question

[Mescalero]

I have always heard that one should not shower when lightning was in the area.
Is this an old wives tale or is there scientific data to support this position?

[6pt-sika]

I got a little bit of a zinger once showering during a thunderstorm . When I was a kid my mother would tell you to stay out of the shower , off concrete floors and away from the windows .

Now I pretty much do what I want when I want and if it happens it happens . You know predestination and all that

[Griff]

Well... I wouldn't advise it if your shower is out-of-doors!

[Sixgun]

Well... I wouldn't advise it if your shower is out-of-doors!

UNLESS......it's a "golden shower".


On to Mescaline's question....I have always understood that your entire house is grounded and is the safest place to be.

I also heard you should not talk on the phone but that don't concern me as I just don't talk on the phone. In addition to not having any friends, I also do not hear too well.-------6

[6pt-sika]

In addition to not having any friends, I also do not hear too well.-------6

What was that you said huh huh

[Booger Bill]

About 1949 my sister and I were home alone during a thunderstorm. I did something and she picked up one of those old wall crank phones to call grandma to rat me off. She had picked up the receiver but not yet put it to her ear and a blue flame shot out about a foot! I told her God was gonna get her if she ratted me!

[BobM]

Mythbusters did an episode about that but I don't remember the answer.

[7.62 Precision]

I have always heard that one should not shower when lightning was in the area.
Is this an old wives tale or is there scientific data to support this position?

Most plumbing system are vented out the roof, or near the roof and used to be all copper, or even used lead, way back. They could conduct lighting through a house to ground. Standing in metal tub in the water might not be the best idea back then.

Now it depends on construction. Much more plastic today.

[Blaine]

FWIW, i know that water workers can be shocked thru pipes..

[pshort]

Howdy,
When I was a kid, I witnessed my dad get hit by a blue ball of lightning following the water pipes while he was in the basement shower. He survived, but never did that again !!

Paul

[horsesoldier03]

You can do anything ONCE!

[Mescalero]

Looks like there might be something to it.

[FWiedner]

It is not uncommon in older construction to find residential electrical systems using metal water piping as a path to earth ground for the installation.

In those structures, your mom's advice is well taken.

With the proliferation of PVC piping in newer structures, and better more standardized electrical code related to residential grounding, it's probably not something that one has to worry about in newer structures, i.e. those without iron or copper piping used as a preferred path to ground.

I'd think the easiest way to determine the hazard is whether or not you have a grounding rod run directly off of your service panel.