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As the weather starts to get warmer, it’s an indication that storm season is on the way. From massive wind gusts and damaging rain, there are many weather-related hazards that your home can face. Fortunately, with our ultimate guide, you’ll be well on your way to safely protecting your home and family during this year’s storm season.
Trim Greenery
One of the best things you can do to prepare for the upcoming storm season is to assess the greenery on your property. See if there are any low-hanging branches that could potentially wreak havoc on your home and your surroundings. More specifically, check for any tree limbs that could fall on your electrical lines. All of these low-hanging branches should be trimmed back so there’s no possibility of them damaging your home or surrounding features.
Whole-Home Surge Protector
One common problem associated with massive thunderstorms is a power outage. Sometimes, the power may go out for hours, while other times, it may just flicker on and off repeatedly. When there is a surge in your home’s power supply, it could potentially damage anything that’s plugged into it. Think of your appliances, like the television, microwave, and stove. Do yourself a favor and have a whole-home surge protector installed by a licensed electrician. This will prevent most power surges from damaging any appliances plugged into your power outlets.
Have Storage for Outdoor Items
When a nasty storm is predicted to come through, it’s time to clean up any loose objects on your property. From patio furniture to hanging plants, they all need to be put in a secure location. Otherwise, they will create perfect projectiles that can damage your home during a massive storm. Having a storage place already designated for these items will make it much easier to stow them during a storm and make it less likely that you’ll leave them outside.
Whole-Home Generator
Another problem with power outages, is that it can prevent you from doing many of the things that you love at home. From watching television to cooking dinner, you need power to do so. With a whole-home generator, you can be prepared for when your power goes out. You can have these installed where they’ll automatically kick on whenever your power has been out for a set amount of time. This way, your family can remain comfortable and safe until the power can be safely restored in your area.
Your generator is most likely going to run on gasoline. It’s a good idea to fill up multiple fuel containers prior to any storm. Since you don’t know if or how long you may be without power, it makes sense to have extra fuel on hand to keep your generator running. There’s nothing worse than having a generator without the proper fuel to run it.
Consider Installing Storm Shutters
If your area experiences massive wind gusts, then you may want to consider investing in storm shutters for your doors and windows. These create an extra barrier that can help protect the glass in your doors and windows from flying debris. Whether it’s large hail or your neighbor’s hanging plant, you can ensure that your entryways are secured from any massive damage during unwelcome thunderstorms.
Keep Your Gutters and Downspouts Clean
As a large amount of rain pounds down on your home, it’s looking for the easiest place to go. When your gutters and downspouts are clear, the water can easily run through these open channels and away from your home. However, if your gutters or downspouts are clogged with debris, it can restrict the flow of water. This can cause the water to back up under your shingles and pour down the side of your home.
This can create a good amount of water damage in a very short amount of time. Whenever you know a storm is coming, clean out your gutters so they’re ready to go to work protecting your home. Additionally, make sure that the outwards spouts are at least six feet away from your home to prevent unwanted flooding.
Assess Your Wall Openings
Anywhere there is access from the inside of your home to the outside, you need to assess that opening to ensure it’s properly sealed off from the weather. While it may have been properly sealed when initially installed, that sealant can wear off over time and need to be replaced. Check around doors, windows, electrical outlets, vents, and even your garden hose bib. If there is any open space at that opening, you’ll want to use a high-quality urethane-based sealant. This will dry fairly quickly and protect that area from any future water damage.
Secure Your Garage Doors
Unless you have impact-resistant garage doors, you’ll want to properly prep them for any nasty windstorms that are coming your way. You can do this by installing aftermarket locking brackets to the tracks. These come with locking pins so you can physically secure the door to the inside tracks. This will prevent them from being pushed around by high wind forces. You’ll just need to manually undo the locking pins after the storm to allow your garage door to open up freely.
Know Where Your Main Shut-Off Valves Are
As a homeowner, you should make it a priority to locate your main shut-off valves. These include your water line, electrical panel box, and fuel line if you have one. This way, if there is any damage that occurs to your home, you can shut off any necessary items to protect against any additional damage. For example, being able to shut off your power when your home starts to flood is a necessity to protect against electrical shock.
Test Your Smoke and CO Detectors
Your home should be outfitted with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on each floor and outside each bedroom. Before storm season hits, you should be testing these detectors to ensure that they’re in good working order. Be sure to replace any low batteries so that your detectors don’t stop working on you. By having these in good working order, you can be alerted of any harmful problem with your home when it’s happening, so you can respond accordingly.
Get Your Insurance in Order
When a large storm tears through your neighborhood, it’s likely that multiple homes will be affected. It’s a good idea to have your storm insurance information on hand so that you can expedite your claims process. By knowing what number to call, your insurance policy number, and your coverage limits, you can easily deal with any storm damage with ease.
Reliable Electrician Service
HR Phoenix offers reliable electrician services for the entire Richland, TX area. We can also help with all of your electrical repair, generator, EV charging station, rewiring, plumbing, commercial, and electrical panel needs. Contact our office today to schedule your next service appointment with one of our highly skilled electricians.
