Rain is a regular occurrence across the country and it’s a given that homes should protect residents from it so that they can remain comfortable. Our geographical location here in Florida means that we must contend with harsh tropical storms that fall far beyond the scope of average drizzles. When hurricane season inevitably returns each year, your house will need to face heavy downpours and powerful gusts that can easily penetrate an ill-equipped structure. You’ll also need to take preemptive actions that will cover you in the case of an emergency. If you’ve recently acquired a home or realize that you haven’t sufficiently bolstered your defenses, you’ll find these ways to prepare your house for hurricane season to be extremely valuable.
Clear Out Your Home’s Gutters
Let’s start with the top of the home, since it is often the first point of contact for precipitation. You should inspect your gutters and their corresponding drains to see whether they are dirty. Debris such as leaves, sticks, and other outdoor substances can become stuck in gutters over time. This can block the passage of water through their channels when storms come, reducing or completely canceling out their effectiveness. The gutters will no longer be able keep up with the amount of water pouring into them. Consequently, rain will run down the sides of your home and may pool around its foundation instead of moving away to a drain. Water can cause major damage to your house. Although it’s messy work, clearing out your gutters periodically will ensure that they don’t fail when you need them.
Maintain the Condition of the Roof
Besides the gutters, you should also turn your sights to the roof. You want it to be in perfect condition for when hurricane season comes around, since a tiny gap in its armor can allow water to leak into your home. Check for missing or broken shingles and have these replaced. Also, keep an eye out for loosened shingles which are common around roof edges. These can fly off when winds are strong enough, exposing a section of your roof and potentially damaging another part of the home when the shingle crashes into it. For an extra layer of protection, hire a professional to seal your roof. They can introduce waterproof tape around vulnerable areas or apply a special coating to the entirety of the roof.
Clean Up the Yard
As with flying roof shingles, any loose object that you leave outside is liable to become airborne during a powerful squall. They’ll transform from commonplace items into destructive projectiles that can wreak havoc on your house. Thus, it’s good to clean up your yard and find an indoor storage space for your tools, equipment, and any other items that you have outside. While you might usually have a table and chairs in your yard or lanai, set aside an area where you can bring them in when there is an impending storm. Cleaning up your yard also entails picking up loose branches and other disposable items and throwing them away before they have a chance to pile up and pose a hazard.
Have Surge Protection and Backup Power
It’s not unheard of for severe weather to cause power surges and outages. You can guard your home against a power surge by installing a surge protector to your electrical panel and your HVAC system so that they don’t sustain permanent impairment from a sudden spike in voltage. Individual power strips that act as surge protectors to the appliances plugged into them are also available for you to use. As for an outage, you can prepare your home by obtaining a backup generator. Many modern versions can sense an outage and automatically activate to give your home electricity when a storm cuts off its main supply. They can also run by connecting with your existing gas lines for fuel for further convenience.
Gather an Emergency Kit
An emergency kit is an assembly of supplies that you gather and keep in your home for emergencies. It should include a first-aid kit, medicine, water, nonperishable food, and survival tools such as a flashlight, multipurpose knives, and a radio. For the water, keep in mind that you should ideally have a gallon per person, per day. You may also go out and purchase already-made emergency kits that include everything you’ll need if a hurricane casts you in dire straits. Though they aren’t directly tied to basic survival, you should be prepared to grab your important documents and have them alongside your emergency kit. The last thing you want is to lose essential records and forms related to your identity. Examples of these documents include your driver’s license, social security card, passport, and birth certificate.
Review Your Homeowner’s Insurance
Reviewing your homeowner’s insurance ahead of time is also a way to prepare your house for hurricane season. Find out exactly what storm-related damages it covers for you. You may find that while it encompasses wind and rain damage, it doesn’t protect you in the event of flooding, for instance. When you’re at risk of experiencing the effects of a hurricane, it may be smarter to go with an advanced form of insurance that will cover more damages than a standard one. You should go through your homeowner’s insurance well ahead of hurricane season because changes to your policy can often take around a month to actually become effective.
Obtain Impact-Resistant Windows and Doors
Reinforcing your home’s windows and doors is absolutely essential to withstand the onslaught of formidable weather. These are the openings that lead into your home, so they are more susceptible to breaking and allowing wind and rain inside than solid walls. Window and glass door companies offer products built with this in mind, though. You should outfit your home with impact-resistant windows and glass doors to protect your home in the event of a hurricane. These are made of several layers of laminated glass that allow them to remain unbroken when flying objects hit them. The laminate holds the glass sheets together even when they face heavy impacts. Impact-resistant glass also accommodates a degree of flexion so that it doesn’t shatter from strong gales. Moreover, impact-resistant windows and doors have sturdy frames that won’t fall apart under extreme strain.
Choose Florida Window and Door Solutions for your impact-resistant windows and impact patio doors in Florida today. We’ll help you build up your home’s defense so you feel secure during hurricane season.
Recent Comments