak are in Florida. The LPS is for those who want the extra protection against a direct hit. I'm sure there are many people in Florida, who have lived all their lives here, and have never had their home struck by lightning. But I'm also sure their are Floridians here who had the extra protection of LPS and it saved their home. It comes down to whatever people decide they will be comfortable with in the end.

[Aces4]

I sure would like to see some data supporting that statement.

I am personally aware of three strikes that did NOT start fires.
(one hit my house while I was in the room, another left marks on the floor where my wife was standing, and the third required a lot of work convincing the insurance company that lightning does strike in central WA state)

Hmmm, home struck by lightning three times and still not convinced some choosing LPS are making a sensible choice..

[jrref]

Part 1 says "if your house has the highest ground charge during optimal conditions, your house will be the one the lightning will be attracted to most."
Part 2 says "these things that stick up higher than the peak of your house, making your house the highest ground charge, will not attract the lightning."

How is this so?

Because there are multiple things that make any part if your home have the highest charge and height is only one part. A common misconception is the highest point of the home is the best target. While mostly true, it also has to have the highest postitive charge during a storm as well. This is why a home may get hit although there are high trees around it.

[jrref]

Truthfully, I didn’t expect an answer.

My thoughts are if we were looking at 20,000 to 30,000+ installations that answer would’ve popped up.
However I understand both companies are busy installing are booked up several months advance. Which also may make the customer uncomfortable waiting, or look at other avenues.
It doesn’t really answer how many they are doing per day per week per month it’s just a question still no answer.

However since you run a club about lightning strikes. What are the stats of a house struck next to one with protection? How many house from the 12 houses struck was there a home protected?

How does one know if your rod was struck saving your house?

Our homes on coastal areas, have systems installed, (only 11 out of 800) but no house in the community has been struck. Even though there are great lightning storms as frequently as FL

My guess is these companies install several systems per day.

Out of the 11 homes struck and had fires in the past 12 months, none had a lightning protection system.

Many of the homes hit had neighbors with an LPS. Some across the street and some next door.

We do know of 17 homes that did get struck by lightning and did have a LPS sustained minimal or no damage and none had a fire.

If you have an LPS and your home is hit you would have to either witness the strike or hear the incredibly loud bang. This is why we don't get many reports that fall into this category.

[Bill14564]

Hmmm, home struck by lightning three times and still not convinced some choosing LPS are making a sensible choice..

Confirmation bias.

I didn't write that my home was struck by lightning three times, I wrote that I was personally aware of three lightning strikes that did not start fires. Three separate homes, only one owned by me, two states, and several years apart.

It is the fact that none of these three caused fires or serious damage to the home that drives me to question the statistics and fear being pushed by those who appear to have the phone numbers for the local LPS installers memorized.

[jrref]

Confirmation bias.

I didn't write that my home was struck by lightning three times, I wrote that I was personally aware of three lightning strikes that did not start fires. Three separate homes, only one owned by me, two states, and several years apart.

It is the fact that none of these three caused fires or serious damage to the home that drives me to question the statistics and fear being pushed by those who appear to have the phone numbers for the local LPS installers memorized.

Was one of your homes struck in Florida or Texas?

[Bill14564]

I feel for you, I can see you are struggling..

If one isn't aware that the Constitution allows one the freedom to choose and live one's life as one sees fit, as long as one doesn't intrude on the rights of others, one now knows.
We're going to have to agree to disagree about the Constiitutionally-guaranteed right to a LPS but that's an issue for a different thread.

If one hasn't witnessed the railing against the installation of an LPS in this thread, one may want to reread all posts considering that subject.

Provide just two posts from this thread that show anyone "railing against the installation of an LPS. Any two.

And if the simplicity of wearing boots throws one off, there is no way they can handle such a thought of installing a LPS. It appears to me that some people don't want a LPS, which is fine, but are jealous of those who decide to take that extra step. Gee, another lightning strike in The Villages this week. Isn't lightning roulette fun?

... or just one post that even hints at jealousy.

[Golfshopguy]

Lightning strikes have not increased! The change is, the number of targets! The strikes used to hit empty acreage.

[Bill14564]

Was one of your homes struck in Florida or Texas?

No, the one home of mine that was struck was in MD. The second home I mentioned, which was not mine, was also in MD. The third was, as I wrote, in WA state.

[jrref]

People aren't stupid, they can see by the posts. If one is not interested at all to install LPS, why would they continue to post on this thread as to why LPS shouldn't be installed? Common sense would indicate they should move on to other threads which interest them.

I always wanted to say that. :icon_wink:

[Bill14564]

People aren't stupid, they can see by the posts. If one is not interested at all to install LPS, why would they continue to post on this thread as to why LPS shouldn't be installed? Common sense would indicate they should move on to other threads which interest them.

I always wanted to say that. :icon_wink:

So you can't point to even two posts.

Assuming you are referring to me, I have no desire to convince anyone of anything. I don't have a LPS at the moment but I might by the end of the year. I have NEVER stated, directly or indirectly, that a LPS shouldn't be installed.

What I HAVE stated is the misinformation, bad statistics, and scary pictures feel like a hard push to increase sales. I don't know if that is the intent and I have written that I would give the benefit of the doubt, but that is the way it feels.

What I am particularly interested in is challenging this misinformation and bad statistics. Everyone should decide for themselves whether they want a LPS but they should make that decision based on good data, not scary pictures.

[Aces4]

Confirmation bias.

I didn't write that my home was struck by lightning three times, I wrote that I was personally aware of three lightning strikes that did not start fires. Three separate homes, only one owned by me, two states, and several years apart.

It is the fact that none of these three caused fires or serious damage to the home that drives me to question the statistics and fear being pushed by those who appear to have the phone numbers for the local LPS installers memorized.

That's even worse, odds of being struck by lightning don't look good in this case scenario.

[jrref]

What I am particularly interested in is challenging this misinformation and bad statistics. Everyone should decide for themselves whether they want a LPS but they should make that decision based on good data, not scary pictures.

And the mission of the Villages Lightning Study Group is to do just that. To provide factual information, dispute myths and create awareness so Villagers can make their own decisions to reduce the risk or not. Unfortunately, lightning strike pictures are scary but they are also reality.

I'm not aware of any other groups here in the Villages creating awareness on Lightning and Surge Protection unless you know of any?

[BoatRatKat]

I mentioned this in a previous post about the LPS. Years ago in a previous house we had to get a new roof due to hail damage that our insurance company was paying for. Since lightening was very bad in the area we asked our insurance company if getting lightening protection was a good idea. They told us that they do NOT recommend that people put them on their houses, so we elected not to. I'm neither for or against them but perhaps for those on the fence about getting them...give your insurance company a call and see what they say.

[jrref]

I mentioned this in a previous post about the LPS. Years ago in a previous house we had to get a new roof due to hail damage that our insurance company was paying for. Since lightening was very bad in the area we asked our insurance company if getting lightening protection was a good idea. They told us that they do NOT recommend that people put them on their houses, so we elected not to. I'm neither for or against them but perhaps for those on the fence about getting them...give your insurance company a call and see what they say.

Not sure why the insurance company said that and it's "convenient" they didn't give you a reason but in speaking with a Batterbee representative they told me installation of a LPS will not void the roof warranty if installed properly which is why you need to have a LPI or UL certified installer. There are thousands of installations here in the Villages and I'm not aware of any roof issues. It also might depend on what state you live in as well.

[HappyTraveler]

I mentioned this in a previous post about the LPS. Years ago in a previous house we had to get a new roof due to hail damage that our insurance company was paying for. Since lightening was very bad in the area we asked our insurance company if getting lightening protection was a good idea. They told us that they do NOT recommend that people put them on their houses, so we elected not to. I'm neither for or against them but perhaps for those on the fence about getting them...give your insurance company a call and see what they say.
It's always good to learn what insurance companies view as worthwhile or not. Their very business, and what they do all day, is assess these risks. So, they have more detailed info than any of us posting here.

But, did you not ask the all-important question of WHY they don't recommend it? The details are relevant for having a better understanding of this issue.

[bopat]

Well I'm gonna keep playing the lottery, and now that we're in Florida, gonna see which hits first, lightning or the lottery!

[FredMitchell]

This page (https://indd.adobe.com/view/97f5506f-f312-493b-a9d2-d6f3bd06408a)and the next page (https://indd.adobe.com/view/97f5506f-f312-493b-a9d2-d6f3bd06408a) provide a nice visual look at relative risks. You can see that although Miami - Fort Lauderdale get reported for the highest city risks, the activity levels in Sumter and its surrounding counties rank among the highest in the nation. Florida leads in deaths by lightning.

[EDIT] page forward to the lightning maps. They are interactive, too, so you can look by county.

Maybe someone can contact Vaisala to see if there is public access to their database, if you want to get raw data for risk calculations.

BTW. Some of the posters need to understand that "lightning" is two syllables, not three. So stop inserting an "e" into "lightning". You are turning it into a word describing a weight reducing activity!

[DeLunatics]

We live about a half mile from the house struck in the original post.

Saturday evening's storm was the biggest electrical storm I've ever personally witnessed, not in terms of wind and rain, but of intensity, proximity, and duration. Usually storms just pass over.

Monday evening's storm dumped much more rain, but Saturday's lightning seemed to stall right on top of us.

It made an impression.

Still not ready for an LPS, but we are having whole house surge suppression installed next week; an Eaton Ultra on the panel, and the appropriate devices outside for the AC compressor, and pool panel.

It's not very expensive and seems like a reasonable precaution to take against reasonable risks.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I'm not against LPS at all. However, I'm against the constant nagging of scare-mongers who insist that everyone needs to have LPS or face certain death and destruction. Every year during the hurricane season it's thread after thread after thread, post after post after post, and it is more pervasive than the actual risk of lightning.

[MsPCGenius]

Don't know if this has been mentioned but, I "heard" that a major contributor to the subsequent damage is that gas lines run through the attics. If the home is the unfortunate receiver of a lightening strike, it is highly likely that the gas line will ignite and fire is the result....

Don't quote me... :jester:

[asianthree]

The jealousy is pretty obvious. Sorry the disruption in sequence, the blurps popping up in the middle of paragraphs make posting difficult.

What jealousy would be involved?
The thought process?
The house that went up in flames, nowhere nearby, and you had LPS, but didn’t know if your house was hit?
Didn’t research other than the two contractors posted, found another would install sooner to put mind at ease?

Because it can’t be about the money….it less $ than the cruise that all residents frequent.

For two coastal homes, LPS was an option at build, and was actually less than 1/2 of kitchen appliances. Truthfully 2’ higher stilts would have better money spent. ⚡️ is on the low points after the hurricanes and flooding.

Insurance allows credit for silting, but nothing for LPS.
Sailboat can’t use LPS. However insurance if protected with other ⚡️options does give a decent credit discount.

In the 18 years in TV and 5 different homes and villages, we have considered LPS, and other options. But once you have a hurricane claim in TV, all other weather events seem less concerning.
We have ability to tap into weather related studies for different lightning avenues. Just awaiting results

[Bwanajim]

I spent my whole life in Fort Lauderdale , there was plenty of lightning, and I never saw a lightning rod protectors on a house in my entire life there. I would really be curious if there was any house in the villages WITH lightning protection that still got struck.

[Altavia]

Don't know if this has been mentioned but, I "heard" that a major contributor to the subsequent damage is that gas lines run through the attics. If the home is the unfortunate receiver of a lightening strike, it is highly likely that the gas line will ignite and fire is the result....

Don't quote me... :jester:

The manufacturer of the CSST gas lines used here recommends a LPS for installation in some states including FL.

The CSST gas lines contacted by lightning often develop small perforations, around 100 mils wide, in the wall of the tubing when the lightning arcs from the CSST to an adjacent object.

This arcing burns a hole in the CSST which causes a gas leak and, in many cases, ignition of the gas which leads to a house fire.

https://www.gastite.com/downloads/pdfs/gastite_di_guide.pdf

ALL OWNERS should consult a lightning safety consultant to determine whether installation of a lightning protection system would be required to achieve sufficient protection for all building components from lightning.

Factors to consider include whether the area is prone to lightning. Areas with high lightning risk include but are not limited to: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, lowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexi-co, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

One currently available source of information regarding areas more prone to lighting than others is the flash density map provided by the National Weather Service which can be found at http://www.lightningsafety.noaa. gov/lightning_map.htm.

Lightning protection systems are beyond the scope of this manual and installation guidelines, but are covered by National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 780, the Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems, and other standards.

[CarlR33]

Ok, so this just happened to me Monday night. Lightning strike did not appear to be a direct hit or I cannot find any holes anywhere for entry but it did come into the house blowing all my LED cabinet lights, sprinkler controller, smart WiFi wall switch, one computer monitor, cable modem as well as separate WiFi modem, LED attic light, garage door opener, microwave oven, and lastly the flexible gas supply hose on the gas stove (see pic). I was in the house when it happened and had neighbors texting me did your house get hit. Another resident in our village had a similar hit on their stove gas supply line about a month ago. I will be calling Duke to get their surge protection at the meter. I do not think from what I have read on here that lightning rods would have helped since it was not a direct hit?

[daniel200]

At a rate of 12 hits per year, it will take 58 years for lightning to hit 1% of the Villages 70,000 roofs.

But I will not be here to celebrate the milestone.

[Aces4]

Ok, so this just happened to me Monday night. Lightning strike did not appear to be a direct hit or I cannot find any holes anywhere for entry but it did come into the house blowing all my LED cabinet lights, sprinkler controller, smart WiFi wall switch, one computer monitor, cable modem as well as separate WiFi modem, LED attic light, garage door opener, microwave oven, and lastly the flexible gas supply hose on the gas stove (see pic). I was in the house when it happened and had neighbors texting me did your house get hit. Another resident in our village had a similar hit on their stove gas supply line about a month ago. I will be calling Duke to get their surge protection at the meter. I do not think from what I have read on here that lightning rods would have helped since it was not a direct hit?

I don't have the answer for that but am sorry for the damage you have suffered in your home. Happy that you weren't injured with that strike and good luck with the damage. You may want the privacy so if you don't want to share the information, I understand.. may I ask which Village these two lightning incidences occurred?

[Aces4]

Much more sophisticated? It’s not clear you know what a LPS is - the design hasn’t changed much in 200 years.

So they are still attaching the LPS to roofs with square nails? :22yikes: Per AI:Advancements in Lightning Protection Systems (LPS) over the past two decades
Over the past 20 years, Lightning Protection Systems (LPS) have undergone significant advancements, particularly in their ability to monitor and potentially mitigate the effects of lightning strikes, moving beyond simply diverting the strike to the ground. Key changes and improvements include:
Move towards proactive lightning prevention: Instead of only channeling lightning to the ground, newer technologies like the CMCE Lightning Suppressor aim to proactively neutralize the atmospheric charge buildup that causes lightning, preventing strikes altogether.
Emphasis on internal building protection: LPS standards now incorporate measures to safeguard internal building functions and sensitive electronic equipment from power surges, electromagnetic pulses, and potential damage caused by lightning strikes, according to the Lightning Protection Institute.
Enhanced monitoring and maintenance: Modern LPS systems are incorporating AI and IoT for features like:
Predictive Maintenance: Analyzing lightning patterns and weather data to forecast risks and schedule proactive maintenance.
Autonomous Optimization: Self-calibrating grounding systems based on real-time environmental data.
Fault Diagnostics: Identifying potential vulnerabilities or degradation within the LPS, reducing the need for manual inspections.
Improved Testing and Inspection Methods: Drones are being used to enhance safety and efficiency in LPS testing, allowing for faster and more cost-effective inspections, especially in hard-to-reach areas like wind turbines.
Integration with broader safety and construction practices: There's a growing awareness of the need to integrate LPS design and installation with other building systems and construction processes for optimal safety and performance.
Refined standards and best practices: Organizations like the NFPA have updated standards like NFPA 780 to reflect the advancements in lightning protection, emphasizing comprehensive protection for structures and their internal systems.
These advancements reflect a growing understanding of lightning's multifaceted impact and the potential to move beyond traditional methods to actively prevent and monitor potential lightning damage, thereby improving safety and protecting valuable infrastructure and technology.

[Nana2Teddy]

The manufacturer of the CSST gas lines used here recommends a LPS for installation in some states including FL.

The CSST gas lines contacted by lightning often develop small perforations, around 100 mils wide, in the wall of the tubing when the lightning arcs from the CSST to an adjacent object.

This arcing burns a hole in the CSST which causes a gas leak and, in many cases, ignition of the gas which leads to a house fire.

https://www.gastite.com/downloads/pdfs/gastite_di_guide.pdf

ALL OWNERS should consult a lightning safety consultant to determine whether installation of a lightning protection system would be required to achieve sufficient protection for all building components from lightning.

Factors to consider include whether the area is prone to lightning. Areas with high lightning risk include but are not limited to: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, lowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexi-co, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

One currently available source of information regarding areas more prone to lighting than others is the flash density map provided by the National Weather Service which can be found at http://www.lightningsafety.noaa. gov/lightning_map.htm.

Lightning protection systems are beyond the scope of this manual and installation guidelines, but are covered by National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 780, the Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems, and other standards.

I have read in previous threads on this topic that some villagers have had the gas line in their attic replaced with a type that can’t be punctured by lightning. I don’t remember the details though. I think we’ll look into that option before we’ll consider a LPS installation.

[Altavia]

I have read in previous threads on this topic that some villagers have had the gas line in their attic replaced with a type that can’t be punctured by lightning. I don’t remember the details though. I think we’ll look into that option before we’ll consider a LPS installation.

Another option could be to replace gas appliances with electric and remove/cap off the iron gas line into the attic.

[Altavia]

Ok, so this just happened to me Monday night. Lightning strike did not appear to be a direct hit or I cannot find any holes anywhere for entry but it did come into the house blowing all my LED cabinet lights, sprinkler controller, smart WiFi wall switch, one computer monitor, cable modem as well as separate WiFi modem, LED attic light, garage door opener, microwave oven, and lastly the flexible gas supply hose on the gas stove (see pic). I was in the house when it happened and had neighbors texting me did your house get hit. Another resident in our village had a similar hit on their stove gas supply line about a month ago. I will be calling Duke to get their surge protection at the meter. I do not think from what I have read on here that lightning rods would have helped since it was not a direct hit?

With a direct or nearby strike strong enough to cause damage, insulation in appliances or the homes wiring could be degraded.

There's risk at some point the insulation could degrade over time enough to arc and start a fire.

There are devices like Ting designed to provide early warning and prevent fires. Some insurance companies provide them at no charge.

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

[jrref]

Lightning Strikes: Florida is known as the "Lightning Capital" of the United States due to frequent thunderstorms. The state experiences millions of lightning strikes annually. While not every strike hits a house directly, statistically, about 1 in 200 homes in the U.S. will be struck by lightning each year. This risk is even higher in Florida compared to other states due to the prevalence of storms.
Winning the Lottery: The odds of winning a major lottery jackpot like Powerball are astronomically low, approximately 1 in 292.2 million. The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are similar, at 1 in 302.6 million.
In summary
You are much more likely to have your house struck by lightning in Florida than to win a major lottery jackpot.
While the odds of a lightning strike on a specific house in a given year are still low (around 1 in 200), they are significantly higher than the odds of winning the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot (around 1 in 292 million to 1 in 302 million respectively).
It's important to remember that these are statistical probabilities. Taking precautions like installing a lightning protection system can further reduce the risk of a lightning strike damaging your home.

[jrref]

I have read in previous threads on this topic that some villagers have had the gas line in their attic replaced with a type that can’t be punctured by lightning. I don’t remember the details though. I think we’ll look into that option before we’ll consider a LPS installation.

So, if you live south of Rt44 with a gas house, your home will have improved flexible gas tubing but even with this, if you read the manufacturers web site under the warrenty, it states if you live in Florida, Texas and several other states where lightning is a problem, they recommend you consult with a Lightning Protection company. Meaning, while the chances of a gas fire from a Lightning Strike have been reduced with this improved tubing, there is still a chance that it will fail from a lightning event.

The only way to reduce the risk to near zero is to have a lightning protection system installed or replace all your flexible gas piping with solid black pipe. Replacing your flexible pipe with solid black pipe will cost way more than a LPS but without a LPS you still have the risk of lightning striking and causing a fire, just the gas pipe failure will not be a problem.

[twoplanekid]

Statistics:

100% of all homes hit by lightning last Friday had a Tesla close by.

This is what Grok on my Tesla tells me :smiley:

The odds of your home in The Villages, Florida, being hit by lightning are influenced by the area's high lightning activity, dense housing, and local conditions. Here’s a detailed assessment based on available data:

Florida’s Lightning Capital: Florida has the highest lightning strike density in the U.S., with an average of 25.3 cloud-to-ground strikes per square mile per year (1997–2018 data). The Villages, located in central Florida (Sumter, Lake, and Marion Counties), is in a particularly lightning-prone region, often cited as part of the "Lightning Alley" from Tampa to Orlando.
The Villages’ Lightning History: The Villages has a notable history of lightning strikes. Since 2004, at least 21 homes have been destroyed by lightning-related fires, with 11 strikes reported in the 12 months prior to August 2025. Additionally, a 2024 forum post noted an average of 6–8 lightning strikes on homes per year in The Villages over the past five years. This suggests a higher-than-average risk for residential properties due to the community’s size (over 80,000 homes) and exposure.

General Odds for a Specific Home: The National Weather Service estimates the odds of a specific home being struck by lightning in a given year at roughly 1 in 200,000 to 1 in 1,000,000 nationally. However, in high-risk areas like The Villages, the probability is likely closer to the higher end. A 2022 article from **************.com stated that the chance of a home being struck by lightning is greater than winning the lottery (approximately 1 in 300 million for a major jackpot), suggesting a rough annual probability of around 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 50,000 for a home in The Villages, though exact figures depend on local conditions.
Local Factors:

Geography and Density: The Villages’ flat terrain and dense housing increase the likelihood of strikes hitting homes rather than open land. A 2024 forum post speculated that the compact development pattern contributes to higher strike rates.

Construction: Many homes in The Villages have metallic elements (e.g., gas lines in attics), which may increase fire risk after a strike. Homes without lightning protection systems are more vulnerable to damage.

Recent Incidents: Examples include a home destroyed in the Village of Winifred (May 2025), a fire in the Village of Summerhill (July 2025), and a strike in the Village of DeLuna (August 2025), indicating frequent lightning-related damage.


Cumulative Risk: Over a 30-year period, assuming an annual probability of 1 in 50,000, the cumulative chance of your home being struck could be approximately 0.06% (1 in 1,667). If the annual risk is closer to 1 in 10,000 due to The Villages’ high strike rate, the 30-year probability rises to about 0.3% (1 in 333). These are rough estimates, as precise odds depend on your home’s specific location within The Villages (e.g., proximity to open fields or tall trees).

Mitigation: Installing a lightning protection system (LPS) certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or the Lightning Protection Institute can significantly reduce damage risk, though it doesn’t prevent strikes. About 18% of lightning-related fires in The Villages are linked to work-related activities or unprotected structures, suggesting that proper grounding and surge protection can lower risks.

Recommendation: For a more precise estimate, share your home’s specific village (e.g., Village of Charlotte, Winifred) or nearby features (e.g., golf courses, tall trees). You can also monitor local lightning activity using tools like WeatherBug’s lightning tracker for The Villages. To stay safe, follow the “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors” guideline and consider consulting a lightning expert like Len Hathaway, who offers safety tips in The Villages.

If you want, I can search for more specific data on recent strikes in your area or analyze any additional details you provide about your home!15 𝕏 posts25 web pages7.3sHow can Grok help?

[DBolen]

And the mission of the Villages Lightning Study Group is to do just that. To provide factual information, dispute myths and create awareness so Villagers can make their own decisions to reduce the risk or not.

Thank you for your post. At our house across from LSL in Creekside Landing, and had a surge due to lightning this past Friday night (accompanied by a heart-stopping thunder clap) that fried several costly items that will take us weeks and thousands of $ (equipment replacement and manpower) to replace.

We've been paying for SECO's Surge protection for 5+ years, and upon calling their offices this Monday August 18 to question coverage, they shared only that the coverage is up to 4,000 joules, providing contact info for a 3rd party we must contact with any questions or to file a claim in that regard.

After Friday night's lightning experience, I would appreciate learning what LPS / lightning rod options are available for small--parcel-homes such as courtyard villas that would not divert dangerous electricity towards neighbors.
Thanks much for any advice or info.

[jrref]

Thank you for your post. At our house across from LSL in Creekside Landing, and had a surge due to lightning this past Friday night (accompanied by a heart-stopping thunder clap) that fried several costly items that will take us weeks and thousands of $ (equipment replacement and manpower) to replace.

We've been paying for SECO's Surge protection for 5+ years, and upon calling their offices this Monday August 18 to question coverage, they shared only that the coverage is up to 4,000 joules, providing contact info for a 3rd party we must contact with any questions or to file a claim in that regard.

After Friday night's lightning experience, I would appreciate learning what LPS / lightning rod options are available for small--parcel-homes such as courtyard villas that would not divert dangerous electricity towards neighbors.
Thanks much for any advice or info.

I would start by reading this group. Nextdoor (https://nextdoor.com/g/m3h0uzuyn/)

You have two things to do. 1) Have surge protection installed. Call Lenhart Electric or Lake Deaton Electric, or Pikes Electric since they have the expertise to evaluate what you need. 2) You might want to consider a lightning protection system. You were very lucky that lightning didn't hit your home.

As far as the Seco surge protector, you are wasting your time trying to claim insurance with them because if you read the warranty, they clearly state they will not cover any devices with an electronic chip installed which is pretty much everything these days. Also, anything they might cover is secondary to your main insurance. That surge protector is designed mainly to protect your home from surges from the power utility and the whole house surge protector installed at your circuit breaker panel such as the Eaton Ultra is designed to cover everything else. Eaton's warranty does cover all your devices, electronic chip or not. If you have that installed you probably would have had little or no damage. Many believe the Seco surge protector at the meter protects the whole house but it doesn't. Unfortunately, you need both protectors plus point of use protectors at your sensitive electronic devices such as computers and TVs.

Forgot to mention, if you decide to get a LPS system installed, you will have a long wait. I understand A1 is booked out to January. Becasue of all the severe storms and strikes with fire, many are lowering their risk by getting a system.

[ResQme]

Lightning hit at least two houses in Middleton in the past couple of weeks; no fires, but one house had damages to their irrigation, garage door openers, major appliances, including a brand new TV and oven, pool equipment, AC handler, and tankless water heater. A lot of the houses there are having lightning protection installed; at least half a dozen installed this past week alone.

[jrref]

Lightning hit at least two houses in Middleton in the past couple of weeks; no fires, but one house had damages to their irrigation, garage door openers, major appliances, including a brand new TV and oven, pool equipment, AC handler, and tankless water heater. A lot of the houses there are having lightning protection installed; at least half a dozen installed this past week alone.

So lightning probably hit near by their homes and they got a lightning induced power surge. In order to protect your home from this you need a whole house surge protector such as the Eaton Ultra. Call Dave at Lake Deaton Electric he can advise you and your neighbors.

[ResQme]

So lightning probably hit near by their homes and they got a lightning induced power surge. In order to protect your home from this you need a whole house surge protector such as the Eaton Ultra. Call Dave at Lake Deaton Electric he can advise you and your neighbors.

One house (the one I mentioned with the damages) definitely got hit by lightning directly. The fire dept. came to check out their house, right after the strike. They also posted photos of the spot where the lightning hit. They had lightning rods installed a week later.

[asianthree]

One house (the one I mentioned with the damages) definitely got hit by lightning directly. The fire dept. came to check out their house, right after the strike. They also posted photos of the spot where the lightning hit. They had lightning rods installed a week later.

So there is a company that isn’t booked out until January. Do you know what company they used for install in a week? Many would love this information. Was this a 2 story home?

[ResQme]

So there is a company that isn’t booked out until January. Do you know what company they used for install in a week? Many would love this information. Was this a 2 story home?

Yes, theirs is a two-story home. There are a lot of two-story homes in Middleton. They posted photos of where the lightning hit (there seem to be two spots) My daughter lives across from them. My daughter's neighbors on both sides had lightning rods installed by this company this week. This is extracted from the Middleton FB group:

Hi Neighbors,
I wanted to share something important with you. Earlier this month, our house was struck by lightning during a storm. It was a very scary experience, and unfortunately, it caused major damage—we lost pool equipment, an AC air handler, tankless hot water heater, irrigation controller, a brand new TV, our oven, and even our garage doors.
To prevent something like this from happening again, we’ve decided to have lightning rods installed by WB Lightning Rods, a family-owned company that has been in business for over 50 years with an excellent reputation.
Here’s the good news: they are currently offering a 15% group discount if at least three houses in our neighborhood sign up together. Since we’re still in the middle of lightning season, I wanted to pass this along in case anyone else is considering protecting their home.
If you’re ready to move forward within the next two weeks, I highly recommend reaching out to WB Lightning Rods to take advantage of this offer. Not only will it save money, but it could also save you from the stress and expense of what we went through. I actually have an alternative phone number to call. I guess they have been so busy. They can’t keep up with their voicemails because of an influx of recent calls . You can text them or call them at 321-217-3438

[Ignatz]

One house (the one I mentioned with the damages) definitely got hit by lightning directly. The fire dept. came to check out their house, right after the strike. They also posted photos of the spot where the lightning hit. They had lightning rods installed a week later.

Can you re-post the photos here? Curious to see what they look like.

[Nana2Teddy]

Another option could be to replace gas appliances with electric and remove/cap off the iron gas line into the attic.
We love gas appliances, which is all we’ve ever used prior to moving here. Also, our electric bill is huge enough already between the AC, 3 mini-splits, electric tankless water heater, whole house dehumidifier, and one (of 2) electric golf carts.

[Nana2Teddy]

So, if you live south of Rt44 with a gas house, your home will have improved flexible gas tubing but even with this, if you read the manufacturers web site under the warrenty, it states if you live in Florida, Texas and several other states where lightning is a problem, they recommend you consult with a Lightning Protection company. Meaning, while the chances of a gas fire from a Lightning Strike have been reduced with this improved tubing, there is still a chance that it will fail from a lightning event.

The only way to reduce the risk to near zero is to have a lightning protection system installed or replace all your flexible gas piping with solid black pipe. Replacing your flexible pipe with solid black pipe will cost way more than a LPS but without a LPS you still have the risk of lightning striking and causing a fire, just the gas pipe failure will not be a problem.
So why do you recommend only two LPS companies when there are others available to do the job much sooner as stated by that Middleton homeowner who just had their system installed very quickly?

[ResQme]

Can you re-post the photos here? Curious to see what they look like.

I have "attached" the photos.

[jrref]

Yes, theirs is a two-story home. There are a lot of two-story homes in Middleton. They posted photos of where the lightning hit (there seem to be two spots) My daughter lives across from them. My daughter's neighbors on both sides had lightning rods installed by this company this week. This is extracted from the Middleton FB group:

Hi Neighbors,
I wanted to share something important with you. Earlier this month, our house was struck by lightning during a storm. It was a very scary experience, and unfortunately, it caused major damage—we lost pool equipment, an AC air handler, tankless hot water heater, irrigation controller, a brand new TV, our oven, and even our garage doors.
To prevent something like this from happening again, we’ve decided to have lightning rods installed by WB Lightning Rods, a family-owned company that has been in business for over 50 years with an excellent reputation.
Here’s the good news: they are currently offering a 15% group discount if at least three houses in our neighborhood sign up together. Since we’re still in the middle of lightning season, I wanted to pass this along in case anyone else is considering protecting their home.
If you’re ready to move forward within the next two weeks, I highly recommend reaching out to WB Lightning Rods to take advantage of this offer. Not only will it save money, but it could also save you from the stress and expense of what we went through. I actually have an alternative phone number to call. I guess they have been so busy. They can’t keep up with their voicemails because of an influx of recent calls . You can text them or call them at 321-217-3438

It's good that they got a LPS. Doing some research on WB Lightning Rods they look like a "legit" company from their web site. As part of the Villages Lightning Study Group we would like to go see one of these installations. Can someone reach out to us? Nextdoor (https://nextdoor.com/g/m3h0uzuyn/)

[jrref]

I have "attached" the photos.

Thanks for the pictures. These people were very lucky.

[asianthree]

I have "attached" the photos.

Thank you for taking the time to post. All of your information and responses are very helpful, to residents, not just the pics. Recommending a business that is BBB rated, long standing in many communities, and very helpful with questions.

The damage is what we have witnessed on most homes that usually are only reported with their FB site. We had homes in 5 different villages for the past 15+ years. Pics of homes struck by Lightning, but thankfully Damage that was quickly repaired.

Too bad there was a suppressor, to help with all the appliances.

Again thank you for valuable info.

[jrref]

So why do you recommend only two LPS companies when there are others available to do the job much sooner as stated by that Middleton homeowner who just had their system installed very quickly?

Good question. When installing a Lightning Protection System here in the state of Florida and it may be the same in other states, there are:

No state or local certification of LPS installers
No state or local licensing
No building permits with follow up inspections

So, without a Lightning Protection Institute and or UL Certification there is no way to know for sure if the systems are being installed properly. That's not to say that any of these companies are installing improperly, just there is no way know. After having a system installed you can pay for and get UL to come out and certify your installation where they give you a certificate for 5 years but very few do this and it's not necessary if the installers are LPI and or UL certified. Many companies have consumer protection awards, etc, like from the Better Business Bureau but none from technical agencies.

All this said, It would be great to have more qualified LPS installation companies working here in the Villages since the two certified ones are always booked for unreasonably long periods of time every year. Also, additional companies may bring prices for these systems down a little. But the problem with a Lightning Protection System is after it's installed the homeowner has no way of knowing if it was actually installed properly and is going to work. So for example, does each air terminal (lightning rod) have two paths to ground? Does each ground rod have less than 25 ohms of resistance to ground? Is the company using all the necessary UL certified cables and connectors? Are the rods placed on the roof correctly to give the proper coverage? NFPA 780 which is the standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems lists all the necessary requirements. I'm not an inspector but these are some of the things that are listed in NFPA 780 to insure that the system will work.

[Duck*Soup]

It's good that they got a LPS. Doing some research on WB Lightning Rods they look like a "legit" company from their web site. As part of the Villages Lightning Study Group we would like to go see one of these installations. Can someone reach out to us? Nextdoor (https://nextdoor.com/g/m3h0uzuyn/)

Has the Group conducted inspections of any installations that were in violation of the established standards?

[jrref]

Has the Group conducted inspections of any installations that were in violation of the established standards?

As stated, we are not certified to conduct inspections of a lightning protection systems. There are UL and LPI certified inspectors that do this work one of which lives here in the Villages and advises our group. But, we have seen installations installed by some "unknown" companies that clearly violate some of the NFPA 780 installation standards which is why we make people aware of LPI and or UL certified installers.

[thelegges]

It's good that they got a LPS. Doing some research on WB Lightning Rods they look like a "legit" company from their web site. As part of the Villages Lightning Study Group we would like to go see one of these installations. Can someone reach out to us? Nextdoor (https://nextdoor.com/g/m3h0uzuyn/)

Good question. When installing a Lightning Protection System here in the state of Florida and it may be the same in other states, there are:

No state or local certification of LPS installers
No state or local licensing
No building permits with follow up inspections

So, without a Lightning Protection Institute and or UL Certification there is no way to know for sure if the systems are being installed properly. That's not to say that any of these companies are installing improperly, just there is no way know. After having a system installed you can pay for and get UL to come out and certify your installation where they give you a certificate for 5 years but very few do this and it's not necessary if the installers are LPI and or UL certified. Many companies have consumer protection awards, etc, like from the Better Business Bureau but none from technical agencies.

All this said, It would be great to have more qualified LPS installation companies working here in the Villages since the two certified ones are always booked for unreasonably long periods of time every year. Also, additional companies may bring prices for these systems down a little. But the problem with a Lightning Protection System is after it's installed the homeowner has no way of knowing if it was actually installed properly and is going to work. So for example, does each air terminal (lightning rod) have two paths to ground? Does each ground rod have less than 25 ohms of resistance to ground? Is the company using all the necessary UL certified cables and connectors? Are the rods placed on the roof correctly to give the proper coverage? NFPA 780 which is the standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems lists all the necessary requirements. I'm not an inspector but these are some of the things that are listed in NFPA 780 to insure that the system will work.

Has the Group conducted inspections of any installations that were in violation of the established standards?

Duck Soup brings up an excellent point.

Honest question if one isn’t an inspector, as posted.

Why would you request to look at a system installed by a company that your club hasn’t recognized? Does The Lightning Club routinely go to every install, or just to random checks to ensure quality is up to the clubs standards. After all not all businesses can be perfect every time, sometimes there can be a misstep

[jrref]

Duck Soup brings up an excellent point.

Honest question if one isn’t an inspector, as posted.

Why would you request to look at a system installed by a company that your club hasn’t recognized? Does The Lightning Club routinely go to every install, or just to random checks to ensure quality is up to the clubs standards. After all not all businesses can be perfect every time, sometimes there can be a misstep

We would like to look at the lightning damage in more detail.

[thelegges]

It's good that they got a LPS. Doing some research on WB Lightning Rods they look like a "legit" company from their web site. As part of the Villages Lightning Study Group we would like to go see one of these installations. Can someone reach out to us? Nextdoor (https://nextdoor.com/g/m3h0uzuyn/)

We would like to look at the lightning damage in more detail.

But you posted “they look like a Legit” company. The VLSG would like to Go See One Of These Installations.

The lightning damage was on a home that didn’t have an install. So why does the group want to inspect an installation with no one certified as an Inspector?

Wouldn’t it be beneficial to use a certified inspector if the group has questions about certain companies?

After all the cost of inspection would be appropriate with any company after a $2-4,000 price tag

[Aces4]

But you posted “they look like a Legit” company. The VLSG would like to Go See One Of These Installations.

The lightning damage was on a home that didn’t have an install. So why does the group want to inspect an installation with no one certified as an Inspector?

Wouldn’t it be beneficial to use a certified inspector if the group has questions about certain companies?

After all the cost of inspection would be appropriate with any company after a $2-4,000 price tag

It probably would be beneficial to use a certified inspector and does one suggest the group has a bake sale to pay for that extra cost?

[jrref]

But you posted “they look like a Legit” company. The VLSG would like to Go See One Of These Installations.

The lightning damage was on a home that didn’t have an install. So why does the group want to inspect an installation with no one certified as an Inspector?

Wouldn’t it be beneficial to use a certified inspector if the group has questions about certain companies?

After all the cost of inspection would be appropriate with any company after a $2-4,000 price tag

You are misinterpreting my comments.

What we do is take a look at the damage to the home and surrounding homes if it applys. Since this was a house in Middleton, many are multi story. It would be interesting to see what the LPS company did to mitagate the problem on that type of structure and what else they did such as installing surge protection, etc..

If the homeowner has a concern then they can have an independent inspector come out for an additionaly cost.

[kbrkr]

I'm curious to know how many more homes have been hit by lightening in the southern part of the Villages as opposed to the North. The North has taller Oak trees which can attract more lightening before it hits a home. The southern homes do not have as many mature trees.

Do you think this makes a difference?

[Bill14564]

I'm curious to know how many more homes have been hit by lightening in the southern part of the Villages as opposed to the North. The North has taller Oak trees which can attract more lightening before it hits a home. The southern homes do not have as many mature trees.

Do you think this makes a difference?

I doubt the trees make much of a difference but if you gather information about both trees and homes then maybe something would stand out.

Odd things about weather:
- In the Finger Lakes region of NY State, storms seem to often stay on one side or the other of I90. In particular, lake-effect snow seems to stay north of I90. Just the way the weather works there.

- In the mid-atlantic states, weather seems to stay east or west of I95. Again, just the way it seems to work there.

- In Central Florida it often seems like lighting and rain approaches the Villages but then breaks up as it gets to this area. I don't know how many times I've seen the heavy area of precipitation break up as it approaches the Villages and go around.

All this might just be my imagination weighted by confirmation bias but on the other hand, if there is something true about those points above, then it could also be true that the heaviest lightning stays south of 44. This area has always had lightning but before there were homes south of 44 the lightning hit trees or swamp. Now there are homes and lightning strikes. The number of lightning strikes may not have changed, but the likelihood that there would be a house underneath one has increased a lot.

[jrref]

I doubt the trees make much of a difference but if you gather information about both trees and homes then maybe something would stand out.

All this might just be my imagination weighted by confirmation bias but on the other hand, if there is something true about those points above, then it could also be true that the heaviest lightning stays south of 44. This area has always had lightning but before there were homes south of 44 the lightning hit trees or swamp. Now there are homes and lightning strikes. The number of lightning strikes may not have changed, but the likelihood that there would be a house underneath one has increased a lot.

You are exactly right. This is why we are seeing a lot more strikes hitting homes in the South of the Villages and more strikes overall.

BTW, tall trees don't make a difference as you know by the pictures I've posted. Lightning "connects" to the point on the earth that has the highest positive potential during a storm and that might not be the towering tree over your home.

[Duck*Soup]

But you posted “they look like a Legit” company. The VLSG would like to Go See One Of These Installations.

The lightning damage was on a home that didn’t have an install. So why does the group want to inspect an installation with no one certified as an Inspector?

Wouldn’t it be beneficial to use a certified inspector if the group has questions about certain companies?

After all the cost of inspection would be appropriate with any company after a $2-4,000 price tag

I am perplexed by the repeated warnings regarding inadequate installers from individuals who appear to lack the certifications/ expertise to discern improper installations.

Instead, they have solely recommended the same two local companies.

A Google search will reveal other options in Tampa and Orlando.

[thelegges]

As stated, we are not certified to conduct inspections of a lightning protection systems. There are UL and LPI certified inspectors that do this work one of which lives here in the Villages and advises our group. But, we have seen installations installed by some "unknown" companies that clearly violate some of the NFPA 780 installation standards which is why we make people aware of LPI and or UL certified installers.

Did the “Certified” inspector note the installers clearly violated standards? If so wouldn’t the inspector advised homeowners, there was clearly install violation? And what action should follow?

The homeowner after spending a few thousand would definitely have company name, so “unknown” should not be a factor.

Or has the group just noticed homes, looking at installs, without owner knowledge,

” noticed standard install violations”, and the “Unknown” is no communication with homeowner for installers company name?

My hope is if the club notices installer violation standards, the homeowners would be thankful for the information. Or at least warning that an installation violation has clearly been noted by the Club. Your next action should be_________________.

Just trying to understand how the club finds the NFPA 780 violations, as posted.

The club would be doing a great community service to give notice of violations to homeowners

[Ignatz]

I have "attached" the photos.

Thanks for the pics!

I was curious about what the damage would look like.

[jrref]

I am perplexed by the repeated warnings regarding inadequate installers from individuals who appear to lack the certifications/ expertise to discern improper installations.

Instead, they have solely recommended the same two local companies.

A Google search will reveal other options in Tampa and Orlando.

You are missing the message regarding installation.

In order for a lightning protection system to work properly and reliably, it has to be installed properly. This means the air terminals or rods have to be installed in the proper places to insure coverage, the ground rods have to have a resistance to ground less than 25 ohms, the cables coming over your eves have to be a certain arc and not 90 degree angles, every air terminal has to have at least 2 paths to ground, all metal "objects" on your roof have to be grounded, etc.. The Study Group has an in-depth knowledge of what needs to be done but we are not certified by LPI or UL to conduct these inspections. Can any of us see obvious issues with an installation, yes but that's not what we do. We create awareness on the subject so Villagers can make informed decisions on whatever they decide is best for them.

Installers that are LPI and or UL certified such as A1 and Triangle, will install residential systems the same way every time according to NFPA 780. But as mentioned several times, you can go to the LPI web site and look for installers here -> Find a Contractor - Lightning Protection Institute (https://lightning.org/about/find-a-contractor/)

So, does all this mean you shouldn't use a non-certified installer? That's up to you. Many may do excellent work, some may not. There is no way to tell 100% for sure. For example, we were invited to look at a home recently that was hit, a small strike, no fire and while we were there we noticed the next door neighbor had a LPS installed and one of the copper cables comming off the roof was physically "nailed" (attached with roof clamps) to the aluminum siding trim from the peak to the gutter right on the face of the metal trim. Clearly wrong. Although this deviation was obvious, correct grounding may not be and require special equipment. If I personally, were to use a non-LPI and or UL certified installer, I would ask for a report showing the earth grounding test results. I would make sure they had a good business record without complaints. If the company is installing a lot of systems, eventually some homes would eventually get hit and if the system didn't work there would be something written about it. I would make sure I got as much information ahead of time on what they were going to install such as a copper system with UL certified components, how deep and what length will the earth grounding rods be installed, how many air terminals and where will they be placed, insure that they will have two paths to ground for every air terminal, if you have those metal circular vents on your roof, make sure they are going to ground them, make sure they will "bond" (ground) your outside HVAC, pool and spa equipment, make sure they ground the LPS ground circuit to your utility ground and when comparing prices if the price was significantly lower than everyone else's price, I would be concerned.

BTW, you can also get an aluminum system at a cheaper price but copper is reusable when you change your roof where aluminum is not and if you have a white or silver colored roof, aluminum will look better so you have a choice.

Hope this helps.

[bopat]

From this lightning map from July 2024 it doesn't look like anyplace in the villages gets more or less.

July 2024 Sunshine State Stats – SECO Energy (https://secoenergy.com/july-2024-sunshine-state-stats-2/)

[jrref]

From this lightning map from July 2024 it doesn't look like anyplace in the villages gets more or less.

July 2024 Sunshine State Stats – SECO Energy (https://secoenergy.com/july-2024-sunshine-state-stats-2/)

Right, Central Florida in general get's the most lightning, not any specific area like the Villages.

Get the app My Lightning Tracker for you phone. It's free and a real "eye opener" next time we have a storm.

[dewilson58]

Right, Central Florida in general get's the most lightning, not any specific area like the Villages.

Get the app My Lightning Tracker for you phone. It's free and a real "eye opener" next time we have a storm.

The app is amazing if it's accurate.

Question..........they are not all ground stricks (my understanding), do you know what it takes to register as lightning "red dot"??

[jrref]

The app is amazing if it's accurate.

Question..........they are not all ground stricks (my understanding), do you know what it takes to register as lightning "red dot"??

That’s right. According to what I read they are any lightning strike. Cloud to cloud, cloud to ground, etc. apparently the app has no way to distinguish the type of strike. But it’s crazy right in the number of lightning events during a storm?