Is Your Lightning Protection System Ready for the Next Storm? Delaware's Best Maintenance Services Can Help
The case for scheduling a lightning protection inspection before storm season hits, and the warning signs that mean you shouldn't wait.
Why Timing an Inspection Matters
Scheduling an inspection before storm activity ramps up gives you time to fix any problems the technician finds before the system is actually put to the test. Waiting until storms are already rolling through means finding out about a failure the hard way — during the exact event the system was installed to handle. A system that's been sitting untouched since installation or its last inspection is essentially an unknown quantity going into storm season, and the whole point of maintenance is to remove that uncertainty ahead of time rather than after the fact.
Signs Your System May Need Attention
Visible corrosion or physical damage on rods and conductors is an obvious flag. Less obvious signs include unexplained electrical issues in the home, like flickering lights or a surge protection device that keeps tripping, which can point to a grounding problem even when the rooftop components look completely fine from the ground. Any of these signs on their own is reason enough to have a technician take a closer look before assuming everything is fine.
After Any Significant Storm
It's worth having the system checked after a major storm even if the house wasn't struck directly. Wind and falling debris can loosen connections, bend rods, or damage components in ways that simply aren't visible from the ground, and a system that looks fine after a storm isn't necessarily undamaged. Treating a severe storm as a trigger for inspection, not just a scheduled annual date, closes that gap.
What Homeowners Can Do Between Visits
A simple visual walk-around for obvious damage, keeping a basic log of past inspection dates, and keeping trees trimmed away from the system are all reasonable steps between professional visits. These habits don't replace a technician's testing of grounding resistance and connection integrity, but they help catch anything obvious sooner rather than later, and they give you something concrete to mention if you do call in a professional.
Getting Ahead of the Season
Annual inspection, scheduled before storm season picks up, is the most reliable way to know your system is ready rather than hoping it holds up. Call RS Lightning Protection at 1-866-415-2231 to set up a visit.
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