As a property owner, extensive property damage is your worst nightmare. Here are the most common causes of damage and what you can do to protect your property.
There are nearly 140 million homes across the United States providing shelter, comfort, and protection for those who live in them. However, what would you say if we told you that your home also needs you to protect it?
In 2018, 98.1% of home insurance claims were made for cases of property damage. As you can tell, house damage is a common problem for homes across America.
Being prepared, and getting your home ready for damaging situations is one of the best ways of preventing property damage. In that case, you need to know some of the leading causes of property damage in America.
Then you’ve come to the right place! Read on to find out seven common causes of property damage and tips on how to avoid them.
1. Strong Winds
The wind might not seem like the most dangerous threat to your property, but it can cause a lot of damage in many different ways.
Strong gusts of wind can uproot trees or dislodge loose branches, which can then cause a lot of damage to your home’s roof and windows. If you have any outdoor furniture around your home this can also cause damage during a storm.
If strong winds are in the forecast, taking the time to clear away potential threats can do your home the world of good. This includes clearing away outdoor furniture and cutting back trees in plenty of time. If the damage is already done and it is more than you can handle then it’s time to call the Leander arborists for tree removal and let them take care of the mess.
2. Domestic Water Leaks
Water in your home can cause a whole range of problems.
It can affect the structure of your walls and ruin your soft furnishings. If left untreated water from domestic leaks can also cause issues such a damp and mold, which are seriously dangerous for your health.
One of the most important things to do to avoid domestic leaks is staying on top of your home’s plumbing system. Keep an eye out for signs of any problems and get professional help as soon as possible if any issues arise. This will minimize the damage they cause.
3. Rain Water
It’s important to remember that domestic leaks aren’t the only way that water can damage your home. Rain and other outdoor water can also lead to water damage in your home.
For example, heavy rainwater can lead to flooding in the basement and lower-level rooms.
You can protect your home from flooding by ensuring that you have proper drainage systems in place. Check your roof regularly for weak points and always make sure that your gutters are clear. If you have a basement, you may want to consider installing a sump pump in it.
In winter, heavy snow can also make your outdoor pipes to freeze and crack. To prevent this from happening, make sure that you clear away excess snow around your outdoor pipes.
4. Heavy Hail
In some parts of the county, hail storms are a common occurrence and a serious danger to people and property. Continuous, heavy hail can damage your home’s roof, windows, and surrounding property.
This is why it’s a good idea to reinforce your home’s roof if hail storms are common in your part of the country. You should also make sure that all vehicles are sheltered in garages or under carports before a storm hits.
5. Theft
One burglary takes place in the U.S. every 25.7 seconds. While some burglars are careful, others leave a trail of destruction in their path. This can include broken doors, windows, and damage to the inside of your home as well.
While you can’t always stop a burglar in their tracks, there are plenty of things you can do to deter thieves from targeting your home.
Installing security cameras and motion detectors will deter potential criminals. On top of this, make sure that you cut back any shrubs or trees around the doors and windows of your home. These can provide cover for would-be burglars to break into your property.
6. Fire
Fire may not be the leading cause of property damage in the US, however, it does cause some of the most expensive damage to your home. And it doesn’t take long to do this.
This is why fire-damaged homes don’t take long to reach their property damage claim time limit.
Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to protect your home from fires. Making sure your home is built from fire-resistant materials and free from combustible furniture will help. You should also never leave candles and other potential hazards unattended in your home.
Having a decent smoke detector in your home and fire extinguishers will also help to minimize the damage if a fire does break out.
7. Lightning Strikes
They say lightning never strikes in the same place twice and, while this may be a good thing, one single strike could do plenty of damage to your home. In particular, a direct lightning strike can do a lot of damage to your electrics.
This is because lightning strikes often cause something called a power surge in your home. When this happens, the circuit in your home’s electricity will break and this can really mess up your electrical appliances. This includes any air conditioning, lighting, or security systems you have in place.
While this may not seem like the biggest problem in the world, you will have to get professional help to resolve each of these issues individually. On the plus side, you can protect your home in one simple step by getting an electrician to fit your circuit with a surge protector.
Protect Yourself Against These Common Causes of Property Damage Today
As you can see, many things can cause property damage. However, taking steps to protect yourself against these situations can minimize the damage done to your home. This could be a huge help for your finances if you do have to make a claim.
For more tips and ideas on how to prepare yourself financially, head over to our finance blog.