Fire in Pinellas
 

Can anyone recommend a company that installs lightening rods for homes? After yesterday's lightening strike, we want to have protection installed. Looking for a company that A-1 in their field.

Can anyone remember the name of the villager who goes around and explains the dangers of lightning? He also has a regular column in the POA Bulletin. He and his partner live here, do NOT sell lightning rods or suggest anyone to install them. He does explain what is a good installation. Try to get him and his partner to come to talk to your neighborhood group if you can. He is very well informed and is not selling anything. He tells about all forms of lightning and will explain away some common myths such as if your neighbor has lightning rods you are protected.


There are good installers and others who aren't doing it properly according to him, but he won't name names. He purposely went to the University of Florida to gain information on lightning after he moved here as he was alarmed about the lightning strikes in central Florida. We ARE the lightning capital of the US in this area of Florida. He shares his information at no charge and he is well informed, believe me. He spoke to our neighborhood group. His screen name is lightning on this forum. You can send him a PM.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...156213.graphic

Two homes in a little more than a year. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm..............

First one on May 8, 2013 and one yesterday, 6/15/14.

I think I will check into what protection is needed!!!!!

This is the ninth home in eight years that has been made completely unlivable due to a lightning strike here in The Villages. Fortunately no one was hurt.

We used A-1 Lightning Protection 1-866-465-0620. Jeff the owner gave a 1 hour demonstration of everything he was going to do and why it had to be done that way. His installation crew was courteous and did an awesome job. :BigApplause:

Good Post.

We used Advanced Lightning Protection from Ocala. Had ours installed in 2010.
The cost at that time was close to $1600 for a Lantana. Price included a surge protector. The system was UL inspected and that was an additional fee. Fee was $325 at that time. I watched the install and walked along with the UL inspector when he did his inspection.

I am not sure why one wants lightning rods on there house. Would it be the same like putting a cell tower in your front yard?
Where does the lighting go after it hits the rods? Does it go to your neighbors house?

Lightning rod - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"A lightning rod (US, AUS) or lightning conductor (UK) is a metal rod or metallic object mounted on top of an elevated structure, such as a building, a ship, or even a tree, electrically bonded using a wire or electrical conductor to interface with ground or "earth" through an electrode, engineered to protect the structure in the event of lightning strike. If lightning hits the structure, it will preferentially strike the rod and be conducted to ground through the wire, instead of passing through the structure, where it could start a fire or cause electrocution.

"A lightning rod is a single component in a lightning protection system. Lightning rods are also called finials, air terminals or strike termination devices. The lightning rod requires a connection to earth to perform its protective function. Lightning rods come in many different forms, including hollow, solid, pointed, rounded, flat strips or even bristle brush-like. The main attribute common to all lightning rods is that they are conductive."

You have to take in consideration that with thousands of homes in TV this is going to occur. Think about it? With all the square miles of homes here lightning is going to get one every once and a while!

Check out this link.
 

In Southeast, Ground Rods May Not Protect Homes Against Lightning » News » University of Florida

We had a lightning strike hit between the neighbor's house and our's on June 7, 2014. The electrician insisted on getting power surge protectors. It does not sound like lightning rods are the solution in areas with sandy soil. It does not always conduct the electricity well so it goes back into the house.

Be careful----this situation is perfect for a scam. While living in The Village of Hadley a few years ago, a couple of guys approached me while in my front,yard that supposedly installed lightning rods. They said for $900.00 they could fix me up so I would never have to worry about lightning again. But if I let them do it today they would knock off $100.00.

Of course, I sent them on their way. I'm no expert but after a bit of reading about lightning rods I wasn't certain I wanted them on my house. I will pass until further research.

OP, is correct to look for a recommendation of a reputable company if you are going to have lightning rods installed on your home.

Only you the homeowner can decide if you need to provide a lightning protection system (lightning rods). If you do you would be wise to select an installer that is listed by both Underwriters Laboratories and the Lightning Protection Institute. See the back issues on the POA4us.org web site for names and phone numbers. We have yet to find a door-to-door installer that meets the above.

50,000 homes in The Villages. 9 allegedly damaged by lightning in 8 years. So the odds of being hit by a damaging lightning strike are pretty small. But if it makes you feel better, spend the money on lightning rods.