How To Test Wiring After A Lighting Strike

Each year, there are nearly 40 million lightning strikes in the United States. The southeastern states such as Florida and Georgia receive some of the highest amounts of lightning, though it can occur anywhere. Here in North Carolina, most cities see 2,000 lighting strikes per year.

Though most of these have no lasting impacts, lightning damage can be severe at times. Death, injury, fires, damaged wires and electrical system issues are some of the most common types of issues caused when lightning strikes.

Signs of Lightning Strike Damage

Once a storm has passed, it’s important to inspect your home for signs of damage caused by a lightning strike. Damage is not always obvious right away, so a careful visual and electrical inspection is essential.

Signs Your House Was Struck by Lightning

One of the first things to check is the roof and exterior surfaces for visible smoke damage. This often appears as dark gray or black scorch marks, soot, or discolored patches where lightning made contact.

Next, look for cracked or split brick, stone, or cinderblock. Lightning strikes can reach temperatures exceeding 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and the extreme heat can easily fracture even strong masonry materials.

Lightning strikes commonly damage multiple appliances at once. This occurs due to a sudden and extreme voltage surge that follows a strike. While appliances can handle minor voltage fluctuations, the intense surge caused by lightning often destroys internal circuit boards.

If you notice smoke marks, burning odors, or discoloration near the electrical service panel, there is a strong possibility of damaged wiring. In these cases, a visual inspection of the circuit breakers by a qualified electrician is critical when lightning damage is suspected.

Hot spots are another serious warning sign to watch for. These can develop due to damaged wiring or compromised electrical components and pose a significant fire risk or risk of electrocution if left unaddressed.

Electrical System Megger Testing

A Megger Test is a method for checking the condition of electrical insulation in a home electrical system. This insulation resistance test has actually been around for over 100 years, and is one of the best ways for testing wires after lightning strikes. It’s a very reliable test that can quickly determine if your electrical system is functioning as it should.

Any qualified electrician can perform Megger testing. A Licensed electrician knows how to perform this reliable test carefully, avoiding the risk of touching any live wire.

Using a multi-meter, the electrician will perform what’s called megaohm testing. The line and neutral terminals of the transformer are disconnected, then the megger testing will measure the level of electrical insulation. If the megohm test reveals that the value is low, less than 2, it demonstrates an issue with the electrical wiring.

Value Policy Law

Unfortunately, a lightning bolt at the wrong place and time can cause a whole house to be destroyed. The good news is that most states have what is called a “Value policy law” which ensures that an insurance company must pay up to the full policy limit when a structure is destroyed by lightning or other natural disaster.

Independent professionals called public adjusters inspect destroyed properties, and as long as there is no evidence of fraud, they will settle the claim with the insurance company. This ensures that the home owner will receive the full value of the policy without a lengthy insurance claim process.

Home owners should take time to discuss the full policy value with their insurance agent when they purchase a policy. It’s important to think about what total loss would mean, and how much money it would require to rebuild.

Repairing Lightning Strikes

After lightning strikes and causes damaged wiring inside, or damage to appliances, it’s time to make electrical repairs and protect yourself from further problems down the road.

Replacing Consumer Electronics

Consumer electronics are full of highly delicate components that can easily be wrecked after a lightning strike. One of the best and cheapest solutions is to make sure that all electronics are protected by surge protectors. They are are an inexpensive and versatile way to connect multiple components to power, but to provide all of them with protection from a power surge caused by lightning.

Replacing Large Appliances

Talking with your insurance agent about replacing large appliances is extremely important. Homeowners want to ensure they get appliances that are as good as the ones they are replacing. Though there are no surge protectors for large devices, proper electrical wiring is essential to preventing damage to washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators and more.

Replacing Sub-Panel

If a lightning strike has damaged electrical wiring inside, there’s a very good chance the sub-panel or main panel will need to be replaced. Your insurance company will help make sure the the work that’s done is both covered by your policy, and done to a high standard.

Make sure to choose a panel that accommodates all your large appliances and has enough circuit breakers to cover all the rooms in the whole house.

Read More: The difference between a Sub-Panel and a Main Panel

Rewiring House

As part of the electrical work to repair the home after a lightning strike, it’s vital to check for hidden damage. Sometimes the massive surge of electrical current causes damaged wiring that isn’t apparent. This presents a major fire hazard. A thorough electrical inspection should reveal any hidden damage before electrical problems cause a danger to inhabitants of the home.

Replacing GFCI Receptacles

GFCI receptacles are part of your electrical system that protect everyone in your home from the danger of electrical shock and fire. The delicate components in these can be damaged by lightning strikes. While GFCI outlets perform an important function, they are relatively inexpensive and easy to replace.

Concerned about an electric strike? Reach out to your qualified Charlotte Electrician for testing, diagnosis and repair. We also offer 24/7 emergency electrical repair.