8 Tips for Preparing Your Home for Extreme Weather
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Get a Backup Power Supply (Power Outages)
Whether it’s a hurricane, fire or storm, disasters are commonly accompanied by power outages. Whole home generators, powered by diesel fuel or a battery bank (with the optional addition of solar panels), can keep your refrigerator and other essentials running indefinitely.
The cost of these systems varies depending on their capacity, from around $500 for a simple generator or portable battery box to $20,000 and beyond if you want something to run your air conditioner.
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Paint for Temperature (Extreme Temperatures)
“While you might think that choosing the exterior color of your home is only about picking what color you like best, the climate you live in is crucial to picking the right color,” says Hicks.
If you live in a hot climate, choose light colors that reflect the sun to keep your interior cool. Good choices include white and pale blues, grays and yellows. If you’re more prone to extreme cold, try darker tones, which absorb and retain heat better.
New heat-reflective paint technologies are also emerging, so watch for those to hit the market in the near future.
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Upgrade Home Insulation (Extreme Temperatures)
Proper insulation and air sealing are key to optimizing heating and cooling. Definitely consider upping the insulation in your attic because a lot of heat exchange occurs there. But don’t neglect the areas around your HVAC ducts, walls, ceilings, crawl space and floors.
“Also consider installing heat cables or heating pads on problem-prone pipes to keep them warm,” says Matt Kunz, president of Mr. Rooter Plumbing, a Neighborly company. You may qualify for a rebate or tax credit to help with insulation and other weatherizing costs.
And don’t forget the garage. Insulate the garage door, especially if it’s attached to your home.
“That gives the added benefit of creating an extra space for a home gym or office,” says Michael Brickner, president of Precision Garage Door Service. Brickner also recommends upgrading to a battery backup garage door opener for unexpected power outages.
