Hurricane season 2018 is already underway, but are you — an unsuspecting homeowner — ready for it? The last thing you want is to be caught unprepared in the literal eye of the storm. Good thing the professionals at ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons have you covered. Check out five ways to prepare your home to better withstand hurricane season below!
- Install Surge Protection
Storms often cause instant power surges which can damage your appliances and electronics. Consider adding a power surge protector to your electrical panel. You can also use power strips with built-in surge protectors. And don’t forget about your heating and air conditioning system — you might need to look into specific protection for that.
- Check your sump pump
In your basement, you likely have a sump pump whose purpose is to keep your basement or crawl space from flooding in the event of a storm. Now that we’re in the midst of hurricane season, you should inspect it as soon as possible to make sure it’s operating correctly. You’ll also want to make sure any debris is cleared from the pump to prevent clogging.
- Seal windows and doors
During a tumultuous storm with heavy rains and strong winds, the last thing you want to have is leaky windows and doors. Check the sealing to make sure water won’t sneak into your home, and consider caulking around doors and windows. To increase entry/exit door stability and safety even further, you should attach head and foot bolts to protect against howling winds.
- Strap down the roof
Your home was likely not built with the sole purpose of withstanding a hurricane, but the good news is you can retrofit it for better protection. Invest in some hurricane straps or clips to fasten your home’s roof to the frame of the house. This way, you can reduce roof damage in the event of a hurricane.
- Assess your insurance situation
We know, we know; we’ve definitely been on an insurance bend recently, but only because it’s truly, truly important to make sure you are covered in the event of a catastrophe! We’ve been in the restoration business for years and we’ve seen clients struggle with the out-of-pocket costs associated with disaster clean up when they don’t have an insurance policy that can help cover their situation.
Understanding your insurance is that much more important when you’re dealing with hurricane damage because many policies do not cover the extent of restoration work you will likely need. For example, some policies do not include coverage for damages caused by wind, and most-to-all policies do not include coverage for flooding. You may need to consider adding these onto your policy depending on where you live and what kind of storm-proofing your home already has. Call your insurance agent to discuss your options!
Don’t be caught unprepared this hurricane season — follow our guidelines to make sure you and your home are ready for heavy rains and strong winds. We also recommend creating a hurricane kit checklist so you have all the necessary supplies to keep you and your family safe during a hurricane. And, as always, don’t hesitate to call the professionals at ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons in the event of an emergency. We are always standing by for your disaster cleanup and water damage restoration needs!
For more information, give us a call at 773-376-1110 or visit servicemasterbysimons.com