Hector Seda has been coined "America’s Home Improvement Coach". He has been in the construction industry for thirty years and is also a syndicated columnist. He has been quoted in Lowe’s For Pros as well as other media. Hector Seda has been interviewed on radio and television across the United States. He is a regular guest on “Your Morning”, a Philadelphia morning talk show on Comcast CN8. He is a speaker and advocate for ethical construction and home improvement. He is a Certified Construction Consultant, Certified Project Manager and Certified Construction Inspector. Mr. Seda is a member of The Society of Industry Leaders, a Standard and Poor’s Co. and consultant for Vista Research, a McGraw-Hill Co. which provides consultation on construction and real-estate for institutional fund managers. Hector Seda is a Subject Matter Expert for Homeminders.com, a Phoenix based company. He is also a correspondent and columnist for North Jersey Media and active planning official in the State of New Jersey, as well as, the author of “What Your Parents Never Told You About Owning A Home” and has a new book to be released in the Spring of 2008 through Adams Media Publishing “Repair For Resale”.
Protecting Your Family and Home From the Dangers of Lightening
As the seasons change, so do the elements and storms we are exposed to. This time of year, hurricanes and flooding rains are major problems we face. A by-product of these mysterious weather phenomenons is lightning. A lightning storm, also known as an electrical storm, can be extremely dangerous and destroy a home with a single blow. These erratic ribbons of energy seek to find refuge by kissing the earth with a tremendous force of energy and destroying anything that may be in its path.
At any particular moment, there are over 1,800 thunderstorms in progress somewhere around the globe and 25 million bolts of lightning reach out of the sky, coming in contact with the ground, annually.
Watching a good lightning storm zigzag across the sky is an awesome visual experience. The ominous ness and the electrical displays are extraordinary to watch. But, these displays of dancing energy come with a destructive power that steals more lives and causes more damage than floods, hurricanes and tornadoes - combined.
There is a way you can help to protect your home from being destroyed by these flashes of energy. Installing a lightning protection system can provide a path for the lightning to follow into the ground and help to direct it from melting the shielding in your homes electrical system and taking out the electronics and appliances plugged into your outlets. These systems do not prevent lightning from striking nor do they attract it, but help to direct its energy out of harms way.
Lightning protection systems that meet the latest standard requirements are considered to be 99% effective by Underwriters Laboratories. These systems can be partially concealed on the exterior or completely concealed during construction.
If lightning strikes the ground, it can affect whatever is within a 60 foot radius and 10 times that area, if it strikes water and can be lethal. On average, it can strike over 50 times within a quarter-mile of your home and is the leading cause of fires in suburban and rural areas.
There are several factors to determine if your home is at risk:
1. If your home is located in an open area
2. If lightning strikes were reported or seen within close proximity
3. If your home is located in an elevated area, like a mountain.
4. If you do not have a system to safely direct the path of electricity into the ground
A Few Lightning Facts
· A lightning bolt can travel from 25 – 45 miles horizontally prior to hitting the ground and can be from 6 to 8 miles in length.
· The size of a bolt is about 1 - 2 inches in diameter with the surrounding light making it seem a lot larger.
· A single bolt of lightning can become up to 5 times the heat of the sun and carries with it 1 billion volts of current and up to 20,000 amperes.
· The Empire State Building is struck by lightning over 100 times per year.
· Most lightning strikes occurs between 12 noon and 4 PM
In homes located where sandy soil conditions are prevalent, more elaborate systems are necessary. Sand is dryer than normal soil and does not conduct electricity in the same way that moist soil does. For areas with sandy soil conditions there is a system that dissipates the energy over more of an area than the simple lightening rod, cable and clamp system.
Although the rod and cable system is easier than the more elaborate systems, for the best results and to ensure that you meet the requirements for a lower deductible and discounted premium from your insurance carrier, have a licensed professional evaluate and install the best system to protect you, your family and your home.
To get your copy of Hector’s book,
What Your Parent’s Never Told You About Owning a Home
Visit www.americashomeimprovementcoach.com and with
your purchase his book you will receive 5 reports on
ü Selling Your Home In Any Market
ü Hiring the Right Contractor For You
ü Staying Within Your Budget
ü Looking Out For Contractor Scams
ü What Questions Should You Ask a Potential Contractor
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- DIY Home Improvement For Beginners: The Basics of DIY
- Usual Trouble Spots in DIY Home Improvement
- Measuring the Success of a DIY Home Improvement Project
- How to Start a DIY Home Improvement Project: Tips
- Pros and Cons of DIY Home Improvement: An Assessment
- Easy DIY Home Improvement Ideas
- The Real Cost of DIY Home Improvement Projects
- Crucial Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Home Improvement Tips
Safety First Is The Best All The Way Until The End
By: Oswald Melman | 09/07/2009When you had your first child and your family was born, you probably thought all about how being a new mother or new father would change you.
Home Wireless Security Systems
By: Elijah James | 09/07/2009Nowadays, the security of the home has become a very critical issue in the modern day life style. Luckily, there are a number of solutions which can solve some of the home security concerns.
Home Security- Motion Detector
By: Ava | 09/07/2009Motion detector is a helpful product to protect your home from burglary. It can sense intruders within your home. This article will talk about the technology of motion detector and what it can be used for.
A Simple Guide to Locksmith Tools for Lock Picking
By: Julius Neilson | 08/07/2009As with any other trade, locksmithing has its own set of unique tools. Looking at them piece by piece should be puzzling, if you do not have a background on locksmith service at all. Special tools are used for special purposes just like a carpenter’s hammer is used only for pounding nails into place. Locksmiths have a keen eye for detail as well as skilled and deft hands to pick on the tiny little parts and mechanisms of a lock.
Car Keys and Ignition Replacement
By: Julius Neilson | 08/07/2009The evolution of technology has not only caused an upgrade of car mechanisms and features but has also improved the safety and security controls of a vehicle. If you have a new generation car, chances are it uses an extra ordinary electronic code same as that of the automobile’s engine management system.
Taking a Look at the Major Components of a Home Security System
By: George Sutherland | 08/07/2009There are many different parts to a home security system, but there are three basic components that are almost always a necessity. When deciding which type of security system to install, here are some of the basics that you should be looking at. These three components alone can range from minimalistic to advanced.
Home Security at a Condominium Complex
By: Carly Kosiele | 08/07/2009You will find that many people who live in condominiums don't take their home security as seriously as they should. However, if you live in a condo, you are as likely to become the victim of a burglary as those who live in suburbs or rural areas. You need to start thinking about the different things you can do to improve your home security.
Sturm Ruger Firearms – General Info and History of Company
By: Jason Rafeld | 08/07/2009Ruger is also a huge player in the .22 rimfire rifle market, with their enormously popular Ruger 10/22 carbine and 10/22 rifle. This gun is owned by the vast majority of hunters and outdoorsmen, as well as gun enthusiasts. It is on more gun racks, and in more gun safes that any other .22 rifle.
Always be on the Alert for Signs of a Possible Leak
By: Americas Home Improvement Coach | 02/09/2008 | DIYA leak in your home can be something that goes unnoticed for a long time until signs begin to show through the paint, the rotting the wood, or when it’s time for the bucket brigade.
Technological Changes in the Kitchen
By: Americas Home Improvement Coach | 02/09/2008 | KitchensTimes are changing, and technology now allows us to cook a variety of foods in a microwave due to the addition of the convection process that was added to these units. Now we find heating food with electro-magnets (induction cooking) can be an alternative to open flames and red hot electric elements.
Be Prepared: Cold Weather Can be a Threat to Your Water Pipes
By: Americas Home Improvement Coach | 02/09/2008 | DIYIf your home is an older home that was built before the energy crisis, in the seventies. There is a good possibility that it is not properly insulated. If it is a newer home, it could be that it wasn’t insulated properly.
Protecting Your Family and Home From the Dangers of Lightening
By: Americas Home Improvement Coach | 02/09/2008 | Home SecurityAs the seasons change, so do the elements and storms we are exposed to. This time of year, hurricanes and flooding rains are major problems we face.
The Pros and Cons to Having a Whole House Fan
By: Americas Home Improvement Coach | 02/09/2008 | DIYThe Pros and Cons to Having a Whole House Fan
The Bnefits of Hardwood Flooring
By: Americas Home Improvement Coach | 14/12/2007 | DIYThis article is based upon todays styles and choices of the home owning consumer.
Where Does All the Heat Go
By: Americas Home Improvement Coach | 07/12/2007 | DIYWays to control the amount of heat loss in your home.