Lightning protection
 

Good afternoon, we've been recently approached to add lightning rods to our new house, athough I've not seen many in the neighborhood. We've lived many years in the mid west and inspite of frequent and occasionally violent thunderstorms, we've never considered them necessary.

Is there a different storm enviornment in Central Florida which would suggest there is a need for lightning protection?

Thank you, Ron

Ron, we were just approached about lightning rods about 15 minutes ago. We took the card, but are naturally skeptical, too. Is there anyone out there with experience regarding this? Is it a necessity here?

Lightning capital of the US, they say.
First place I'd check would be my Homeowners Insurance agent to see if the rods would reduce the premium. :undecided:

Easiest answer is to drive around....how many lightening rods do you see on houses???

That will tell you how important it is to most homeowners...

If you aren't in TV, I can tell you; you will not see very many, if any.

Thank you, KayakerNC - we'll do that!

why would one want to draw lightning to their house?

I would estimate that less than 5% of homes in our village have them.

We had the guy do an estimate. I looked at the odds, the estimate and what the majority of people who lived here long before us...I chose to pass on the $2500 lightning rods!!!

btk

It's BS you don't need them.

Yes, TV is the lightning capital of the country. The storms can run through here pretty rough - it's semi tropical. That said, how many homes are
actually hit by lightning? not many.

Lightning rods can and do attract the lightning, but disperse it into the ground.

I don't have 'em, don't plan to, I think it's mostly a lot of hype,
the cost compared to the benefit.

We spoke with our home insurance rep after being approached about lightning rods this afternoon. She said that she personally knows of 5 strikes hitting houses within the past 4 1/2 years, that all TV commercial buildings have rods, and that there is no reduction in premiums for having them installed.

Food for thought...
 

We are also pretty new to The Villages (St. James) and respect the lightning here in Florida since we only moved an hour north from Wesley Chapel. We were also approached by the lightning rod man and declined. Our neighbor took advantage of the $750.00 offer and had the rods installed. She later had an electrician come to do some work and he pointed out that since she was the only one in our neighborhood with the rods, it would most likely attract a strike, if one were close. She had the lightning rods removed and said it was an expensive lesson learned. Just food for thought...

I'm in a CYV and I've just had 5 neighbors install lightning rods on my street within 100' of my home since Saturday, even if I was considering it, I no longer need them with all that protection around me. I forget the name of the company, but he has a big red Ford P/U truck and has been on my block everyday. It's like all the other contractors, once they get their foot in the door all the other neighbors follow.

Personally, I'd rather go with a whole-house surge protector, with some plug in protectors for the TV, computers, etc.
Unless you are on the highest elevation in your neighborhood, with the tallest trees, I'm not sure about the value of lightning rods. It sure doesn't sound like the insurance companies think they are worthwhile.

I think that there is a lot of misinformation about “lightning rods”, and folks should do some (non-TOTV opinion) research before making a decision.

Surge protectors for appliances and lightning rods provide two completely different types of protection. The fact that insurance companies don't give discounts for LPS doesn't mean that they aren't worthwhile. Elevation in TV and/or tree height is pretty much a moot point.

Sounds like you're all set John!