Lightning and Surge Claims

Here’s some background on the most commonly reported causes of loss between June and September – lightning, hail, and wind – and what evaluations reveal.

Lightning is one of the most frequently reported causes of loss listed on HVAC and electronics claims – policyholders reported it for almost 20% of HVAC systems and nearly 40% of electronics in claims.

Voltage irregularities happen more often than people would imagine, and with them come some big risks of repercussions to electrical equipment people frequently use.

Lightning can trigger damage to many items in a home or business, including electronics, appliances, solar power equipment, or outdoor electronics, because it can travel through the ground, wires, and pipes.

Adjusters shouldn’t assume lightning is the cause of loss based on a policyholder’s contractor and should rely on comprehensive assessment results to decipher which peril is related to the HVAC claim they are working on.

It’s a good thing the adjuster for this claim didn’t take the contractor’s word for all the items listed as damaged by lightning.

Lightning verification reports can confirm or exclude lightning’s presence at the location during the time of loss – before anyone ever inspects the equipment.

Gain insight on how often lightning or surge is the cause of loss, why and where lightning and high voltage surges occur, and which items are most affected by these perils.

A high voltage surge can cause failures to almost any electrical device or system that’s plugged into the affected area, from the appliances to the consumer electronics to the wiring itself.

Annually, more than 25% of claims assigned to HVACi have lightning as the claimed cause of loss, but wear and tear or high voltage surge are more likely to be the actual peril that caused damage.