[jrref]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

Since the insurance companies have dictated that a roof needs to replaced every 10 years, do the LPS have to be taken down while the roof gets replaced ? This would mean more than a one time cost to install.

Yes when your roof needs replacement the LPS needs to be taken down and re-installed on the new roof. We have had someone do this and it wasn't as expensive as a new installation since most of the system can be re-used.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by Altavia

Maybe I missed something but for me, that is a very strange web site.

Other than the surge protection recommendations, it reads like some kind of a LPS inspection scam. The goofy installation video is rediculous, makes it hard to take anything there serious.

I should have noted, Click on "More" in the upper right side of the Menu to see all the Information on Lightning Protection Systems and Surge Protection.

[djlnc]

Originally Posted by jrref

Although I understand your point, it doesn't work like that.

So for example, if you have 10 homes in an open field with only one with lightning rods, during a severe storm all 10 homes would build up positive charges on their roofs. If the negative charges in a cloud were strong enough to cause a lightning strike, all 9 of the homes would have a relatively equal chance of being hit randomly on their roof structure causing a fire where the 1 with the lightning rods would most likely be hit at one of it's lightning rods diverting the charge safely to earth ground without damage or fire.

But, isn't the house with lightning rods effectively 15 or 20 feet higher than the other houses, making it more likely to get struck as lightning will want to take the shortest path?

[jrref]

Originally Posted by djlnc

But, isn't the house with lightning rods effectively 15 or 20 feet higher than the other houses, making it more likely to get struck as lightning will want to take the shortest path?

All homes are at different heights and lightning rods are typically about 12 inches long for residential installations.

Lightning is unpredictable and we have seen cases where a house next to a very large tree was struck and the tree was not so there is no way to predict what can happen.

[djlnc]

Originally Posted by jrref

All homes are at different heights and lightning rods are typically about 12 inches long for residential installations.

Lightning is unpredictable and we have seen cases where a house next to a very large tree was struck and the tree was not so there is no way to predict what can happen.

Well, it's probably an unanswerable question since strikes are relatively rare and always different circumstances. However, I have to question the blanket claim that LPS does not attract lightning. How does one substantiate that? If there is a buildup of millions of volts in the clouds in my area that is looking for a place to go, it just seems logical that the house with the lightning rods that have that great connection to ground and are closer to that charge in the clouds than the other houses would be the likely path that lightning would choose.

[retiredguy123]

How many houses have experienced lightning damage and what was the cost of the damage in the last 10 years in The Villages?

What percentage of houses in The Villages have lightning protection systems?

You can hype lightning protection systems all you want, but without this information, you cannot have an serious or productive discussion about the need for a lightning protection system.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by djlnc

Well, it's probably an unanswerable question since strikes are relatively rare and always different circumstances. However, I have to question the blanket claim that LPS does not attract lightning. How does one substantiate that? If there is a buildup of millions of volts in the clouds in my area that is looking for a place to go, it just seems logical that the house with the lightning rods that have that great connection to ground and are closer to that charge in the clouds than the other houses would be the likely path that lightning would choose.

Good questions, the key is giving the energy a safe path to go.

There are ground wires in the house wiring criss crossing throughout the attic and home.
L And If you have natural gas, there are grounded metalic lines the attic. Neither can safely direct the energy.

The LPS provides a high energy path to ground around the exterior of the building to dissipate the strike safely thus reducing the risk.

Knowing The Villages installs LPS on critical infrastructure is enough verification for me.

[Fltpkr]

Originally Posted by jrref

Has anyone heard about the home in DeLuna that was hit by lightning last Thursday?

Made a hole in the roof, small fire and somehow damaged the water line and driveway.

We are seeing more homes hit recently due to the denser population and severe storms.

If you decide to get a lightning protection system be sure to get a UL certified installer. A1 and Triangle do installations here in the Villages.

Does UL certify “installers”?

[Altavia]

Lightning Protection Professional Certification | UL Solutions

I'd also look for someone with 5+ years experience and check references.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

How many houses have experienced lightning damage and what was the cost of the damage in the last 10 years in The Villages?

What percentage of houses in The Villages have lightning protection systems?

You can hype lightning protection systems all you want, but without this information, you cannot have an serious or productive discussion about the need for a lightning protection system.

Len Hathaway has the statistics and I asked him to answer this question with the facts but in retrospect although your home is insured, lightning and the ensuing fire can cause loss of life, loss of unreplaceable personal belongings, loss of your primary residence for a year or more depending on the amount of destruction. You also need to consider the incredible stress on your family during the re-build when your home is damaged or destroyed or repair and replace with power surge destruction. That said, just like getting sink hole or flood insurance you need to determine you tolerance for Risk.

As mentioned, the people in the home in DeLuna were lucky because someone was home to call the fire department quickly but the people in Linden were not.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by Altavia

Good questions, the key is giving the energy a safe path to go.

There are ground wires in the house wiring criss crossing throughout the attic and home.
L And If you have natural gas, there are grounded metalic lines the attic. Neither can safely direct the energy.

The LPS provides a high energy path to ground around the exterior of the building to dissipate the strike safely thus reducing the risk.

Knowing The Villages installs LPS on critical infrastructure is enough verification for me.

Correct, thanks for this reply.

As mentioned, Lightning is unpredictible. During a storm all the homes will build up a positive charge and just because one has lightning rods doesn't make it "more charged". Your next door neighbors house could build up more charge than yours with the rods or a cloud with more negative charge could be closer to your neighbor down the street causing lightning to strike their house vs yours. All the lightning rods do is provide a safe path to earth ground if your home is hit vs the lightning hitting the structure randomly and causing a fire and destruction.

Hope this helps.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by Altavia

Lightning Protection Professional Certification | UL Solutions

I'd also look for someone with 5+ years experience and check references.

I'm not affiliated in any way with these UL Certified installers who have been installing LPS systems in the Villages for many years.

In alphabetical order:

A-1 Lightning Protection
352-465-0620

Central Lightning Protection
407-380-6995

Triangle Lightning Protection
352-483-7020

[Lightning]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

How many houses have experienced lightning damage and what was the cost of the damage in the last 10 years in The Villages?

What percentage of houses in The Villages have lightning protection systems?

You can hype lightning protection systems all you want, but without this information, you cannot have an serious or productive discussion about the need for a lightning protection system.

It sounds like you are struggling with a low probability event such as a lightning strike to your home living here in the Lightning Capital of the US. If you live in Sumter County we experience 47.5 cloud-to-ground strikes per square mile per year that is 10th highest county in the nation, Fortunately, most do not cause any significant damage.


Human nature is to defer action on the grounds that there is insufficient information to base a decision. There was no statistical data on air travel by blimps until 1937 when the Hindenburg crashed and after that no one wanted to travel by that mode. Perfect information for a lightning strike to your home is not available. Each homeowner needs to consider their own threshold of risk. If it is high you do nothing and don't worry about it. If you have a low threshold of risk your provide layers of lightning protection including a lightning protection system as others have said on this thread. for peace of mind.

[HJBeck]

Yes it may, but the grounding system would circumvent the home structure all together. Think about an airplane flying thru a thunderstorm. They use the same theory to route the stroke around the inside of the plane.

[HJBeck]

True, but there is an issue called risk tolerance (peace of mind) every home owner must factor in. In many cases the facts just don't matter. If cost is the issue, one can always install one's own system for less then $500. They just need to ensure they meet code requirements and are comfortable working on a roof, and if not pay the ~$1500 to have a certified installer do it.