Did you know lightning can be as damaging to the home—if not more—as other weather events?

There are many misconceptions about lightning and its effects—the ol’ rubber trick, for instance, is a myth. According to the Lightning Protection Institute (LPI), rubber tires or rubber-soled shoes will not protect a person from lightning. Metal is not a magnet for lightning, either. Lightning, too, can strike the same place twice—take the Empire State Building or the Sears Tower, both of which have been struck repeatedly.

A lightning protection system is one the most effective ways to prevent damage to your property, according to the LPI. A whole-house arrester or surge protector, though beneficial, should be just one component of that system.

Green and smart homeowners, especially, should install a system to protect the other systems in the home—lightning strikes often damage multiple systems at once.

Leave the installation of the lightning protection system to the professionals, the LPI advises. Look for an LPI-certified specialist, who adheres to strict safety standards when it comes to the design and installation of the system.

Source: Lightning Protection Institute (LPI)

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