In recent years, weather extremes have become more frequent and more intense. These changes come with a high price tag: According to the National Weather Service, record-breaking weather events cost the United States an estimated $95 billion in 2021 alone. As a result, it’s essential to be prepared for the worst and take steps to minimize the impact of these events.
You can take several simple steps to protect your home from extreme weather. These include checking for loose items that could fall and damage windows, shutters, chimneys, and other potential entry points, sealing gaps and cracks, and removing moisture and excess moisture from the air. Here are five ways to do that.
Install impact-resistant windows
Windows are one of the most vulnerable parts of your home due to extreme weather. Impact-resistant windows are made of aluminum, vinyl, or steel. They are more expensive but significantly more resistant to damage and can even prevent entry by a hurricane. Also, impact resistant windows are more energy-efficient, saving you money every month on your utility bill.
Make sure your home is in good condition at all times.
Buildings can break or suffer damage from severe weather even when they’re in good shape. But if you do have some issues, they can be much more susceptible to damage. You should always make sure your siding is in good condition, your roof is sealed, and there are no gaps in your exterior walls.
Secure outdoor furniture
Extreme weather poses a unique threat to outdoor furniture. Strong winds can cause it to fall or blow over. If a tree falls on it, extreme weather can increase the risk of injury by making it more likely that your furniture will fall where people are nearby. What’s more, extreme weather can expose your furniture to high moisture levels that can cause rot and other damage.
The safest thing to do is store your poly outdoor furniture away during extreme weather. If you must leave it outside, make sure it’s secured to the ground. Also, remove anything that could blow away, such as a barbecue grill or flowerpots.
Repair or replace aging roofs
Just as with windows, roofs are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather. Heavy rain can cause them to leak. Extreme heat can increase the risk of roofing materials expanding, buckling, or otherwise failing. In both cases, you want to prevent damage to your roof, not just repair it after it’s been breached.
A roof inspection can help you identify problems. You can also use that information to decide what kinds of repairs are necessary. For example, if your roof is in bad shape but holding up well, it might be a good idea to have the whole roof replaced prior to hurricane season just to be safe.
Clear gutters and drainage systems
Extreme weather can cause your gutters to overflow, or your storm drains to overflow, leading to puddles or flooding in your yard. You don’t want that to happen, so you need to ensure it doesn’t.
You can do that by cleaning out your gutters during periods of light precipitation and by clearing your storm drains during heavy rainfalls.
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