A lightning strike can potentially create a fire in a home or commercial property. Notwithstanding, most lightning damage happens from an electrical surge that can ruin sensitive appliances, electronics computers, and wiring inside the walls, phone systems, and the building’s electrical system which can even shock and injure occupants.
In case the lightning-related damage is massive, a business might not be able to function or the home could be left uninhabitable. Public Insurance Adjuster can evaluate the destruction – to the inner electrical system along with the structure itself – and assist you to settle their claim in a well-timed manner to make sure you get the settlement you ought to get.
Some insurance firms would like to know which damage was the result of a lightning-caused fire and what damage was from the electrical overload. In most cases, the insurance company would need to know precisely where the electrical surge occurred, simply because they may not pay a damage claim if the surge happened off the home or the business premises.
Filing a claim with the insurer for damages associated with lighting can be extremely tough. Public Insurance Adjuster can alleviate this frustration by dealing with most of the paperwork and help to maximize the amount of your settlement in the end.
Lightning Damage falls under the Valued Policy Law.
How do I know if my home is safe?
MegOhm Test or Insulation Resistance Test:
Testing Wires For Lightning Damage
How do I know if there has been damaged, is there a way to test the wires in the walls? The way to test for this is called an insulation resistance test, also known as a MegOhm test or sometimes referred to in the trades as “Megger Testing”
The electrical resistance of the insulation on a conductor or in a piece of equipment can be tested and measured by isolating the conductor from the ground, applying a high voltage over time, then measuring the results. In most residential situations Master Electricians use a 300 to 500 volt DC test over 10 minutes. When this test is performed by electricians it is a very reliable test. This is recommended. Do not attempt this test on your own.
Process for performing a megohm test in a home:
1) ALL electrical current (power) to the dwelling must be shut off
2) All appliances, heating and cooling equipment, light fixtures, dimmers, AFCI’s, GFCI’s, low voltage systems, and any “plugged in” or “hard-wired” equipment must be disconnected from the circuit(s) to be tested
3) The best practice at this point is to then isolate each individual wire. You must take apart every splice, junction, and connection in the circuit to be tested
4) Next, the testing of the insulation can be preformed – this part actually goes pretty quick
5) After testing any conductor that fails to meet the testing standards should be considered damaged and marked for replacement
If you have had a major strike and your insurance company has not told you about this process, then request this test be performed. MegOhm testing is really the only way to know if damage has occurred, and even then it is not a perfect testing process. You can’t be sure by visible inspection alone, and you can’t visibly inspect most of the wires in a home. Lightning has many unknown paths, it has a super high voltage and travels very fast. If your home has been hit tell your insurance adjuster you want it tested!
Insurance companies seem to never share with a homeowner after a lightning strike that it should be treated the same as a fire loss in Florida because there is a specific law for Fire losses called the “Value Policy Law.” It’s also crucial that you have the insulation of the wiring in your walls checked to ensure you do not have a potential future fire hazard after a lightning strike or fire loss. There is a special test to test your wiring called a Megohm Test.
If you have a lightning strike you may have an insurance claim and your home may not be safe. The wiring in the wall may not spark a fire today but could burn down your home in the future with little to no warning.
Call Experienced Public Adjusters today for a free claim review!