Natural disasters are by their very nature and not preventable. A certain level of preparation may be possible but in general the long-standing preparations you set in motion are what you have on hand during a natural disaster. Is your home or business prepared for a flood or fire? It’s not possible to prepare for everything but you can take certain steps to prepare not only yourself but also the building in which you live and work for what’s coming.
- Fires can begin instantaneously and with little to no warning. You and your family should already have a dedicated fire escape plan so that were the worst to happen you would know exactly what to do. You should set up a place outside of your home or business to meet in case of a fire. You should make sure regularly that your smoke alarms are fully charged. You should of course tell everyone to crawl low to the ground when Exeter in a building filled with smoke. This will reduce the amount of smoke that they inhale.
- Floods generally give you a bit of a warning before they appear and it’s during this grace period that you can prepare. Create a barrier between doors and windows leading into your house and the outside hopefully this will cause the water to run away from your. Shut off electricity to your home in case of a flood. This will reduce the chance of the water reaching the wires of your home and potentially electrocuting you.
The problem with water damage to your home is that its effects are wide ranging and long-lasting. Even a very little storm or flood can lead to wood rot, peeling paint, insect infestation, shorter lifespan of roofing and siding and an all-round increase in maintenance costs. There are some ways what damage can be prevented.
- Check for leaks around your windows and doors, paying the most attention the areas near the corners. If the paint is peeling that could be a sign that water is getting into the wood. A discoloring of the paint or caulking around the windows and doors and the swelling of the window or doorframe could also be signs of water damage.
- The pair all replace shingles on your roof especially ran areas were you know what is getting through. Leaks were most commonly found around plumbing vents, attic vents and chimneys. To find the source of the ceiling leak take the measuring tape and measure its location from the nearest outside wall and locate this point in the attic. Be aware that water may pool in the attic and move off in quite a different direction than where it’s coming in.
- Take a walk around your home and look for any cracks or holes in the external walls, joints, and foundations. Based on the grading around your house you will be able to do pretty good idea of where water will fool around your house.
Look at all the visible plumbing throughout your house and check for leaking faucets and dripping or “sweating” pipes. Inspect washing machine hoses and pipes for cracks and bulges. It’s a good idea of to replace these pipes every few years. Also inspect your water heater for signs of rust and water on the floor.
