Most residential homes don’t have lightning rods simply due to the rare occurrence of lightning strikes on small structures. But if you live in an area where lightning storms are frequent, or if you would just like to have a bit of added protection and peace of mind, then it may be a good idea to hire a professional to install one.
In a naturally protected location or in a home protected by lightning rods, lightning could still cause indirect damage.
Moreover, does my home need a lightning rod?
The favorite answer was Not every home needs lightning rod protection. Isolated houses and houses in elevated, exposed areas run a greater risk of lightning strikes, but tall structures and tall terrain features nearby could give a home good passive protection. Sorry, the video player failed to load.
Whether or not you have a lightning protections system installed on your home is a personal choice, and it is not required by law. The effects of a lightning strike can vary from electrocution to fires to the loss of electronics. A lightning protection system is not a guarantee that lightning will not damage your home.
Why do lightning rods protect houses?
That is why a grounded lightning rod works…it provides a path of least resistance for electricity to travel to the Earth without damaging the home…or at least reducing the damage. Lightning rods do not attract lightning, but if lightning strikes the rod or very near the rod, it will choose to take the path of least resistance.
A lightning rod (US, AUS) or lightning conductor is a metal rod mounted on a structure and intended to protect the structure from a lightning strike. If lightning hits the structure, it will preferentially strike the rod and be conducted to ground through a wire, instead of passing through the structure, where it could start a fire or cause electrocution.