8 Proactive Ways to Prevent Disaster Striking Your House
An emergency response plan reduces costs and frustration, but you don’t need to wait for disaster to strike to act. These steps can help you avoid some catastrophes before they happen.
1- Install a Sump Pump
A sump pump keeps lower levels dry by collecting and expelling water before you know it’s there. Homes in areas with clay soil or a high water table don’t need heavy rain to flood, and a pump prevents everyday disasters as well as fighting potential damage from severe weather.
2- Anchor Heavy Objects
Families with small children may already know the dangers falling cabinets and shelves pose. Falling objects don’t just threaten toddlers, though. They can compromise a floor’s integrity, pull wiring out of walls, and even damage plumbing. To keep your investments safe, anchor heavy items in place, including appliances like water heaters.
3- Consider a Sewer Backflow Valve
Flooding can overwhelm sewer systems, forcing the flow of water and waste up through pipes and out of drains. You can’t control local infrastructure, and flash floods are unpredictable, but a backflow valve offers a simple solution. It only allows waste through in one direction. Many new homes with public sewer connections already have these valves, but not all building codes require them, so check with your plumber.
4- Reinforce Garage and Double-Entry Doors
Wide entrances are particularly vulnerable to severe weather. They’re also vital to keeping your home safe and dry. Reinforce a garage door with stronger tracks and girts, and upgrade the hardware on double-entry doors. Longer hinges, a deadbolt, and even a slide bolt can help entrances like these stand against extreme winds.
5- Add Storm Shutters
Storm shutters defend windows, sliding doors, and other glass features from wind, hail, and flying debris. A broken window creates a minefield of sharp glass and leaves your home vulnerable to interior wind damage and flooding. Hurricane shutters are designed to fight hurricane-force storms, but they can also protect your home from high winds, blizzards, and tornadoes.
6- Upgrade to Impact-Resistant Shingles
Shingles are often the first parts of a house to fail in bad weather. They’re also essential to protecting your home from leaks and water damage. Impact-resistant shingles are made from sturdier materials and offer additional protection from projectiles like hail. The next time your roof needs an update, consider investing in a stronger shield.
7- Remove Dangerous Trees
As lovely as trees are, they can threaten your home. The mature height and canopy of a tree determine how far it should be from your house, but most should be at least 15 to 20 feet from the edge of your roof. Dead or diseased trees create additional risks. Hire qualified specialists to remove these threats as soon as possible.
8- Install Roof Strappings
High winds can lift the roof off your house. Roof strappings lash the roof’s frame to the wall frames, reinforcing it against extreme storms and earthquakes. They work because wall frames are grounded to the foundation and require greater force to break away.
