22 Oct What Parts of Your Home Should You Check After a Hurricane?
If you live in a coastal area in the south or on the East Coast, hurricanes are a fact of life. You have to keep one eye on the tropics from every June to November to know if you are at risk. If you experience a hurricane, it can do some severe damage to your home. Here are the parts of your home that you want to make sure you check after a hurricane.
Siding
The high winds from hurricanes can wreak havoc on your siding. Wind can shear off pieces of siding and also damage the siding itself. Hail or other debris hitting your siding can cause dents or chip off paint. While a visible inspection is a good idea, it is also good to have an insurance adjuster look for damage.
Outdoor Machinery
Any outdoor machinery, such as your air conditioner compressor, needs to be inspected after a hurricane. Wind can send debris into the machinery that can cause damage to things like fan blades. If the hurricane caused flooding, either due to rain or storm surge, it could affect the inner workings of your compressor, including the electrical systems.
Your Roof
One of the parts of your house that will take the brunt of a hurricane is your roof. High winds can shear off shingles, and they also can send tree branches and other debris flying into your roof, which can cause significant damage. Even metal roofs should be checked for damage. Remember that not all damage is evident to the naked eye, so it’s a good idea to have an insurance adjuster or roofing company inspect your roof.
Crawl Space
One of the most significant issues with hurricanes is flooding. The storms produce tremendous rainfall, with 10 inches or more in some areas, even for minor hurricanes. If you live near the coast, flooding from storm surges also is an issue. That’s why it’s essential to inspect your crawl space after a hurricane. Any small amount of flooding can send water into your crawl space. If you got any water inside it, mold could become a concern. You should make sure to thoroughly dry out the area and work with a licensed mold remediation contractor to ensure it is cleaned up properly.
Gutters and downspouts
The winds from hurricanes can do a number on your gutters and downspouts, and you may not even want to wait until the storm passes to inspect them. When there is a lull in the weather and winds and rain have died down, you may want to do a quick check of your gutters and downspouts to ensure they are working correctly. Gutters that get clogged or knocked offline can exacerbate problems with water because they can’t drain rainwater properly, which can lead to water leaks in your home.
Exterior Areas
Once a hurricane has passed, it’s essential to check the exterior areas of your home for downed trees and other debris. Please pay particular attention to any trees that look like they may be in danger of collapsing or any trees or branches that have fallen on power lines. If you have after-market technology installed, make sure those are inspected as well. These can present serious hazards to your home and your family long after the hurricane is over.
Hurricanes are fierce storms, and they can do severe damage to your home, not all of which is visible to the naked eye. It’s important to thoroughly inspect your home after a hurricane and have an insurance adjuster take a look both inside and out. Any damage that you find needs to be reported to your insurance company as soon as possible to initiate a claim.