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How Often Does Lightning Strike Houses? Frequency, Facts, & FAQs
Pete Ortiz
Last updated:
Lightning strikes are a common occurrence in the world, and though they cause widespread damage to trees, buildings, and other structures, most houses are relatively safe from lightning strikes. However, that doesn’t mean that houses are never hit by lightning—in fact, research has shown that one in every 200 houses is struck by lightning. The frequency varies widely, but on average in the United States, lightning strikes cause around 100,000 house fires per year.
While there is no way to completely protect a house from lightning strikes, there are some things that homeowners can do to reduce the risk of a lightning strike. For more information on lighting hitting homes and what you can do to reduce your risk, keep reading.
What Happens if Lightning Hits Your House?
When a lightning strike hits a house, it can cause extensive damage to the structure and wiring. In some cases, the strike may even start a fire on or inside the house, which can be extremely dangerous for the people who live there.
One of the most common effects of a lightning strike on a house is electrical damage to wiring, appliances, and other electrical equipment. This can cause short circuits, blown fuses, and other issues that may require expensive repairs.
Additionally, strong lightning strikes can also damage the foundation and exterior of the house, leading to cracks and other structural issues.
How Often Do Houses Catch Fire from Lightning?
Image By: Pixabay
It is probably more than you think. According to data from the National Fire Protection Association, there are more than 22,600 homes hit by lightning each year that result in fire. In addition, lightning is also one of the top causes of home fires during storms.
Given the frequency of house fires caused by lightning, homeowners need to take steps to reduce their risk of a strike.
Tips to Stop Lightning from Hitting Your House
To reduce the risk of a lightning strike hitting your house, there are several things that you can do.
It is important to keep all trees and shrubs around your house trimmed so that they do not provide a path for lightning to travel.
You can also protect your home by installing a home lightning protection system, which typically includes copper wiring that is attached directly to a grounding rod outside the home. This wiring works to help dissipate the electrical charge from a lightning strike before it reaches the building, thereby reducing the risk of damage.
In addition to these measures, you should also unplug all electronics and appliances whenever a storm is approaching. You can also install transient voltage surge suppressors at key points in your home’s wiring to protect against surges caused by lightning strikes.
Finally, it is important to check your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance coverage to make sure that you are fully covered in the event of a lightning strike.
With one in every 200 houses at risk of being hit by lightning each year, it is important for homeowners to take steps to reduce this risk. Fortunately, there are several measures you can take that can have a significant impact on your home’s safety.
Featured Image Credit: Dudarev Mikhail, Shutterstock
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Writer
Pete Ortiz
Pete has been working in the trades since high school, where he first developed a passion for woodworking. Over the years, he has developed a keen interest in a wide variety of DIY projects around the home. Fascinated by all sort of tools, Pete loves reading and writing about all the latest gadgets and accessories that hit the market. His other interests include astronomy, hiking, and fishing.
As the founder of House Grail, Pete's primary goal is to help consumers make educated decisions about DIY projects at home, in the garage, and in the garden.
