Watch the news these days, and you’re bound to see that the weather is changing, and not always for the better. Summers are often hotter, and extreme weather has become more mainstream. To protect your investment and ensure the longevity of your home, you need to protect it against the seasons and the extreme weather you find in your neck of the woods. There’s work you can do all year long to keep your home in great shape, and you can start with the tips on this list.
Home Weatherproofing During The Rainy Season
While some areas of the country are more prone to rain and flooding than others, it’s vital that all homeowners take some precautions to avoid extensive water damage.
Interior and exterior basement waterproofing can also be crucial during the rainy season, helping to protect your home from water infiltration. These measures prevent moisture from seeping into your basement, avoiding mold growth and structural issues, and ensuring that your home stays safe and dry no matter how heavy the rainfall.
To start, you need to keep your foundation free from excess water because, over time, it could erode, and you would face extensive and expensive repairs. Keep your foundation as dry as possible by regularly cleaning your gutters and downspouts so they don’t overflow and pour down the side of your house.
Also, disconnect your hoses as the weather gets colder because failure to do so could cause standing water inside to freeze back into the pipe. From there, it could burst your pipe and damage the foundation or your walls.
If you know your area is prone to flooding, take extra precautions to safeguard your home from water damage. Homeowners with garages should waterproof the area by sealing all gaps and cracks around windows and cracks in the garage floor. Then, apply waterproof paint to create a strong water moisture barrier. This could also be the ideal time to generally check over your garage door and hire a garage door spring service if you need one – the last thing you want is for the door to stick or stop working when you need it most. You can also prepare your home for flooding by adding sandbags and free-standing barriers to prevent water from getting near your home.
One effective way to protect your home is by installing a basement drainage system. This system helps in redirecting water away from your foundation, preventing any potential flooding or water damage. Additionally, sealing any cracks or gaps in your basement walls and floors can further enhance the effectiveness of your drainage system, ensuring that your home remains dry and safe throughout the wet season.
Home Weatherproofing In The Winter
When cold winters are a constant threat, it’s essential to keep your home and your utilities in good shape. The first thing you should do to prepare for the winter and summer when you’ll be running your heater and air conditioner is to seal your home.
If there are leaks around doors and windows and also in your roof, your utilities are forced to work harder to heat and cool your home. Plus, running your utilities for longer than necessary is bad for the environment, and it can greatly increase your monthly bills. Take the time during the spring and fall to caulk around your windows and doors and bring out an expert to inspect your roof so you have maximum energy efficiency. Also, before winter hits, prepare your heating system by having a qualified technician come out and give it a tuneup and replace any necessary parts. In the same kind of vein, you should take a look at new water heaters if you know that yours is part of an outdated system. If you’re unsure, get a professional out to give you the advice that you need.
Take time to weatherproof the outside of your house and your yard. Bring in lawn furniture and grills that can be ruined by snow and ice. Take potted plants indoors before the first cold snap. You should also prepare your garden for winter by replenishing mulch to cover the roots and keep them from freezing. You can also permanently eliminate weeds by digging them out so they’re gone by spring.
Home Weatherproofing For Summer
Preparing your home for hot temperatures during summer is also vital. During spring, have a technician inspect your air conditioner to ensure it’s running at peak efficiency. Also, check for damage that could have occurred during winter and created cracks and leaks around your home and get them sealed.
One crucial tactic that you can try to get your home summer-ready is to buy and install blackout blinds for the windows. Use them to block out the sun and keep your rooms cooler so you don’t need to run the air conditioner nonstop. Consider having a contractor come out and replace your roofing with reflective coatings or materials that keep the sunlight and heat from your home so you’re cooler inside.
Prepare For Extreme Weather Throughout The Year
Finally, if you live in an area with extreme weather, you must do your research and put the proper weatherproofing protections in place. Extreme weather can cause property damage in many ways, depending on where you live. If you live in an area prone to drought and wildfires, a blaze could pop up seemingly in an instant and destroy your home. You can protect it by building or modifying your home with fire-resistant siding and roofing. And, if a fire does come about, close your vents to avoid the debris that could help the fire to spread inside.
Tornadoes are another scary phenomenon. While you can’t completely protect your home if a tornado strikes, there are tactics you can try to mitigate damage if one comes near. Secure items around your home, including lawn furniture and toys, that can become projectiles if the winds pick up. Also, maintain your roof so it doesn’t become damaged due to flying debris and lead to eventual leaks.
If you live in an area prone to storms, your property is damaged, and you don’t have the money to repair it, remember that there are home repair programs out there that can help with the costs so you can keep your family safe. There are also loans that can help you get by until your situation improves.
Conclusion
It’s essential that you’re aware of the weather phenomena that can affect your house and take the proper steps to protect it and your family. Get those home repairs done ahead of time, and you won’t have to worry when the storm comes.
Sam Bowman authored this post.
