Wondering how you can prepare for hurricane season? Are you taking hurricane readiness seriously?
Hurricane season is coming and if you’re not prepared for it, you may have to deal with a lot of house repairs and water damage later on. If you live in an area that’s prone to hurricane damage, then you need to make the proper preparations.
Here are a few things you should do to prepare your home’s windows for the 2021 hurricane season.
1. Remove Yard Projectiles
One of the first things you should do to prepare your home windows for the hurricane season is to be sure that your yard and the area surrounding your house are free from projectiles and dangerous objects. Any objects that are in your yard can serve as a projectile that can make it through your windows once a hurricane arrives.
If you are bracing for the impact of a hurricane, then you’ll want to bring any outdoor patio furniture inside your home and get rid of any other objects in your yard that could cause damage. This will help give any other preparations you’ve made for your windows a better chance of working well.
2. Invest in High-Quality Windows
To prepare your home for a hurricane, it’s well worth considering what types of windows you use in your home. It can be incredibly beneficial to install hurricane-rated windows that are impact-resistant.
Hurricane-rated windows are well-equipped for dealing with hurricanes and are made to resist the impact of strong winds and projectiles. While they will cost you money and there will be an initial investment involved, installing them can be well worth it. It will also be one of the most convenient ways to protect your windows against hurricanes.
Be sure to look for a good window replacement service to help you install hurricane-rated windows.
3. Consider Installing Storm Shutters
A great alternative to installing impact-resistant windows is to install storm shutters in your home instead.
Adding shutters can be a convenient solution to preparing for the arrival of a storm, and will be permanently installed on your home. When a storm is on the way, all you’ll need to do is to put them into place, so it can be very easy to handle.
On the other hand, storm shutters can be costly and some people may consider them unsightly as well. However, installing shutters is an option that’s well worth considering if you want to have a better chance of protecting your home.
4. Don’t Use Tape
Contrary to what some people believe, taping your windows is not a good idea when a hurricane is on the way.
Taping a window won’t prevent it from shattering, but instead will make it more likely that it will shatter into larger pieces rather than small ones. This can be more dangerous than if you had not taped the window at all.
Be sure that you don’t buy into this myth, and instead leave the tape off of your windows. It’s not necessary and can cause more harm than good.
5. Check Window Seals
Another thing you’ll want to do when preparing for a hurricane is to be sure to check any seals on your windows and ensure that they are perfectly in place so that they won’t let any water or air get in.
Seals tend to get weaker over time, and if they do, they can cause big problems in your home.
During a hurricane, water can get in and cause a lot of damage that can be expensive to repair. Instead, take the time to check the seals thoroughly to ensure that they are in place and replace them as needed.
6. Close Your Windows Fully
Another myth related to the handling of windows in hurricane season is that it’s better to keep them partially cracked or open. Some believe that this will help to relieve pressure and minimize damage, but this actually isn’t true. Your window should be close fully, as this will do the best job of preventing damage to your home in the event of a hurricane.
Closed windows will help to prevent damage to the roof and the walls of your house much more than windows that are cracked open will be able to.
7. Nail Plywood Over Your Windows
One of the best quick and dirty things you can do to protect your windows in the event of a hurricane is to board up windows with plywood. This will do a great job of protecting the glass. It can help minimize the damage that will occur and reduce the potential danger that that can happen as a result of a hurricane.
On the other hand, this method does have some drawbacks that you need to be aware of. For example, you’ll need to put in a lot of work just before a hurricane comes in order to protect your windows in this way. On top of this, nailing plywood over your windows can also make it very dark in your home. This can be a problem if your power goes out during a storm.
Protecting Your Windows During Hurricane Season
If you want to be prepared for the 2021 hurricane season, be sure that you’re proactive. Make use of the tips above if you want to minimize damage and make the most of storm prep.
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