Has your STR ever been struck by lightning?

Question

A storm passed through this afternoon. Currently, power is on but lightning blew a couple of breaker switches plus WiFi is down, modem is fried, dishwasher doesn’t work, dryer turns on but doesn’t heat, garage door opener doesn’t work and one Nest thermostat was fried.
I don’t expect to file insurance claim and it's probably an act of God clause or whatever it’s called these days.
Guest called me and is there until Saturday morning when next guest arrives. I suppose I’ll be buying a new Bosch DW, modem, Nest, and whatever else tomorrow.
Thoughts or guidance?

Lisa Graesser · Answer

So sorry that you have to replace all of those items and deal with it while guests are there.. A surge protector won't protect you against a direct hit from lightning. But your power company can add a surge protector to your meter to help draw another surge that is not a direct hit to a ground and help protect your appliances in the future.  That is not going to help now, but may be a good investment for the future. Good luck dealing with it all this week. I am glad it did not cause a fire.

Paul Sandhu · Answer

I read the title of this post and thought it was something I would say.

Nancy Bachety · Answer

All this talk about surge protectors but it didn’t matter this time. Just left the property. It turns out our 2017 build came with a surge protector outside, at the meter. It didn’t help when lightning struck since it seems the strike went through the cable not the electric line. At least that’s how I understood it. As a result, the electric company is not responsible but it sounds like they would have been, or could have been, if it failed. Lucked out and found a newer Bosch dw in stock at nearby Lowe’s and put it in the truck and hooked it up between check out and check in. Replaced modem at xfinity too which solved lots of other technology issues. Costco has Nest thermostats on sale and bought two more of these but ran out of time. In the pool lights don’t work, probably blew those one month old bulbs and can replace those.

No fire or damages otherwise, fortunately.

And it’s worth noting our awesome year round next door neighbors drove us to Lowe’s in their truck and helped hook up the dw and the new garage door opener. Besides being good hosts anyway, it helps to make friends with your neighbors no matter what.

Bruce Woodruff · Answer

We had  power knocked out a couple times this summer by lightning strikes.......both sets of guests were pretty understanding.....need surge protectors....

Nancy Bachety · Answer

@Lisa Graesser Thanks, that’s good advice about asking FPL about the surge protector to the meter. @Collin H. I wish that’s all it was. It tripped a few breakers but power went back on except to those appliances. My insurance company said it’s covered under all other perils and that “it shouldn’t effect rates but it might effect getting coverage”. I’ve been down that road before so I’ll probably just have them checked and replaced.

Alex S. · Answer

I would at least call the insurance agent...they might be able to help.

Lightning recently struck a tree 30ft from my house.  The tree exploded and threw wood everywhere.  The tree next to it burst into flames until the pouring rain put it out 15min later.  Incredible stuff.

Collin Hays · Answer

my best guess is that you blew a few breakers and that's it.

Has your STR ever been struck by lightning?

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