Power Surge

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Jgrden

Jgrden

Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Messages
6,287
Location
hOUSTON, Texas
Last Tuesday night a lightening storm moved through our area hitting a pole close to the house. The lights went out for 5 to 10 seconds and then came back on. We discovered the next day that the surge burned up the ar conditioning motor and relay switch in the regulator box located in the attic.
Aren't the houses suppose to be protected against these such spikes in power so that it does not blow everything to smithereens? Am I out of line for requesting the power company pay the $392.00 repair bill because their equipment did not work properly to protect our house?
 
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Not unless you have a 'whole house surge protector.' The electric companies never accept liability for lightning strikes and that damage done by them.
 
We protect the high side of the transformer with lighting arrestors in most cases. But depending on where the lightning hit is the problem. Don't count on any of our stuff to protect your stuff from lightning. If it hit anywhere on the low side there is no protection other than your own. Welcome to planet earth.
 
Nope. Considered an "act of God" and wont be covered by the power company. Thats why they sell surge protectors..cuz your house isnt immune to these things. Insurance may cover it, but your deductible is probably more than your repair bill anyway. I'm not even sure if they make surge protectors for the whole house. Any sparkys out there know?
 
My insurance pays for an "act of god", but it goes against "my" insurance. Minus my deductible, it's usually not worth filing a claim (for me).

We put whole house surge protectors in over 3 years ago. Both my Peak & Off Peak service are protected.

When I had Allstate, some 25 years ago. They paid for a lightning strike. No questions asked. Didn't even visit the house. After the deductible, I ended up getting a $40 some dollar check. Not enough to replace anything that was permanently damaged. That's the down side of a $1K deductible...
 
Your insurance company may treat it different. Mine just takes that hard line.

I had five of my neighbors trees, fall across my property. Damaged the corner of a 12 x 10 garden shed, took down 60 feet of (no climb) fence and sheared the limbs off one side of one of my pine trees. My Insurance company said his insurance wasn't responsible, even thought the trees are scotch pine. Very old, very brittle and totally his. It was an act of god. My premiums take the hit for the claim.
 
As Padre said, call the power co. and ask about them installing a whole house surge protector. We did, after a close strike took the computer, the furnace the thermostat and a bunch of small appliances and scared the carp out of us. Our whole house SP agreement states that the power co. will cover up to $1000 and that is the norm for a HO insurance deductable. Oh, and once it is installed and you pay for it, lightning will never again strike within 100 miles of your house. Its the old close the barn door after the horse gets out thing.
 
Wood Butcher said:
As Padre said, call the power co. and ask about them installing a whole house surge protector. We did, after a close strike took the computer, the furnace the thermostat and a bunch of small appliances and scared the carp out of us. Our whole house SP agreement states that the power co. will cover up to $1000 and that is the norm for a HO insurance deductable. Oh, and once it is installed and you pay for it, lightning will never again strike within 100 miles of your house. Its the old close the barn door after the horse gets out thing.
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I don't know, this post sounds fishy to me.:biggrin:
 
Wood Butcher said:
As Padre said, call the power co. and ask about them installing a whole house surge protector. We did, after a close strike took the computer, the furnace the thermostat and a bunch of small appliances and scared the carp out of us. Our whole house SP agreement states that the power co. will cover up to $1000 and that is the norm for a HO insurance deductable. Oh, and once it is installed and you pay for it, lightning will never again strike within 100 miles of your house. Its the old close the barn door after the horse gets out thing.
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Well, we filled out their claim form. My approach is that they provide and control the power coming into our home and they failed.
It is like tugging on Superman's cape. We"ll see how it goes.
 
KDM said:
If the lightning strike hit the satellite dish, would you claim against Sky?
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If medical issues took all your life savings and you were living on social security and a few measly dollars from pen sales, would you not try to review any possible way to prevent paying out any more money?? I have made pretty good money in pen sales this year, but every penny has gone to: groceries, taxes, insurance, medical bills and none has been diverted to much needed pen parts. I have had to beg for parts and three IAP members have sent them to me to keep afloat.
Rest assured we are fine, comfortable and are working our way out but the business of living is something we all need to stay on top of.
Now, you sorry you said that??:)
 
Jgrden said:
If medical issues took all your life savings and you were living on social security and a few measly dollars from pen sales, would you not try to review any possible way to prevent paying out any more money?? I have made pretty good money in pen sales this year, but every penny has gone to: groceries, taxes, insurance, medical bills and none has been diverted to much needed pen parts. I have had to beg for parts and three IAP members have sent them to me to keep afloat.
Rest assured we are fine, comfortable and are working our way out but the business of living is something we all need to stay on top of.
Now, you sorry you said that??:)
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+1 John!

Good luck on the claim.
 
If you don't have the funds in the first place to buy expensive anti-surge devices it is moot point.
The power company controls the energy coming into the home. The good Lord controls what hits your satellite. Yes, I would ask help from the Good Lord. He says I can and I should.
So there. What is next on your list??
John, in Conroe.
 
Jgrden said:
If you don't have the funds in the first place to buy expensive anti-surge devices it is moot point.
The power company controls the energy coming into the home. The good Lord controls what hits your satellite. Yes, I would ask help from the Good Lord. He says I can and I should.
So there. What is next on your list??
John, in Conroe.
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Only that it appears you would be open to the same reasoning that caused me to make the satellite comment: The good Lord controls everything. Even the power.

His will be done and his methods are not for us to understand. Assuming the electric co is the evil one, Matthew has some advice in 5:38-40. Further, (translated for people who live 1500 years later), there's a jolly good reason: in a good, Christian society we'd look after one another. Insurance companies would have no place because no-one would use them.

Sadly, if you're kind and generous, and take what's coming to you, it goes unnoticed. My only comfort would be that taking what life throws at you without complaint gets noticed by the folk who matter. That's Christ-like behaviour and if more of us were capable of it the world would be a better place.
 
Jgrden said:
If medical issues took all your life savings and you were living on social security and a few measly dollars from pen sales, would you not try to review any possible way to prevent paying out any more money?? I have made pretty good money in pen sales this year, but every penny has gone to: groceries, taxes, insurance, medical bills and none has been diverted to much needed pen parts. I have had to beg for parts and three IAP members have sent them to me to keep afloat.
Rest assured we are fine, comfortable and are working our way out but the business of living is something we all need to stay on top of.
Now, you sorry you said that??:)
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I know the feeling, brother! The wolf is banging the door pretty hard down in Georgia, too!
 
KDM: I knew you'd see it my way sooner or later.

Just think of the money you would have in the bank had you diverted monthly premium payments to your savings account.
 
I have seen lighting do some strange things. You can try to protect your house as much as you can. But if lighting hits your house it will do some damage.
 
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