7 Secure Ways to Protect your Home from Extreme Weather
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Human beings throughout history have learned to deal with extreme weather conditions, such as cold winters, earthquakes, strong winds, tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods. Severe weather has far-reaching consequences, such as destruction of property, accidents, and fatalities.
Therefore, you should prepare and maintain your home and your family for unforeseen extreme weather to avoid financial and property damage if you live in such a climate where this occurs.
Here is an in-depth insight into ways you can protect your home from unexpected harsh weather conditions.
1. Focus on Your Piping System
The piping system in your home is affected by most weather conditions like blizzards and snow. Thus, it is imperative to have a particular focus on it. As you approach winter, you should disconnect and drain garden hoses before keeping them in the store. Additionally, you should insulate the piping system within your home with no heating sources to avoid freezing the pipes.
In addition, you should carry out routine analysis of the status of your piping system as you approach extreme weather. After a regular check-up of your piping systems, book a quick repair if needed to avoid flooding in your home. If you live in an endemic flood region, you should inspect the valves on your piping system, including the sump pump, sewer backflow valve, and foundation vent. Furthermore, you can always schedule a backflow repair with professional plumbers to avoid flooding in your home if it is required.
2. Keep Your Gutters Clean
Experts advocate for regular cleaning of gutters to minimize the accumulation of water that might freeze during winter and cause several issues on your roofing. Additionally, cleaning your gutters helps you identify drains that require servicing and repairing to avoid leaks during a heavy downpour. It would be best if you considered extending your trench to move the rainwater away from your home to prevent flooding. Furthermore, you can fit gutter screens to prevent leaves and other debris from clogging your system.
3. Seal All Holes and Leaks
You should carry a routine inspection of your walls and your home to identify small holes and leaks that can allow air and water to slip into your house. Additionally, the tiny holes can allow cold air during winter into your home. You can employ foam insulation, caulking, or weather stripping to seal cracks and holes in your home.
4. Trim Trees in Your Yard
Vegetation in your yard, especially trees, can complicate extreme weather and cause extensive property damage. It would be best if you trimmed tree branches growing near your roof or those near power lines. Moreover, you should hire professional gardeners to trim and regularly inspect large overgrown trees that pose a hazard to you and your neighbors.
5. Fortify Your Doors, Roof, and Windows
It would be best to protect your glass doors and windows with storm shutters during storms and strong winds. The shutters prevent debris from damaging your windows or doors. You can reinforce the doors in your home or install double-entry doors by adding heavy-duty bolts.
The roof forms the first line of defense for your home against extreme weather, mainly high winds. Therefore, you can carry out routine repairs and inspections to correct leaks and damages.
In addition, you should install a new roof with shingles that protects it from high winds. You should select shutters that are flame-retardant to prevent your roof from quickly catching fire. Furthermore, consider anchoring your roof to the wall framings of your home through roof strappings to prevent winds from lifting it off your house.
6. Prepare Emergency Equipment
You should see your family in discussions concerning disaster preparedness and store several essential types of equipment for extreme weather. Moreover, you can have a separate room that acts as a panic room during extreme weather conditions, such as earthquakes and hurricanes.
Items you can keep in your store include a smartphone charger, a smartphone, multiple flashlights, and long-lasting food. You can keep blankets, warm boots, and blankets as winter accessories. Furthermore, you can have a first aid kit, sleeping bags, road salt, medications, and loose cash.
7. Consider Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement should be your first choice of material when constructing or renovating your home. It is more than capable of combatting extreme weather conditions because of how thick it is compared to other products in the market. In addition, fiber cement will help insulate your home from cold weather conditions in winter. Furthermore, fiber cement is resistant to damage from pests and fire and prevents the growth of mold and moisture accumulation.
In some parts of the world, weather is highly unpredictable. However, by implementing the above construction tips, you will be able to protect your home from the effects of extreme weather conditions as much as possible. Additional home insurance may be required in areas where extreme weather occurs more frequently.
