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Top 4 Benefits of a Standby Generator During Hurricane Season
If tropical storms and hurricanes are a threat in your area, then you should make sure you're properly prepared for hurricane season. One way that you can get ready is by purchasing a standby generator. Here are some of the best benefits of owning one during hurricane season.
If tropical storms and hurricanes are a threat in your area, then you should make sure you're properly prepared for hurricane season. One way that you can get ready is by purchasing a standby generator. Here are some of the best benefits of owning one during hurricane season.
You Won't Have to Worry About Last-Minute Preparation
If you don't have a standby generator already installed, you might find yourself rushing around to get prepared before a hurricane. You might want to go out and purchase a portable generator, however, but you may find that most or all of the portable generators have already been sold before you can get to the store. If you already have a standby generator installed -- and if you take other steps to prepare -- then you won't have to worry about this.
You Can Use This During Generator Repairs
Hurricanes are notorious for damaging generators. If you have a standby in place, you can easily keep your power on while your main generator is repaired. Generator repair professionals can make sure both of your machines are working properly when they come out for maintenance.
You Can Be More Comfortable
One of the primary benefits of having a standby generator during hurricane season is the fact that you and your family members can be a lot more comfortable if there is a hurricane. After all, power outages are common during hurricane season, and it can take days or longer for your power to be back up and running. You can still run your air conditioner, keep your food cold, watch television, and do all of the other things that you normally do if you have a standby generator that is big enough to power your entire house. You're sure to find that hurricane season is a lot easier to deal with if you're able to stay comfortable in this way.
You'll Increase the Value of Your Home
If you live in an area where hurricanes are a common threat, you should know that making related improvements to your home can boost your home's value. If you install a standby generator, you and your family can enjoy it for now. However, if you choose to sell your home later, you might find that having the generator will benefit you.
As you can see, it's a good idea to consider purchasing a standby generator prior to hurricane season. Choose the right generator for your home and have it professionally installed, and you should be glad that you did.
Exterior Home Repairs You'll Likely Need to Make After a Big Storm
A big storm, especially a hailstorm, can wreak havoc on both your vehicles and home. Wind, rain, snow, and hail are the enemies of your roof, siding, landscaping, and more. However, there are a few common home repairs you may need to make after an intense storm.
A big storm, especially a hailstorm, can wreak havoc on both your vehicles and home. Wind, rain, snow, and hail are the enemies of your roof, siding, landscaping, and more. However, there are a few common home repairs you may need to make after an intense storm.
Roof Damage
Your roof is likely to sustain the most damage during any type of storm. Hailstones can pound shingles to shreds, and strong winds can literally rip your shingles off. While that type of damage is dramatic, heavy snow loads are a more insidious threat to your roof. A sustained heavy snow load can weaken the structure of your roof. Moreover, snow and ice storms contribute to ice dams.
After a big snowstorm, you may need to get up on the roof and shovel off the snow. If you're unable to do that, you'll need to hire a snow removal service.
Stucco and Siding Damage
A hail storm can also do serious damage to your home's siding, including stucco. That's especially true if there is a strong driving wind coming in from the side. Large hailstones and strong winds can combine, punching holes in your stucco. If that happens, moisture can seep in, damaging the structure of your home. If it's not repaired, come spring, that moisture can lead to mold growth.
If a hail storm has damaged your stucco, it needs to be repaired right away. Some companies, like Stucco Done Right LLC, know just how important it is to not wait for such a repair. They'll use fiberglass mesh coated with a tinted, textured, synthetic stucco, for improved durability.
Damaged Trees
Hail, strong winds, and heavy snow can break off tree limbs, or even take the entire tree down. In turn, falling limbs and trees can damage your roof, stucco siding, or vehicles.
The best way to prevent this type of damage is to trim off any dead or weak branches. Also, make sure your trees are healthy, insect infestations can weaken trees.
If a big storm takes down your tree's limbs or branches, you'll need to either haul them away yourself or have a landscaping service chip them into mulch.
Broken Windows
Large hailstones hitting your home's windows could crack or even break them. If this happens, you can try to replace the panes of glass yourself. Or, you might opt to have unbreakable, double-pane windows installed.
Storms can be your home's worst enemy, and you can't much do about it. You can use the best stucco, windows, and roofing materials to minimize damage. But, you can't stop nature.
4 Home Damages Caused by a Snowstorm
A few hours of heavy snow isn't as dramatic as powerful gusts in a thunderstorm or a torrential downpour, but it can be just as damaging to a house. There are several types of home damage that you should check for after a snowstorm. The chances of serious damage increase exponentially when temperatures are particularly low or if snow and ice stay on the roof for several consecutive days. Here are four home damages that you should look out for after a snowstorm rolls through.
A few hours of heavy snow isn't as dramatic as powerful gusts in a thunderstorm or a torrential downpour, but it can be just as damaging to a house. There are several types of home damage that you should check for after a snowstorm. The chances of serious damage increase exponentially when temperatures are particularly low or if snow and ice stay on the roof for several consecutive days. Here are four home damages that you should look out for after a snowstorm rolls through.
Frozen Pipes
Since snowstorms usually arrive alongside freezing temperatures, homeowners need to keep an eye on their plumbing system during and after the event. External hose hookups are usually the first victims if you haven't already drained the lines and disabled the water supply. Pipes that run through basements or other areas without insulation are also at higher risk. It’s important to keep an eye out for pipes when a snowstorm rolls through.
Roof Damage or Collapse
The sheer weight of snow and ice on the roof creates a risk of serious structural damage. In fact, winter storms are one of the most common reasons why homeowners need to seek out professional roof repair services. Serious damage or a collapse rarely happens spontaneously. Usually, it's a result of long-term deterioration combined with a sudden increase in load, like stationary snow drifts.
Tree Damage
Accumulation of ice and snow can have some pretty dramatic effects on trees. Even large branches aren't immune to the effects of this kind of massive weight for a prolonged period. Falling trees and branches are another way that snow storms can damage a home. A falling tree can easily breach a home's walls and cause serious damage to the inside. It’s important to trim trees near your home because of this risk.
Ice and Salt
Slippery ice on exterior walking surfaces is a common post-storm threat during the winter months. Some snow often melts during the warmer parts of the day but freezes again at night. The constant freezing and melting of ice, as well as the corrosive effects of the salt put down to prevent slipping, can wreak havoc on decks and sidewalks.
Even though snow can cause costly damage to your home, there's not much you can do once the storm has started. Every homeowner should prepare for these risks ahead of time so they can spend their snow day relaxing instead of worrying.
Exterior Home Repairs You Might Need to Make After a Storm
Have you been trying to repair your exterior home repairs after a storm and coming up short? If so, it might be time to make some of these repairs yourself. This article is designed to help you figure out the best exterior home repairs you might need to make after a storm.
Have you been trying to repair your exterior home repairs after a storm and coming up short? If so, it might be time to make some of these repairs yourself. This article is designed to help you figure out the best exterior home repairs you might need to make after a storm.
Watch the Roof
The first step in getting your exterior home repairs done is to evaluate your roof to see what needs to be done there. As you inspect your roof, look for any evidence of damage. The easiest ways to find signs of structural damage are to look at the gutter system and check for missing shingles or missing flashing on individual shingles. Missing or damaged vent pipes can also cause structural problems in roofs, and missing gutters can cause roof leaks. If you notice missing shingles on your roof from severe wind, contact a company that offers residential roofing replacement.
Check the Exterior Walls and Windows
Once your roof is secure, you can check the exterior walls of your home to see if anything needs repairing. Look for broken windows or doors, missing siding, and anything else that might need repair. Some siding and window damage will be easy to fix, but other damages may require a professional contractor's assistance.
Inspect Your Windows and Doors
One of the most important things you can do after a storm is to inspect your windows and doors for damage or leaks. Look for broken windows, stuck doors, cracked frames, and anything else that might need repair. If you notice any problems with your windows or doors, you might want to consider having them replaced. A new window or door can help protect your home from rain leaks and other exterior home repairs.
Check the Gutters
Checking your gutters is also an essential part of exterior home repairs. Look for missing or damaged flashing looseness in the gutter or downspouts and any other signs of gutter damage. Gutter damage is one of the most common types of damage people notice after a storm.
Check Your Foundation
If a storm has damaged your foundation or basement walls, you may need to make some significant exterior home repairs to keep your house from falling apart. Look for any cracks in the foundation walls or the mortar between bricks outside your house, and check the basement for more signs of structural problems.
Storm damage is unavoidable, but it can be avoided if you become savvier about taking care of your home's exterior. With these repair tips and tricks, you should be able to get most of your exterior home repairs after a storm.