During the past few years, severe weather has created an extreme increase in homes being damaged by tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and forest fires. The increase in the frequency of natural disasters calls attention to the need for homeowners to understand how extreme weather can affect their houses.
From hurricanes to tornadoes, here’s how extreme weather events cause damage to your house.
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Water Leakages
If you live in a flood-prone environment, you may have experienced a leak in your home. A single leak does not have long-term effects, but repeated water leaks will cause serious problems. The problem of water damage can cause substantial damage to your home.
Extreme heat is another culprit, and it causes pipes to expand, and when multiple leaks occur, you can expect lower water pressure. It is crucial to check for leakages regularly to prevent them from getting worse in these cases.
Blockage of Pipes
Frozen pipes are one of the most common problems homeowners face during winter. These pipelines are usually located in attics or outside walls and are susceptible to freezing. These pipes can get blocked by the accumulation of snow and ice.
Other factors such as tree roots and eroding seals can affect your plumbing system. You should always check your plumbing system before leaving home in extreme weather. Also, freezing temperatures may lead to burst pipes.
Hence, it would help to protect your home from such occurrences by taking the necessary precautions by immediately contacting a professional plumber.
Roof Damage
Storms and other severe weather conditions can seriously damage your roof. Even if you have a good-quality roof that is strong and durable, this does not mean that you can ignore the effects of harsh weather.
Snow and ice can cause your roof to buckle and collapse. Large hailstones can easily break gutters and roofs. When a storm hits, the impact can cause holes in your roof, which can become much more significant than you initially thought.
Another natural element that architects and builders consider when selecting climate-appropriate construction materials is the heat from the sun. The sun can prematurely age the roof of the house by causing it to dry up.
Roofing shingles, vertical siding, window frames, doors, and roofs can all be damaged by wind-driven rain. To keep your house safe, it’s critical that all of these proper roof-building elements are used and maintained correctly. But, if your roof does end up needing repair due to harsh winds, contact a reputable wind damage roofer.
Damage to the Foundation
In the summer, moisture is depleted by the heat and the resulting snowfall. During the winter, freezing temperatures can cause the soil surrounding your house to swell and expand, and this process may shift the foundation.
In winter, freezing temperatures and harsh weather can cause your foundation to crack. The freezing temperatures, intense wind, and snowfall can all cause damage to your foundation. Even the smallest amount of water on your property can wreak havoc on your foundation.
According to Home Guides, the best way to prevent this is to avoid excess water accumulating in the foundation. You should also keep the soil around your house sloping away. Consider a distance of about one inch per foot, and Downspouts should also be angled away from the foundation.
Drywall Cracks
In extreme weather, drywall cracks are likely to develop. The temperature fluctuations in the winter months can lead to cracks in the drywall. You can fix these problems by leaving the heat low during the winter.
The best way to fix these cracks is to use a joint compound mix and apply two coats of a drywall compound. The cracks will likely reoccur if you don’t leave the house for long. A cold winter can cause drywall cracks because the temperature fluctuates so much.
Although this isn’t as damaging as extreme heat, the cold can cause moisture to enter your house. The best thing is to keep the heat on low and repair cracks with drywall compound mixed with joint compound. But beware: these cracks will probably reoccur if you don’t keep the interior temperature warm.
Conclusion
Storms are one of the most destructive phenomena on Earth. Hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, hailstorms, and tropical depressions occur worldwide. It’s essential to know the differences between these storms and what they can do to your home if they pop up in your area. Thanks to advances in technology, homeowners can predict better when severe weather will happen and prepare accordingly.
Categories: Weather Talk Stuff
