[Aces4]

Originally Posted by jrref

I always wanted to say that.

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

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Aces4

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.

Originally Posted by jrref

I always wanted to say that.

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]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

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.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

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.

That is personal bias. I'd give it a rest, we are all adults and can make a decision based on the facts provided. We all retired our mommies a long time ago.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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 and the next page 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...

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Aces4

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

[DeLunatics]

Originally Posted by asianthree

What jealousy would be involved?
The thought process?
The house that went up in flames, nowhere nearby, and you had LPS?
Didn’t research other than the two contractors posted?

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

We had no LPS on our Catalina 30 Tall Rig. Thankfully, never had a problem.