[jrref]

Yesterday i took a tour of homes up north near the Sunset Pointe area to see the homes that have been struck by lightning over the years. These homes generally have gas and the dreaded CSST flexible gas pipe which can fail and cause a fire during a lightning event. Many people in these areas have a Lightning Protection System to protect their homes given they have this gas piping in their home. But many do not and it may be becasue they are new owners who have no idea about this threat. Some people have taken the gas out of their homes. That said, if you live in these areas and have the original CSST yellow flexible gas piping in your home, you should definetely consider installing a lightning protection system to protect your home becasue the probability of a significant fire from a lightning event is much higher. The tour was very interesting expecially looking at the houses in Sunset Pointe and St. Charles which recently burnt down. When you see the results of a lightning event in the news paper, it gives you concern but when you see it in person and can smell the burnt home and see the personal belongings burnt and destroyed through the openings in the home, it becomes real.

[jrref]

This is what Villagers need to consider. Surge protection in my opinion is mandatory. How much to install is up to you and your budget. Installing a lightning protection system or not is totally dependent on you tolerance for risk. The typical cost for a system is $2,000 to $3,500 depending onthe size of your home and the number of peaks, etc.. If you feel it's worth taking the risk of loosing all your personal belongings and maybe even your life, then do nothing. If you have the money or can plan for the expense then get a system to significantly lower your chances of a life altering event. Also, since the address of the recent strikes in Sunset Pointe and St. Charles are listed in the Villages News, I strongly suggest taking a ride to take a first hand look at these now destroyed homes. Attached are some pictures of recently destroyed homes to put things in perspective.

[zuidemab]

Can you plese comment on the Meter Treater vs Eaton technology and protection?

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Originally Posted by jrref

Given the unusually large number of lightning strikes and power surge events in the past weeks here in the Villages, many are seeking information on the subject. The Villages Lightning Study Group which Len Hathaway leads gives presentations on Lightning and Surge Protection all through the year at club meetings, special meetings organized by local residents interested in lightning and at the POA meetings. There is no way to reach every Villager to present the facts on the subject so here is the link to the POA meeting since it was recorded. It will explain all the information about lightning and surge protection by knowledgeable experts and the problems with the flexible gas lines used many years ago and what to do about it. I just want to mention, if you are considering whole house surge protection which I strongly feel is necessary for every home here in the Villages, Lenhart Electric is offering a special discount which will expire shortly to install the Eaton Ultra surge protector at your circuit breaker panel. This is Different than the Seco surge protector that most have installed at the Meter. The Seco protector is mainly designed to protect against large power surges coming from the power lines which statistically occur 20% of the time vs the Eaton Ultra mounted at the circuit breaker panel which is designed to block and manage all other power surges which statistically occur 80% of the time. If you are thinking about surge protection, I would schedule an appointment. Other electricians can install surge protection as well if you feel more comfortable with someone you have been using over the years but the message is to get it installed because there will come a day where lightning strikes near your home causing an induced power surge that can cause a lot of damage to your appliances and electronic equipment. This happens way more than you would think and is not generally publicized. The recent lightning strike at Sunset Pointe where the fire resulting from the strike was so intense that the fire department had to back away is around 900 ft from Len's home. He has the layered surge protection system we are recommending and had No damage from the event whereas other neighbors did have some damage even ones with the Seco protector.

If you decide to get a lightning protection system installed by a company other than A1 or Triangle, make sure of the following: 1) They should install 3 to 4 ,10 ft ground rods for a typical home here in the Villages and should provide you a written report of the "resistance readings" typially in ohms for each rod. Each rod should be 25 ohms or less. The smaller the reading the better. If they don't get these readings, they should be willing to drive the rods down 20 or even 30 ft in some extreme cases to get these readings. If you don't have good grounding the system won't work properly. If you have an existing or new LPS system you can reach out to me to check your ground rods for a very small fee. 2) Typically they should offer you an all copper system unless you request aluminum. For some people with light covered roofs, aluminum may be better because the rods and connecting cables will blend-in with the roof. All materials used should be UL Certified, (this usually isn't a problem). 3) Every lightning rod or air terminal must have at least two paths to the ground rods. Ask for a drawing of the lightning rod and ground cables for your specific installation. 4) Check to see how long the company has been in business. You want to use a company that's going to be there in case you need serivce. This is just what comes to mind as the most important items you need to check. I'm sure there are other companies who will do a good job but since the industry isn't regulated you want to check some of these items.

https://youtu.be/IJMLyywdB0A?t=1831

[jrref]

Originally Posted by zuidemab

Can you plese comment on the Meter Treater vs Eaton technology and protection?

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Sure, the Seco surge protector installed at your meter is a Type-1 protector designed mainly to block and manage large surges coming from the power utility. Although it can manage other surges, in it's warranty information they say it will not protect any devices with an electronic chip installed. This is due to it's internal design to manage very large surges. This is why there are reports of device damage and other electical anomolies from an induced power surge with only the Seco surge supressor installed. According to a study by Leviton Electric, power surges from the power utility statistically occur about 20% of the time while all others occur statistically 80% of the time. This is why we see reports of device damage with only the Seco surge protector installed. It's because the surge didn't come from the power line but it came from some other source.

The Type-2 Primary Surge protector installed at your circuit breaker panel such as the Eaton Ultra, will block and manage all surges occuring from any branch circuit going through your circuit breaker panel and prevent them from spreading to your entire home along with any residual surges passing from the Type-1 protector mounted at the meter. It's internal design will protect devices with an electronic chip installed. The Eaton Ultra is just one of many Type-2 primary surge protectors. The Siemens, Vortexx, and others have similar specifications and will effectively work the same but the Eaton Ultra is the cheapest in that line-up.

Ultimately, effective surge protection is only possible with a layered approach which means you need both Type-1 and Type-2 surge protectors along with the Type-3 point-of-use protectors at your sensitive electronic equipment such as your TVs, computers, modems and other devices. Fortunately, new HVAC and spa and pool installs include surge protection for these devices. Finally, surges can come from the cable and irrigation systems. Currently there are no devices to block surges coming from the irrigation system but you can get surge protectors for the cable on Amazon. Or you can switch to Fiber Internet if you home has it available and don't worry about this source of power surges.

[Ham_and_Cheese]

Would this system have any effect on homeowner's insurance (i.e. lowering it)?

It seems mitigating, or at least lessening, the chance of serious damage due to a lightning strike would warrant some sort of discount, no?

Has anyone received such a discount from their insurance company and if so, how much?
.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by Ham_and_Cheese

Would this system have any effect on homeowner's insurance (i.e. lowering it)?

It seems mitigating, or at least lessening, the chance of serious damage due to a lightning strike would warrant some sort of discount, no?

Has anyone received such a discount from their insurance company and if so, how much?
.

When I ask the answer was no.

[HJBeck]

Understand many aesthetic concerns but would be concerned that an in attic installation of the ground wire connecting the lightning rods would permit a lightning stroke to go through your shingles and ply wood , thus setting the roof on fire. Just because one has lightning rods on ones roof does not guarantee that the lightning will actually hit the rods. Lightning standards go back many years (70+) and have been historically based on empirical data that suggests that the "cone of protection" around the rod offers a 1 in 1000 chance that a lightning strike will miss the rod. Having the ground wire on your roof increases the probability of the stroke hitting the grounding system before it hits the roof. All this said, it's still better to have rods then not to have them. All comes down to your risk tolerance.

[TravelswithD&K]

Originally Posted by jrref

Yesterday, Len Hathaway, the head of the Villages Lightning Study Group took me on a tour of homes up north near the Sunset Pointe area to show me the homes that have been struck by lightning over the years. These homes generally have gas and the dreaded CSST flexible gas pipe which can fail and cause a fire during a lightning event. Many people in these areas have a Lightning Protection System to protect their homes given they have this gas piping in their home. But many do not and it may be becasue they are new owners who have no idea about this threat. Some people have taken the gas out of their homes. That said, if you live in these areas and have the original CSST yellow flexible gas piping in your home, you should definetely consider installing a lightning protection system to protect your home becasue the probability of a significant fire from a lightning event is much higher. The tour was very interesting expecially looking at the houses in Sunset Pointe and St. Charles which recently burnt down. When you see the results of a lightning event in the news paper, it gives you concern but when you see it in person and can smell the burnt home and see the personal belongings burnt and destroyed through the openings in the home, it becomes real. I mentioned to Len that he get an open air bus or give golf cart tours to Villagers!

Does Monarch Grove have this type of flexible gas piping?

[jrref]

Originally Posted by TravelswithD&K

Does Monarch Grove have this type of flexible gas piping?

No, homes south of Rt.44 have the newer updated flexible gas piping. Not as good as black pipe but there haven't been any issues with lightning.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by TravelswithD&K

Does Monarch Grove have this type of flexible gas piping?

I observed what lightening hit the gas line of a home in Monarch Grove and another on Linden Isle two years ago. There may have been others.

The manufacturer of the newer coated CSST used here recomends a LPS when for areas of high lightening risk.

https://www.gastite.com/downloads/pd...e_di_guide.pdf

ALL OWNERS should consult a lightning safety consultant to determine whether installation of a lightning protection system would be required to achieve sufficient protection for all building components from lightning.

Factors to consider include whether the area is prone to lightning.

Areas with high lightning risk include but are not limited to: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, lowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexi-co, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by jrref

Yesterday, Len Hathaway, the head of the Villages Lightning Study Group took me on a tour of homes up north near the Sunset Pointe area to show me the homes that have been struck by lightning over the years. These homes generally have gas and the dreaded CSST flexible gas pipe which can fail and cause a fire during a lightning event. Many people in these areas have a Lightning Protection System to protect their homes given they have this gas piping in their home. But many do not and it may be becasue they are new owners who have no idea about this threat. Some people have taken the gas out of their homes. That said, if you live in these areas and have the original CSST yellow flexible gas piping in your home, you should definetely consider installing a lightning protection system to protect your home becasue the probability of a significant fire from a lightning event is much higher. The tour was very interesting expecially looking at the houses in Sunset Pointe and St. Charles which recently burnt down. When you see the results of a lightning event in the news paper, it gives you concern but when you see it in person and can smell the burnt home and see the personal belongings burnt and destroyed through the openings in the home, it becomes real. I mentioned to Len that he get an open air bus or give golf cart tours to Villagers!

Since our home is electric so no gas lines in our attic is it really necessary to put in a lightning protection system. We have a Seco surge protector and considering another one in our electrical box. We do have point of use protectors for our electronics.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Since our home is electric so no gas lines in our attic is it really necessary to put in a lightning protection system. We have a Seco surge protector and considering another one in our electrical box. We do have point of use protectors for our electronics.

Good question. I suspect the likelihood is no different but gas lines in the attic can increase severity (feed fire) if punctured.(?)

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Altavia

Good question. I suspect the likelihood is no different but gas lines in the attic can increase severity (feed fire) if punctured.(?)

Hoping one of our experts can weigh in on this.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by Altavia

Good question. I suspect the likelihood is no different but gas lines in the attic can increase severity (feed fire) if punctured.(?)

Yes, your statement is correct. The need for surge protection and consideration to get a lightning protection system is still valid. If you have a home with gas, this also needs to be added into the decision making process.

[Pinkgirl]

Thx for all the info! Any idea what an avg cost is for the Eaton surge protector system?