The home is supposed to be a haven for its occupants. However, it sometimes loses its enviable spot through homeowners’ actions or inactions. Many home damages can be avoided if only people took preventive steps like regular cleaning schedules a little more seriously. According to data, every year, homeowners spend up to 4% of their property’s value on repairs and maintenance. Here are some ways to reduce potential damage to your home.
- Flood preparation
A report released in 2020 indicated that 14.6 million homes in the country are at a high risk of flooding. The risk factors include the quality of the home structure, living in a flood-prone area, and so on. Since 2020 however, few homeowners have taken drastic steps to mitigate the situation. This leaves many more people at the mercy of the weather. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, the average cost of repairs after a flood is almost $5 billion.
That is a lot of money for repairing things that could have been protected. The question now is how do you reduce potential flood damage to your home? The first thing is to take care of parts of the house that increase the risk of flood damage. The basement, windows, doors, roofing, attics, and so on are often listed as the top five places where rainwater enters the house. Floodproofing these areas can spare you the headache of expensive repairs after the event.
- Act upon every storm announcement
In 2020, there were thirty different storm announcements in the media. Although they were of varying severity levels, people were advised to take the necessary precautions. This included boarding up homes and taking up shelters if required. Indeed, your timely response to such situations can save your home from significant damage. One of the first things people take care of around the home is their window. You can do the same by using impact resistant windows to add an extra protection layer to your home.
Furthermore, you will need an arborist to inspect the trees around your house. There is an increased risk of trees toppling over in severe storms. Regardless of the measures taken in the home, it would also help to consider the external environment. Flying objects and falling trees can cause severe damage to your property.
- Fire preparation
Reports indicate that 93% of homes in the country have smoke detectors installed. The problem, however, is that many of these households don’t pay close attention to manufacturer instructions. For example, fire experts recommend changing smoke alarms every ten years. This information is usually indicated on the manufacturer’s manual or label. Additionally, batteries will perform better if checked and replaced annually. Unfortunately, this is not the case in many homes.
Cobwebs, dust, and debris can choke the sensors in the smoke alarm and cause it to malfunction. Sadly, this has led to accidental fires in many homes. You can stop this by taking better care of your home’s smoke alarm system. Additionally, it is advisable not to undertake any DIY electrical project. It is better to allow professionals to attend to such technical jobs. With winter approaching, it would be best to take extra precautions with your home’s heating systems.
Kori
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