Key Things to Check After Lightning Strikes Your Home

While it may seem improbable that your house would ever be struck by lightning, the reports that 1 in 200 homes are hit every year. While a lightning strike is sometimes accompanied by a large boom, a power outage or the smell of smoke, it's possible homeowners may not know their house was hit, particularly if they weren't home at the time. So, what are some key things to check after lightning strikes or a thunderstorm passes?

When it comes to lightning and storms, nothing is more important than your safety. If there is any sign of fire or electrical malfunction — including sparks or a humming or hissing sound — call the fire department and a qualified electrician immediately.

Lightning strikes a chimney atop a roof
Starting with the roof, here are things to check after lightning strikes.


How Lightning Travels Down Your Roof

As the home's highest point, the roof is the most susceptible to lightning. Consequently, a direct strike can cause a myriad of rooftop damage, including cracked shingles, falling bricks or a broken chimney. However, the extent of harm may not end there.

“As lightning strikes the house, it seeks out materials [that] conduct electricity, allowing the surge to travel the same path. These include metal gutters and downspouts, electrical wiring and plumbing pipe”, reports Elite Remodeling Services in Farmington, Minnesota.

Even if the strike doesn't cause any immediate electrical damage or fire, the house can become vulnerable to water damage. Any opening in the roof or structure, no matter how small, could create a pathway for water to drip through the ceiling.

Key Signs of a Lightning Strike

Maybe you heard a loud boom overhead during the previous night's storm but aren't positive your home was struck. To determine if your home was damaged, here are some important things to check after lightning strikes:

  • Are there any visible holes in the roof?
  • Are there cracked, broken, missing, curled or split shingles?
  • Is the chimney cracked?
  • Do you notice any moisture or dripping indoors?
  • Is your electricity working normally?

If it's still not clear if lightning struck, homeowners can inspect the roof for singed or blackened portions that are not visible from the ground. However, it is critical that this be done from the safety of a sturdy ladder. Do not walk on the roof without safety equipment.

Ultimately, you should call a seasoned roofing contractor to help you assess the damage and figure out what repairs are needed. It's important to make any repairs quickly so that a cracked chimney or missing section of shingles does not lead to leaks or collapse.

Should You Install a Lightning Rod?

One preventative measure homeowners can take is installing a metal roof lightning protection system. If lightning strikes, a lightning rod works to direct the charge away from your home, keeping your roof intact and averting a power surge.

A lightning rod isn't a must for every home, but you may want to consider this option if you live in a high lightning strike zone or if your house is the tallest object in the area.

While a lightning blast can be a scary event, fortunately, there are trained professionals available to make the necessary repairs to restore the integrity and safety of your home.