lightening rods
 

I am considering installation of a lightening protection system.I have an a Amerillo ranch home. I would like some feedback on using aluminum on roof versus copper. Any experience with local companies. Price. etc. Pros and Cons. Thanks

Copper costs more but it is a better conductor of electricity. The copper cables are thinner than the aluminum ones. I will let people better qualified than me answer your questions about installation companies and cost as I have not installed lightening rods on my home.

Alum is UL cert for this.

to figure cost the materiel are about 3-400 dollars, add two hours labor for a fair price.

We also have a Amerillo and had A-1 Lightening Protection instal our system. Very happy with the owner Jeff and his staff. Total cost after whole house surge protector and device protectors, 2,700.00

We're using A1. Not yet installed, but high recommended.

Do a search on TOTV before you do anything as there have been lots of previous discussions. From what I have seen, lightning rods only offer limited protection for a direct strike, you can ask the installer what the guarantee is for a direct strike. You are much more likely to be involved with a close in strike, and in that case the whole house surge protection system would be a better choice, in my humble opinion. I just had the SECO system installed.

There have been 13 Villagers with lightning rods who have reported a direct strike to their homes. None experienced a fire or any structural damage. Some did experience damaged electronics especially where there was incomplete surge protection.

There are no guarantees. Lightning is highly unpredictable and anything manmade can fail. Over the years various studies have been conducted on lightning rod failures and the typical cause is neglect and lack of maintenance. They have no moving parts but every three to five years you should have your installer check out the system - immediately if you believe that you have been struck or have added on or re-roofed. Lightning rods have been successfully used now for over 250 years.

I too am interested in a lightning protection system and price from a professional, qualified licensed installer. Please pass along any info you might collect.

Read my earlier post on this thread I give the price we paid.

For the best results use an installer that is UL listed and their workers have been qualifed by exam by the Lightning Protection Insistute. Do not be misled by a prospective vendor telling you they use UL listed componets - this is not the same as the firm being UL listed. Those firms known to be working in this area are A-1 Lightning, Triangle Lightning, and Central Lightning.

Good solid information. Thanks!

I have houses around me with lightning rods. I figure they'll attract lightning and I'll be ok!!!!!!

This illustrates one of the myths about lightning. There is no scientific evidence to support such a claim. We have seen two homes right here in The Villages totally destroyed by lightning and nearby homes had a lightning protection system. An unprotected home gets no benefit from its neighbors properly designed, installed, ad maintained lightning protection system.