One of the main ways lightning enters homes and buildings is through wires or

metal pipes that extend outside the structure. After it hits, it travels through the pipes and

wiring which it contacts.

I have been an HVAC/plumbing contractor since 1976 and have recently seen the

magnitude of damage where lightning struck metal B cap, a flue pipe protector. It

traveled down the metal stack, jumping in and out of the copper tubing, into the furnace

and then made its way to the two outside air-conditioning units before making a grand

exit out of the contactor.

According to the insurance adjuster , this house was fortunate. Most others are not as

fortunate. He further stated that a lightning strike of this magnitude usually burns the

house to the ground. Losing you home, personal belongings, even possibly your own or

family’s life can be devastating. It can all be gone in one strike of lightning. What an

eye opener this has been. I’ll never look at metal venting and metal vent caps the same

ever again.

On the 90 percent plus high-efficiency gas heating units and appliances such as

high-efficiency hot water heaters and boilers, PVC pipes are used rather than metal and

are topped off with E caps made of General Electric Geloy© resin which do not attract

lightning. Because it does not conduct electricity, this is a better system than the 80

percent units which use metal vent stacks and metal caps.

John Bernardo Conti, Jr.

Certified HVAC/Plumbing Contractor

Blackmon Mooring Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing

OK State Mechanical Contractor License # 5583

OK State Plumbing Contractor License # 2970