Buying your dream home is a significant accomplishment, and you need to protect your investment. While there is no way you can control severe weather, you can do many things to prevent possible damage to your home and protect your family.
Here are tips you should remember when gearing up your home for an upcoming weather event.
Remedy Any Structural Issues
Inspect your home and resolve issues like peeling roof shingles, loose fence boards, and rattling windows to prevent costly damage. Dealing with damages head-on can save you from expensive repairs after damage from severe weather events. For instance, if a shingle is damaged, it will likely get loose during a storm. If it is missing, reinstall or replace it immediately.
Maintain and Clean Your Yard
Keep an eye on potential hazards surrounding your home. Here is how you can implement basic outdoor maintenance before a weather condition.
- Clean your gutters: Get rid of gutter debris to ensure water can flow properly into drains. Consider adding gutter guards if you have more time, which can keep your gutters debris-free in the first place.
- Unclog downspouts: Free your downspouts from congestion to avoid water damage. Remove debris at the openings, check for any blockages in the outlets, and rinse with water using a hose.
- Trim tree branches: These are among the common causes of roof damage. Inspect for any long branches hanging over your roof. Remove old or diseased trees that can fall on your property.
- Secure your outdoor furniture: Store outdoor decorations, sports equipment, and other tools left outside to prevent them from damage. If you are unable to put them indoors, tie them together as securely as possible.
Invest in a Backup Generator
A spare power source can keep your essential appliances and lights on, especially in brutal weather conditions. In some cases, intense storms can cut power sources for more than a day. On average, United States customers experienced more than seven hours of electric power interruptions in 2021.
A backup generator delivers power instantly during a blackout, maintaining safety and comfort during emergencies. It also protects the home from voltage surges and fluctuations when power is back. This equipment is especially useful during winter storms, as you want to keep your home warm enough to prevent property damage like frozen pipes and ensure your family is safe.
If you anticipate harsh weather, consider investing in a backup generator to keep your power on in the event your local grid goes down.
Review Your Insurance Policy
Extreme weather conditions remain a common reason behind property damage in the U.S., with damages reaching $121.4 billion between 2017 and 2021. You should ensure your insurance policy covers the losses you may incur after a natural disaster.
Damages caused by earthquakes, flooding, and hurricanes are commonly not covered, so you may need to invest in additional insurance, especially if you live in an area prone to natural disasters. Create a list of your belongings as documentation for the insurance company and keep it somewhere safe and dry.
Inspect Your Roof
An extensive roof inspection before an anticipated severe weather event can protect your home, especially thunderstorms, when wind gusts of 75 miles per hour can easily remove roofing tiles.
If you have a roof that is five or more years old, look for loose nails and shingles and replace them. A visual inspection from the ground can be beneficial for spotting small issues, but you may want to have a professional come out to do a more thorough inspection. This way, you can learn of any notable concerns and manage them as necessary.
Prepare Your Doors and Windows
Pay extra attention to your home’s doors and windows to maximize protection against brutal storms. Here are some things you can do:
- Seal all entryways: Prevent water and wind from entering through house doors, garage doors and windows by sealing their openings with weatherproofing materials. Aside from helping keep your home undamaged during severe weather, sealing all entry points in your home can reduce your energy bills.
- Install storm shutters: If your home is near the coast, installing storm shutters is a must to protect your home’s windows from harsh winds and flying debris. Fix and update your storm shutters as necessary to ensure they serve their purpose.
- Apply plywood: You can put plywood on the exterior of doors and windows to protect glass and minimize damage when wind is a concern. This temporary measure can help in a pinch in anticipation of severe weather.
Protect Your Home with These Preparation Techniques
Whether you are anticipating a severe rainstorm or a possible hurricane, you can combat the effects of natural disasters on your home in many ways. Start with these preventive measures to protect your home and your family, and you will be ready for all types of weather.
