Basic Home Upkeep That Can Prevent Extensive Storm Damages

Are you worried that your home will suffer extensive damages in the event of a storm, accident, or natural disaster?  When you live in an area that is prone to extreme weather, you are likely always a little fearful and aware that something can go wrong.  However, when you have the right protection with an insurance policy and you take the right preventative measures, you can work to prevent extensive issues from occurring.  In the event that you do suffer from damages, you will want to work with our property insurance claims attorney in Miami, FL to get the settlement you need for repairs and restoration.  However, let's first focus on what you can do before the storms hit.  These are some of the basic house maintenance and upkeep tips to follow that can prevent extensive damages from storms.

Check for Any Leaks

Faulty plumbing can cause extensive issues, as water damage is difficult to fully eradicate.  Because water can seep into the subfloor, behind the walls, and behind other structures, it can be difficult to fully get rid of if you suffer extreme flooding in your home.  To avoid these issues, you will want to check for any leaks or issues in your plumbing.  Tending to these issues before they cause major problems is the best way to prevent major issues that can last years.

Practice Electrical Safety

Electrical safety in the home can save your from the dangers of electrocution and fire hazards.  When you practice the right safety tips by keeping children away from loose wires, getting routine inspections, keeping the home properly cooled off, and having a fire extinguisher in the home, you can save yourself from extensive damages that are caused by fires.

Replace Missing Shingles

Shingles can fly away during times of heavy wind or they can be damaged by ice during the winter.  When you have a few missing shingles, it may only produce an eyesore that you are just tired of looking at.  However, when you have many missing shingles, you will want to repair this issue soon.  It could indicate a poor installation technique that can continue to persist.

Clean Your Gutters

Cleaning your gutters can prevent water from pooling on your rooftop or improperly draining down your siding.  When your gutters are clogged, it can cause issues that may leave your roof sagging under the heavy water that has been building up when there are times of heavy rainfall.  It can also compromise the structural integrity of your foundation by not draining away from your home

Get Routine Inspections

Professionals are trained to recognize issues that many homeowners would never spot.  For this reason, you should actually aim to have a roof, AC, electrical, and other system repairs and inspections every year, especially when you live in areas that survive all four seasons.  These professionals can come out to your home and get up close and personal to the issues so they can diagnose and fix any problems.  When you try to take care of all of this yourself, you will not have the expertise and knowledge that the professionals do and you may miss a problem.

Treat Mold and Mildew Problems

If you have any water that builds up on your roof or in your home and never fully evaporates, it can cause mold and mildew to start growing.  These problems can be eradicated quickly with the right cleaning solutions and preventative measures, but you will want to tackle them as soon as you can.  When you ignore these issues, they can eventually cause rotting issues that will degrade the strength of your building materials.

Trim Your Trees

Maintenance tasks are not only restricted to the interior spaces in your home.  In fact, there are many exterior tasks that can actually help to protect your home from having to work through a tough insurance claims process with our property insurance claims attorney in Miami, FL.  Trimming your trees is a great place to start.  If you notice that any of your trees are hanging over your structures or your roofline, they should be trimmed right away.  Also, any dead or decaying branches will be weaker than others and should be removed to prevent them from blowing around and potentially breaking your windows in a windstorm.  

Make Sure Your Sump Pump Works

In the event of heavy rains, you may be subject to flooding issues and water damage in your home.  Many Florida homeowners have a sump pump on their property to pump the water away from the structure of the home.  However, if this pump breaks at the wrong time, it can leave your home, yard, and belongings susceptible to the effects of flooding.  Be sure to check that your sump pump is working on a routine basis so that you can avoid any issues when you really do need it.

Repair Loose Boards or Siding

When you experience hurricanes in your area, you will want to repair any loose boards or siding that may come lose during heavy winds.  These construction materials can cause worse damage when they blow away than when they are on your property.  Not only do they cause eyesores to your home, but they can also break windows, cause debris, end up in your neighbor's pool, and much more.  Secure any loose boards or siding whenever you notice it to prevent additional damages from occurring.

These are some of the basic upkeep tasks that you will need to stay on top of in order to prevent the chance of extensive storm damage.   In the event that a hurricane or tropical storm damages your property, you will want the right advocates on your side by hiring our property insurance claims attorney in Miami, FL.  Contact Coastal Claims Law Firm to hear more about our services today.