Incoming Storm? How To Prepare Your Home From the Inside-Out

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Each year, many storms cause significant damage to houses, leaving homeowners in disbelief and dealing with costly repairs. Many of these incidents are avoidable with proper planning. It is beneficial to look at your home well ahead of storms to determine what changes must be made.

Protect Your Pipes

When temperatures drop below freezing levels and stay that way for more than four hours, your pipes are at risk of freezing, and it could cut off your water supply. However, if a storm hits, in addition to water expanding, it could cause your pipes to freeze and burst, which can be dangerous and very costly. It is best to let your water drip before the storm. Use cold water and keep the temperature inside the home higher than 55°. Allow warm air to circulate near the bathroom and kitchen plumbing areas to prevent your pipes from freezing.

Short and Long-Term Outages

The electricity in your home is not guaranteed to go out due to an incoming storm, but the odds are high. Therefore, you want to be prepared, even if you only experience a short-term outage. Whether the outage is long-term or only lasts for a few hours, it is best to have a plan to stay warm, keep your food properly stored, and have lighting around the home. Make sure you have flashlights available, radios and other walkie-talkie devices, and plenty of batteries in case of a short-term outage. For more prolonged outages, it would be an excellent idea to have generators that can reduce stress and produce reliable energy while professionals are working hard to end the outages.

Siding

The siding on your home can be severely damaged due to various storms, leading to costly repairs. Having the siding checked before the bad weather could lower the risk of holes, cracks, chips, and splits caused by storm damage. It would be best to let professionals look to see if your current siding should be replaced with vinyl siding to maximize durability and prevent bad weather from causing damage in the future. Look for a contractor who can help you determine exactly what kind of siding would work best in your climate.

Purchase Foods

In addition to maintaining the inside and outside of the house, it is essential to buy foods you can eat in a dangerous storm. For instance, if the power goes out and you don’t have a generator, it is necessary to have foods that can be eaten without being warmed up or cooked. These non-perishable items can also make it in the event of a long-term outage caused by the storm. Keep in mind that most canned foods can be opened without electrical appliances. For instance, some devices once didn’t, but now work well with batteries, such as can openers.

You never know when a storm will come to your town, despite typical weather predictions and past issues. However, preparing your home from the inside and outside could lower anxiety during a storm and keep your family safe.

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Brooke Chaplan

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening.

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