Severe thunderstorms and other natural disasters can impact many electrical safety risks in and around our houses. These major safety risks include flooding, downed power lines, and lightning. And many of these electrical safety risks persist for a very long time after the storm has passed.
With thunderstorms, it’s important to remember that no electrical appliances should be used while they are happening. Ovens, in particular, should be avoided as thunderstorms come with high voltage and can cause serious damage to them.
Fortunately, plenty of help is available, so you don’t need to worry about what to do during a thunderstorm. By following the thunderstorm safety tips and precautions, you can easily feel more secure and prepared for any thunderstorm.
Read this article to discover the impact of thunderstorms and the advised safety precautions.
Unplugging Electrical Appliances
To answer your earlier question of whether to use an oven during a thunderstorm or not, the answer is no. No one should ever use an oven -or any other electrical appliance- during a thunderstorm.
It’s essential to unplug electronics and devices beforehand since lighting generates around 15 million volts of electricity and temperatures that reach up to 50,000 degrees. That’s enough power even to damage your home if lightning is striking close, traveling through its electrical system, and posing a risk both for you and your belongings.
Consequences Of Thunderstorms And How To Protect Yourself
Thunderstorms are an inherent part of life in many parts of the world and can take a toll on our home appliances like ovens, air conditioners, and computers if they’re not adequately protected. Without proper protection, thunderstorms can cause surges and overvoltages that damage your electrical lines, making them impracticable or even hazardous.
So it’s essential to ensure that your home is properly sequestered against thunderstorms with an external lightning protection system. For example, lightning rods help conduct electricity away from your home to minimize the risk of damages which can result in hefty repair costs.
Watch this video to get an insight into things you should not do during a thunderstorm:
What Can’t Do During a Storm (Please, Never!)
Which Devices Get Affected By Electrical Damage?
Electrical thunderstorms can wreak havoc on your home, causing damage to everything from the telephone and television to the oven and ceramic hob.
Air conditioning units, washing machines, microwaves, heaters, fireplaces, and almost every device in your home that plugs into a power source is vulnerable to thunderstorm-related electric surges.
Thunderstorms can cause short circuits and component problems that interrupt work and cost many people their appliances and wallets. While it can be difficult to predict when thunderstorms will strike, it’s important to remember that the damage they can inflict is far from fictional.
Destruction From Lightning: Damages And Insurance Expenses
Thunderstorms have the power to cause significant damage, including structural damage and the risk of fire, which can cost insurance in many different ways. This includes monetary losses as well as the costs of time and resources.
Lightning strikes during a thunderstorm may cause power surges that can seriously damage electrical equipment and appliances. Because of this, it’s crucial to protect oneself from thunderstorm damage with the appropriate gear.
Although buying the required equipment may seem a little expensive initially, analyzing the impact a thunderstorm has on people’s health, it is advised never to compromise your safety.
Protection Against Over Voltages
Surge protectors can be an invaluable tool when it comes to lightning safety. In the event of a storm, electronics are at risk of damage as electrical surges can overload their components and potentially cause permanent damage.
Unfortunately, only some have the luxury of having time to unplug their devices before a storm. Surge protector plugs provide protection against such risks by diverting electrical surges into the ground, resulting in precautionary benefits for your equipment.
Install a whole-home surge protector to upgrade your lightning safety and shield your electronics from lightning by going one step beyond a plug-in surge protector. Lightning can sometimes pass through phone and cable lines and destroy electronics like routers, modems, and even light switches.
Consider constructing a whole-home surge protection system rather than buying 50 surge protectors for every connection.
Safety Precautions
Now that you know the repercussions of a thunderstorm, let’s look at some safety measures indoors or outdoors. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry!
Weather Forecast
When planning outdoor activities, it’s essential to check the weather forecast. If thunderstorms are predicted, postpone your trip or activity, or ensure that you have a suitable safe shelter nearby.
Stay Away From The Water
It’s essential to keep safe and avoid water indoors, including baths and showers. Plastic pipes reduce your danger of getting electrified. It’s best to give the thunderclouds a wide berth by avoiding contact with plumbing and running water.
Avoid Windows, Doors, And Porches
Keep yourself away from windows, doors, and porches. They may sound harmless, but thunderclaps can travel straight into your body through metal wires or bars in concrete structures. Therefore, always avoid engaging with thunderstorms and lying on concrete floors.
Avoid Touching Electronic Equipment
Disconnect yourself from electronic equipment. This includes any device that is connected to an electrical outlet, such as ovens, computers, and washers.
Lightning from thunderstorms can travel through electric systems, so it pays to be careful! Make sure your home is equipped with whole-house surge protectors, just in case.
Conclusion
So, the simple answer to using an oven during a thunderstorm is no. In fact, not only should you not use your oven during a thunderstorm, but you should also unplug it, or for that matter, every other device connected to the power supply.