By Boltwatch ·
Lightning Safety at Home: Showers, Phones and Plugs
A house with wiring and plumbing is the safest place to be in a thunderstorm. It is not completely risk-free, though. Lightning can reach you through pipes, cables and some building materials. A few simple habits remove most of that risk.
Check lightning near youHow lightning gets into a house
Lightning can enter a building in three ways: a direct hit, through wires or pipes that run outside, or through the ground. Once inside, it can travel along electrical wiring, landline phone cables, plumbing and aerial or cable TV lines. It can also follow metal reinforcement inside concrete floors and walls.
That is why the advice indoors is about what you touch. Stay away from anything connected to the outside, and you are well protected.
Showers, baths and washing up
Wait until the storm has passed before you shower, have a bath, wash your hands or do the dishes. Metal pipes and the water in them can carry current from a strike on or near the house. Plastic pipes reduce the risk but don't remove it, because the water itself conducts.
This is a short wait in most cases. Once you no longer hear thunder, give it 30 minutes, then go ahead.
Phones, chargers and electronics
Mobile phones and cordless phones are safe to use indoors. A corded landline is not, because the cable runs outside. TV remotes are fine. Avoid touching computers, TVs, cords and anything plugged into the wall, including a laptop or phone while it is charging.
Don't unplug things once the storm is overhead, as you could be hurt while handling the plug. If you want to protect expensive equipment, unplug it before the storm arrives. Ordinary surge protectors will not stop a nearby strike from damaging electronics.
Windows, doors and concrete
Keep away from outside windows and doors, and stay off balconies, porches and open garages or carports. Strong winds can throw debris through glass, and metal door frames can connect the outside to the inside.
Don't lie on concrete floors or lean on concrete walls, such as in a garage or basement. Metal bars inside the concrete can carry current.
Pets and outdoor animals
Bring pets indoors. A kennel or dog house is not a safe shelter, and a dog chained to a tree or a metal run is at particular risk. Many animals are frightened by thunder, so a quiet inside room helps.
Keep track of the storm from inside
Your phone is safe to use, so you can follow the storm on the live lightning map. Count the seconds between a flash and its thunder to estimate how far away it was. Use the 30-minute rule after the last thunder before you go back outside or start the washing-up.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you shower during a thunderstorm?
- It's best to wait. Lightning can travel through plumbing and water. Hold off until 30 minutes after the last thunder.
- Is it safe to use my mobile phone in a thunderstorm?
- Yes, indoors. Mobile and cordless phones are safe. Avoid corded landlines and don't use a phone while it is plugged in to charge.
- Should I unplug my TV during a thunderstorm?
- Unplug before the storm arrives, not during it. Handling plugs while lightning is nearby puts you at risk.
- Are surge protectors enough to protect electronics from lightning?
- Typical surge protectors will not protect equipment from a nearby lightning strike. Unplugging ahead of time is more reliable.