No one can fully prepare for severe weather events. Even if you’ve taken every precaution, your life could still be turned upside down, and your house could sustain significant damage. Even if your home insurance will cover the repair costs, knowing what to do next while still processing what happened can be challenging. You’ll need to act fast, as you’ll be up against other homeowners looking for restoration services and storm repair in your neighborhood. In this read, we’ll look at how to protect your home from severe weather to keep it secure.
1. Inspect Your Roof for Damage
A storm can be detrimental to your roof’s structural integrity. After severe weather, inspect your roof for any damage. If you notice any issues, have them addressed. If you’re not comfortable inspecting the roof yourself, hire roofing professionals to do the inspection. A professional will assess the extent of the damage and recommend the best course of action for repairs.
If you don’t notice any visible signs of damage, have it cleaned by a pressure washing service at the least. Cleaning your roof helps with maintenance in several ways. First, it gives you an opportunity to inspect your roof for potential issues. Look out for cracked or missing shingles, rusted or damaged flashing, or any other signs of wear and tear. Identifying these issues early on can help prevent more serious and costly problems down the road.
Cleaning your roof can also prevent the growth of moss, algae, and mold, which can cause damage to your roof’s shingles and lead to leaks if not addressed promptly. Cleaning your roof can also help to prevent the buildup of debris, such as leaves and branches, which can trap water and cause damage over time. A clean and well-maintained roof is more effective at protecting your home from the elements to keep it secure.
2. Inspect Your Gutters for Damage
Inspecting gutters after severe weather is an important step in maintaining the integrity of your home. It also helps to reveal if any damage occurred and whether replacements or repairs are required. Look for damage indicators such as holes, leaks, bending, breaking, cracking, or separated sections during the inspection to keep it secure. Inspect the gutters for any debris that may have accumulated as they can develop into blockages and affect drainage.
Check the downspouts for proper attachment and clear flow as well. If you find any damage or blockages, have them promptly addressed by a professional to prevent water damage to the home. While you can inspect your gutters, it’s best to let the professionals handle any necessary repairs or cleaning jobs.
Having your gutters cleaned by professional gutter services after severe weather helps with home maintenance. It prevents water damage to the home. Clogged gutters can cause water to overflow and potentially damage the foundation, walls, and roof of a home. Excess water can also cause mold growth and attract pests. By keeping the gutters clear, water is directed away from the home, and potential damage is averted to keep it secure.
3. Have Your Sewer Line Inspected
Have your home’s sewer line inspected by a professional after severe weather to keep it secure. During an inspection, a professional can identify issues that may have occurred and recommend appropriate repairs. Common sewer line issues include cracks or breaks in the line, sinkholes, and erosion. Identifying and repairing any damage or problems early on can help prevent more serious issues and costly repairs down the road.
If physical damage didn’t occur, having your sewer line cleaned by a sewer line cleaning service after severe weather can help with home maintenance by preventing backups and blockages in the line. Heavy rainfall and flooding can wash debris, such as leaves and branches, into the sewer line, causing clogs. Excess rainfall can also cause soil erosion, which may result in damage to the sewer line and cause leaks or collapses. Cleaning the sewer line after severe weather can help remove debris that may have entered the line and identify any damage that may have occurred, preventing future problems and costly repairs.
4. Have Mold Issues Addressed
After a severe weather event such as heavy rainfall, you’ll likely have some mold issues in your home. Mold releases spores, which can cause respiratory problems and allergies for some members of your household. Luckily, you can improve the air quality in your home and make it a healthier environment for you and your family by having a mold remediation company come in and address the problem. Mold can also cause structural damage to your home in the form of rotting wood and degradation of building materials. Having it addressed by a professional can prevent further structural damage.
Severe weather often results in water damage, which can lead to mold growth. When you hire professionals, they’ll work to establish the source of moisture and eliminate it. This will reduce the likelihood of future mold growth. Mold can also discolor walls, ceilings, and other surfaces, making your home look dirty and unsanitary. Having mold remediated by professionals improves the overall appearance of your home. Mold also hurts your home’s value, but having it removed will restore it.
While mold remediation services can be costly, they save you money by preventing more complex issues down the road. Mold remediation should be performed by a professional who can assess the extent of the mold problem in your home to keep it secure and develop a plan for removing it safely and effectively.
5. Waterproof Your Basement
Basement waterproofing after severe weather can help prevent water damage and mold growth, which can cause structural damage and health problems. There are several methods of waterproofing a basement. These include exterior waterproofing, interior waterproofing, a french drain, adding a waterproofing membrane, and caulking.
Exterior waterproofing involves digging a trench around the exterior of the foundation and installing a drainage system to direct water away from the foundation. Interior waterproofing involves sealing the walls and floor of the basement to prevent water from seeping in. This may also include installing a sump pump and a drainage system.
The french drain approach involves installing a drainage pipe that runs along the base of the foundation walls and is covered with gravel. The pipe has holes in it to allow water to enter, and the gravel helps to filter it. A waterproofing membrane is a waterproof material that’s applied to the walls of the basement to make them watertight. Caulking involves applying a sealant to the joint between the foundation and the floor to prevent water from seeping in.
Always consult a professional to determine the best method of waterproofing for your specific situation, as some methods may not be suitable for your home. The professional will also be able to identify the source of the water and make necessary repairs that will keep it secure and prevent future water infiltration.
6. Call in a Plumbing Service
Severe weather events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods often cause damage to a home’s plumbing system for several reasons. High winds can damage or break pipes, causing leaks or water damage. Flooding can cause water to seep into the home, leading to clogs and leaks, as well as damage to appliances and fixtures that use water.
Flooding can also cause backflow, which can cause contaminated water to enter the home’s clean water supply. The ground movement can also cause damage to the sewer lines and the foundation of the house, causing leaks and other problems in the plumbing system. Severe weather events can cause both direct and indirect damage to a home’s plumbing system, which is why it’s important to have a professional plumber assess and repair any damage as soon as possible.
If not addressed promptly, these issues can lead to further damage and costly repairs. Professional plumbers are trained to quickly assess and repair any damage to the plumbing system, preventing further issues and restoring normal functioning to the home to keep it secure. They also have the necessary tools, equipment, and experience to handle repairs safely and effectively.
7. Call in a Water Heater Service
Severe weather can also affect a home’s water heater. High winds can damage or completely break the vent pipes that facilitate the release of carbon monoxide. Flooding can cause the water heater to become submerged, resulting in damage to the electrical components, making the system dangerous to use.
Flooding can also cause water to seep into the home, which can lead to rust and corrosion of the water heater’s tank. The temperature of the water heater can also be affected by power outages caused by severe weather, causing the water heater to shut down and not function properly.
If the water heater is located in an area that’s prone to flooding, you’ll need to have it elevated to protect it from water damage. Extreme weather events can cause both direct and indirect damage to a home’s water heater. Have a professional water technician assess and repair any damage as soon as possible. If the water heater is damaged beyond repair, you’ll need water heater replacement services for your home to keep it secure.
8. Have Your Garage Door Repaired or Replaced
Severe weather events can cause damage to a garage door, making it difficult or impossible to open or close. High winds can bend or break the tracks that the garage door runs on, causing it to become misaligned or jammed. The winds can also cause the door to come off its tracks and cause dents and other damage to the door itself. Flooding can cause water to seep into the garage, resulting in rust and corrosion of the door’s hardware and damage to the opener and other electrical components.
Additionally, if the garage door has a manual release mechanism, it can be easily damaged during a severe weather event, making it impossible to open. If the door isn’t properly insulated, rust, mold, and other problems can develop due to condensation. Regardless of the type or extent of damage to your garage door, call in professional garage door services to your home to keep it secure.
9. Have Your HVAC System Inspected by a Professional
Severe weather events can also cause damage to your home’s HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. High winds can damage or break your HVAC system’s vents, ducts, and other components which can cause the system to fail. Flooding can cause water to seep into the HVAC system, resulting in rust and corrosion of the internal components. These include the blower motor, compressor, and evaporator coil. Moisture can also lead to mold growth. If the HVAC system is located in an area that’s affected by flooding often, consider elevating it to protect it from water damage. Power outages caused by severe weather can also affect your HVAC system, causing it to shut down and not function properly.
Always hire a professional HVAC repair service after severe weather because they have the knowledge and experience needed to properly assess and repair any damage to your HVAC system. A professional is trained to identify issues such as mold, leaks, and corrosion and repair them effectively. They also have the necessary tools and equipment needed to work safely and efficiently. Additionally, professional HVAC repair services have the training and certifications needed to perform air conditioner repairs. They also have access to the necessary parts and equipment to repair or replace damaged components.
There’s always a risk of severe weather causing damage to your home. Rain, flooding, and high winds can cause extensive damage. If your home is affected by severe weather events, you need to take action immediately to keep it secure. As you make your insurance claims, you should also be asking Google for “repair and restoration services near me” because the event will likely have affected the entire neighborhood. The bottom line is to make sure you’re always working with trained, certified, and licensed professionals.