No matter where you live or what time of year it is, the elements can take a toll on your home. If you aren’t prepared, nasty weather can cause significant wear and tear. You will want to make sure you understand the weather in your area so that you can prepare your house to handle wind, rain, or heat. Read on to learn how to protect one of your biggest investments against detrimental weather conditions.

Optimize insurance protection

Make sure you know which type of extreme weather is common in your area.  Are you at risk for earthquakes? Hail storms? Tornadoes? Once you know what you’re at risk for, make sure you have insurance coverage to match.  For example, if a tornado was to damage your home do you have enough insurance coverage to cover a rebuild?

Detect and prevent air leaks

If your house is letting air come in from the outside, it’s going to be harder to stay warm or keep cool. You will pay the price in your heating and air conditioning bills. Be sure to check your home for air leaks and seal up any offending areas.

Conduct a visual investigation to locate potential areas of leaks. On the outside of the house, this will include exterior corners, outdoor water faucets, and where the foundation meets siding. Common offending areas inside the house include electrical outlets, switch plates, door and window frames, and baseboards.

Once you have isolated areas where air leaks are likely to occur, you will need to caulk or apply weather stripping to prevent air from coming into the home.

Also, take stock to determine the quality of your windows and doors. If it is in your budget, new windows and doors may pay for themselves over time by reducing your heating bill. If this is out of your price range and the old windows and doors aren’t up to snuff, you can install low-cost plastic sheets over the windows to block air.

Clean the roof, gutters, and drains

Your roof, gutters, and drains are workhorses. When rain and strong storms hit, they are there to protect the inside of your house from the elements. Give them a little TLC several times of year to ensure they are up to the job.

On your roof, check for any missing or damaged shingles and replace them. If left alone, bad weather can cause loose shingles to fall off completely, allowing water to leak into your home.

Make sure gutters and downspouts are securely fastened. If they are loose, the strength of a storm could pull gutters right off the house. Securing them now is much easier than trying to reattach them before a strong storm rolls in..

Gutters also need to be cleaned. If gutters get clogged, water can easily build up. Clean gutters allow water to flow through gutters and down the downspout as intended. If you need to hire specialists, make sure you check reviews and get multiple quotes.

Last but certainly not least, protecting your roof is particularly important if you intend to sell your home at some point down the road. These issues can become a sticking point for potential buyers, and selling your home “as-is,” complete with a damaged roof, can net you a lower price on the market. So, it makes sense to ensure you’re giving your home the care it deserves.

Anticipate damage by the elements

As much as you prepare, some damage is inevitable if bad weather strikes. Rain, hail, and wind are some of the most likely to cause damage to your home. Hail can cause physical damage, rain can cause flooding, and wind can blow debris and branches into windows. If disaster strikes, don’t put off repairs.  Delay only allows the damage to increase or spread. If you do experience damage, get multiple quotes from trusted contractors before you tackle repairs.

Don’t let extreme weather damage your home. By making the proper preparations, you can prevent most weather-related damage and protect your house and family.