Lightning strike tears into 2-year-old home, fries TV, router, and lights

A lightning strike can turn a routine home repair into a much bigger, and far more expensive, problem in a matter of seconds.

That is what one homeowner learned after a strike ripped through the roof, damaged electronics, and raised concerns about other issues still hidden behind the walls.

Here's what to know

In a post to Reddit's r/Roofing community, the homeowner said the house had been purchased new in 2024 and that a lightning strike tore through the roofing materials, leaving what they described as a hole "through the shingles, decking, and soffit." 

The original poster added that it was, "Definitely not something I expected to be dealing with on a 2-year-old house."

The homeowner then listed off a litany of electrical problems that popped up after the lightning strike, writing, "After the strike, we lost: Soffit lights on both the front and back of the house, several interior lights, garage door opener, living room TV (completely fried), internet router (also fried), [and] possibly other electronics."

The OP said a backup router got Wi-Fi running again, but that the home's Ethernet ports still were not working properly. 

Commenters quickly turned the thread into a practical checklist of next steps.

One advised, "Call your insurance. Check [the] attic for signs of fire. Don't reset any breakers, your wiring may be damaged. Have an electrician come out to inspect [the] wiring." 

Another added, "Check every appliance or electrical item that was plugged in—some could have gotten fried."

The homeowner later said they had already contacted their insurer, writing, "They sent out an electrical team called Strike Check and they evaluated the electrical issues. Supposedly supposed to send us a check to hire our own electrician to fix everything." OP also added that their deductible was $1,000.

More background

Lightning damage is not always immediately visible. While a hole in the roof is easy to spot, power surges can also damage breakers, wiring insulation, outlets, appliances, chargers, and internet equipment.

For this homeowner, the repair list already extended well beyond the roof. The confirmed losses needed to be spelled out in list form since there were so many.

Yet, a visual check may not be enough to figure out how much hidden damage a strike caused. 

In the comments, one person pointed to continuity tests and "megger" tests as ways electricians can evaluate whether wiring insulation is still sound, while another suggested the panel's surge protection could have failed.

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