Valuable Electronics + Lightning=Claims Disaster
Posted by Milissa Malloy on Fri, Aug 19, 2011 @ 07:55 AM
It has become all too common recently to hear about a house fire that was the result of lightning. The headlines are endless. Property loss is more than $1 billion annually due to lightning and not only the number of claims but the size of lightning related claims has significantly increased.
Why?
This can be attributed to new sophisticated electronic equipment that exists in many homes nowadays. The Insurance Information Institute recently reported that lightning claims were up 15% from 2009 to 2010 as well as the average cost per claim increased 13%.
“The number of claims is down (since 2004), but the average cost per claim continues to rise, in part because of the huge increase in the number and value of consumer electronics in homes,” said Loretta Worters, vice president of the I.I.I. “Plasma and high-definition television sets, home entertainment centers, multiple computer households, gaming systems and other expensive devices—which can all be destroyed by power surges—are having a significant impact on claims losses.”
A direct lightning hit is not necessary to cause serious damage to electronics in your home. A strike within 500 to 1000 feet can cause damage or fire.
So what can you do to prevent this from happening?
-By adding a lightning protection system to your home you can be 99% effective in preventing lightning damage and fire. These systems are designed to provide a specified path to safely ground the current of a lightning bolt.
How do I pick a lightning protection system?
For additional general tips concerning lightning safety visit the Lightning Protection Institute.
