[LianneMigiano]

Originally Posted by sounding

The Villages Lightning Study Group is looking for volunteers to do just that. The Villages Weather Club

That's a VERY interesting endeavor BUT - if they were actually advantageous, don't you think the lightning protection companies would have studied and have statistics to back up their claims already?

[Heytubes]

What if tall trees surround your house? They attract lightning too.

[sounding]

Originally Posted by LianneMigiano

That's a VERY interesting endeavor BUT - if they were actually advantageous, don't you think the lightning protection companies would have studied and have statistics to back up their claims already?

Exactly right - which is why the Lightning Talk is the most requested talk of 30 talks presented by the Weather Club. The "villages lighting group" has all that fascinating data - and more importantly - actual data from Villages lightning strikes. Don't be a statistic - be informed.

[sounding]

Originally Posted by Heytubes

What if tall trees surround your house? They attract lightning too.

There are many cases in the Villages where tall trees were next to a home - yet the homes were hit and burnt. Details and examples are presented at the Villages Weather Club. Be informed - be safe.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

very low probability, true
non zero probability, true
higher probability than many other US locations, very true

LPS, only works if you house is hit by lightening, so its a low probability event.

however, your house is a large investment and is for daily use.
Loss of daily use for an extended period of time can get expensive or very inconvenient.

The displacement for a year or more is the inconvenience avoided with the purchase of the LPS.

Yes, there are no guarantees in life, just risk reduction. . .

We will be getting an LPS just to avoid the hassle and inconvenience of a random event.
Automobile accidents are also random events, and just because it hasn't happened to you, or has happened, doesn't change the probability of a future occurrence. . unless you have been hit by lightening before . . then there is no need for an LPS system. .

[BostonRich]

Originally Posted by Heytubes

What if tall trees surround your house? They attract lightning too.

I was thinking the same thing. I see that the house that was struck had no tall trees around it and was pretty exposed.

[sounding]

Originally Posted by BostonRich

I was thinking the same thing. I see that the house that was struck had no tall trees around it and was pretty exposed.

That's another bad assumption. Attend Weather Club meetings to find out what the local paper rarely prints.

[Heytubes]

Back when I built pool enclosures (bird cages), by code they had to be grounded. Check yours.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

The funny thing is, contrary to what a few posters assert, I am not arguing against getting an LPS. In fact, I'm considering it myself. What I am arguing against is overstating risk, abusing statistics, and using fear to make a sale. We question that approach when it comes to termite treatment, whole-house water filters, annuities, and roofers and we should be just as skeptical when it comes to LPS systems.

Is $3,500 a small price to pay to mitigate the effect of a potential lightning strike? Yes.
Am I calling tails on a two-headed coin if I don't pay the $3,500? No.
Are my odds even 50-50 of being struck by lightning? No.
Are my odds zero of being struck by lightning? No.
Some tables show about 7,000 homes struck by lightning in Florida each year
Each year the papers report two or three homes destroyed by lightning (last year was higher)

Do I believe 17 LPS-protected homes have been hit by lightning with little or no damage while only two or three unprotected homes have been hit? Even if those 17 homes were hit over a period of 20 years, I would still expect far more unprotected homes to be hit in the same timeframe. Perhaps many more unprotected homes are being hit but the amount of damage is far less than being talked about in this thread.

Do I believe a home can be hit by lightning without causing catastrophic damage keeping the owner out of the home for two years while it is rebuilt? Absolutely yes - I have lived it myself and seen it with others.

Will my house get hit by lightning this year? Odds are very low.
Will my house ever get hit by lightning? Odds are still low but chances are increasing.
Will my house burn to the ground if it is hit by lightning? Not guaranteed, especially if all electric.
Will my house be significantly damaged if it is hit by lightning? Not necessarily but it could.
Does the decision come down to either paying $3,500 or watching my house burn down? No

Is $3,500 a small price to pay to mitigate the effect of a lightning strike that may or may not happen which may or may not cause damage but could potentially result in my house being destroyed? Yes.

Thanks for your reply. I think you summed things up just fine.

FYI, no one here installs lightening protection systems or surge protection so no one is "pushing a sale". There are only two companies that do work here in the Villages who are Lightning Protection Institute certified and also UL Certified. They are:

Triangle Lightning Protection: 352-483-7020
A1 Lighning Protection: (352) 465-1773

I can tell you, both these companies are booked out several months and as we get more into storm season you will be lucky if you can get them to your home before the end of the year. Last year A1 was booked out to May.

There are other lightning protection companies working here in the Villages that use UL parts and may be UL certified but best to go to the LPI web page and choose from there. Find a Contractor - Lightning Protection Institute

The Villages Lightning Study Group is a non-profit group that gives presentations to clear up myths and give factual information on the subject so Villagers can make an informed decision on this topic.

The reason why myself and others get engaged on this particular topic is to dispute the false information many believe and state with "Authority" as if they are experts, misleading Villagers who are looking for information.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by Heytubes

What if tall trees surround your house? They attract lightning too.

If lightening strikes a tall tree, which is a poor conductor, it can flash over to the home which has wiring providing a more conductive path to ground.

[Cmbcab]

Originally Posted by sounding

One home in Calumet Grove and the other in Sabal Chase - and neither had lightning rods.

Odds of your house getting struck by lightning would probably be about same as hitting the lottery I would think, but it happens.

[jrref]

Originally Posted by Cmbcab

Odds of your house getting struck by lightning would probably be about same as hitting the lottery I would think, but it happens.

Actually, here in Central Florida your chances are much higher getting struck by lightning so check your facts but regardless if you don't win the lottery, no problem, no loss, you continue to live your life. If your home gets hit by lightning and it burns to the ground, you will loose all your personal belongings, you will have to live somewhere else for a year or more, you will have a very stressful life changing event happen. This is what you need to keep in mind.

For those who commented who maybe can't afford a LPS system, one thing to keep in mind is if we have a storm and you hear a loud bang, check your home to see if it was struck and on fire. If so, your only chance of it not burning down is to get the fire department there as quickly as possible. Many times the home was hit and on fire and the homeowner didn't know until they saw the smoke or a neighbor called. Its then too late to save the home.

[HappyTraveler]

Originally Posted by sounding

That's another bad assumption. Attend Weather Club meetings to find out what the local paper rarely prints.

So, again....although many on this thread don't seem to want to acknowledge this head-on.... that photo in Comment #112 states clearly that the home has attic gas service.

I would hope it doesn't have to be explained that having gas service doesn't create a higher probability of a strike but, it creates a vastly higher probability of serious damage if it's hit or affected by a strike.

It's a hugely important factor. For example, those of you with the Weather Club might chime in if you have info about this: How many strikes on TV houses without a gas line resulted in minimal damage? How many strikes on those kinds of homes had significant damage? Thanks...

[Sparky1959]

Originally Posted by sounding

One home in Calumet Grove and the other in Sabal Chase - and neither had lightning rods.

And neither does the fire department.

[LookingAtTV]

jrref, thank you for all your posts on LPS and the way you handled questions/comments from others. Definitely a valuable service provided in regard to homeowners learning about LPS or considering whether or not to invest in such a protection device.