Mother nature has the capacity to humble all homeowners at a moment’s notice. One moment you can find yourself busy enjoying a beautiful sunny day, maybe even some warm air in the mix, and suddenly the weatherman’s on the TV telling you that you’re about to be subjected to a harsh rainstorm or snowstorm unlike any you’ve ever seen. Panic can creep in as you realize that your beautiful home is not prepared to muddle through the change in weather.
Maybe you’re still stressed over about last winter brought your way. Maybe you ended up in an unfortunate scenario where your house was brimming with ferocious cold air, your space heater wasn’t working, and you just didn’t know what to do. All kinds of crazy things can happen when you’re thrown in the middle of an unforgiving bout of extreme weather. Thus, the value of preparation before dealing with extreme weather can’t be expressed enough. As a responsible homeowner you are absolutely well advised to check out this handful of helpful tips for preparing your home against extreme weather.
1. Secure your valuables in a storage facility.
This might be the most important tip of all when you’re readying up to face some extreme weather. Making sure you’ve secured your precious valuables in a proper storage facility is crucial. A reliable storage unit can really be your best friend when dealing with extreme weather. Perhaps you’ve already been looking into how to find the right storage facility. Well, fortunately, there are some great self storage options at your disposal.
Many self-storage units come with promotions for your first month. You could end up with the first month of your self storage free, or even marked down by a hefty margin. Just knowing that you won’t have to worry about any of your valuables being damaged in a terrible windstorm, blizzard or rainstorm is enough to bring you a welcomed peace of mind. You can never put a price on peace of mind, so be proactive in securing the storage space that’s right for you and your needs. You likely won’t even have to worry about spending a lot of money.
2. Fine tune your heating system.
Winter has cultivated a well-deserved reputation for throwing homeowners into some of the harshest conditions of them all. The last thing you want to worry about when you’ve got a blizzard barreling your way is whether or not your heaters will be up for the challenge. So, it’s a great idea to hire a technician to come through and inspect your heaters. Typical rates for such a visit usually range between $80-100. For that amount of money, you’ll be able to ensure that your furnace or heat pump is clean, in acceptable condition, and that they’re achieving their manufacturer-rated efficiency.
You and everyone else should always be striving toward lower heating costs. Without making sure that you have that in check, you might end up with an otherwise avoidable, monstrous heating bill or heat loss. Energy costs don’t have to break the bank, and by making sure that you’ve done everything to save (including getting a smart thermostat and filling gaps in your windowpanes) you can maximize warmth and minimize utility bills. The fireplace can only do so much in the face of cold air, so make sure that you’ve got your heating appliances up to speed.
3. Caulk around your windows and doors.
Faulty windows and doors can be terribly effective culprits in terms of an air leak when you’re trying to work against heat loss. Thus, it’s essential to make sure that your windows and doors are properly sealed up by going around your home and caulking any problem areas and gaps. On that note, silicone caulk is generally the best caulk for exterior use because you won’t have to sweat about it shrinking, and it stands up to those testy elements.
4. Stock up on the proper gear.
Maybe you need to add to your current wardrobe by investing in a warm new sweater, just because the space heater or fireplace in your home will only do so much when being stormed by cold air. Maybe you need to stock up on some new umbrellas, in case you need to make a trip for necessary provisions in the middle of a violent rainstorm. There are all kinds of wats to prepare for cold weather.
If you’re looking for umbrellas, you can always scope out what’s cooking in the way of a handy weatherman umbrella coupon. You might end up saving some serious money if you’re able to get your hands on one of those coupons. After all, your home’s appliances can only do so much. You’ve also got to make sure you have the right clothes to offset the inherent discomfort brought on by nasty storms. It’s remarkable how many of us don’t already own an umbrella. So, don’t get soaked in that next storm. Get your proper gear.