Everyone loves the arrival of spring and summer, but you also know that these seasons come with the threat of storms. This is especially true in the Waldorf, MD area, which is prone to severe thunderstorms and other weather events during the summer months. Each year, thousands of fires across the U.S. can be attributed to lightning strikes. Fortunately, you can take measures to prevent a fire or damage to your electronics and appliances. These four tips will help keep you safe when storms threaten the Waldorf area.
1. Don’t Use Electronics
First of all, don’t use your electronics. You do not have to take a direct strike for your electronic devices and appliances to be damaged. The electrical field generated by the lightning can travel through the wires and cause an electrical surge. You can use your phone as long it is not plugged into the electrical system of the house. You should also avoid charging your device during this time.
2. Unplug Your Devices
It is a good idea to unplug your electrical devices if you want to be sure to be safe. You should unplug televisions, gaming systems, and computers during a storm. Lightning that uses your home’s wiring as a path can produce up to 1 billion joules of energy. That is enough to power 56 houses for a day. A surge protector is not designed to handle that type of load, and the only way to protect your devices is to unplug them entirely.
3. Install Surge Protectors
Lightning can strike when you are away and unable to unplug your devices. This is why you should have an electrician install ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets. GFCI outlets act faster than surge protectors to shut off the power in the event of a surge. They can act in as little as 1/40th of a second to cut the power and prevent damage to your electronics and prevent a house fire.
4. Install Whole-Home Lightning Protection
Systems are available that are designed to protect the entire home from electrical surges. They must be installed by a licensed electrician. A service-entrance surge protector is placed between the electrical meter and the home’s main electrical service panel. They protect all electronic devices in the home by preventing a surge from ever entering the home’s wiring in the first place.
These tips will help you keep your electronics and appliances safe during a lightning storm. Circuit Doctors Electrical Services has over 35 years of serving residents in the Waldorf, MD area. We are licensed and insured and guarantee our workmanship. We are locally owned, and our friendly team of professionals is ready to help you protect your home and electronics when summer storms threaten.
