Signs That Your Home is Not Weather-proof

June 28, 2022

Houses—well-built or otherwise—are hit hard by the growing unpredictability of the weather in the Philippines. If they aren’t exposed to extreme heat, they have to deal with heavy rains and floods. It’s a constant reminder that home insurance is something every home needs. How is your home holding up against this confused climate? Remember, careful assessment of your home’s capacity to withstand extreme weather conditions is the first step to weather-proof it. Before the next typhoon or heat wave comes, go around the house and check for areas that need repair. Watch out for the following warning signs. Floods don’t just cause widespread traffic all over the city; they may also cause damage to your home Leaks The first line of defense against weather is your roof. And the first sign that your roof isn’t doing its job is if it leaks. Regardless of the size of the leak, the main issue is that it exists. If left alone, a single hole will eventually rot the surrounding materials, raising repair costs. What to do about it: Keeping your roof in tiptop shape requires regular maintenance. Twice a year, have a professional check for cracked shingles and holes. Gutters have to be cleared at least once a month. Clean them more often if there are trees around your house whose leaves could clog and eventually damage the gutters. Your home’s ground level is lower than street level Flooding has become an expected, albeit begrudged, part of the rainy season in the Philippines. But it should not mean that you should just sit back and wait for the flood to rise whenever a storm comes. Knowing how to prepare your home for a flood should be one of the first tasks you need to undertake come typhoon season. What to do about it: You can either move furniture and belongings to a higher area in your house or, more permanently, you can raise the ground level of your home. After all, as long as there is rain and clogged pipes and septic tanks, you can expect floods in the rainy season. The key is to be ready for them. The house feels like an oven in the summer At the height of summer, it could feel as if the Philippines just moved next door to the sun. Does your home feel the same way? Is constant air conditioning no longer enough to combat the oven-like atmosphere inside your home? What to do about it: Install air vents close to the ceiling for warm air to escape through. In the same vein, put in bigger windows, ideally facing each other so air can freely circulate. Another solution—which won’t only lower indoor temperature but also cut down on your electricity bill—is to switch to CFL lighting. Compact Fluorescent Lamps were designed to save on energy and replace incandescent bulbs, which heat up and use up more energy. Discolored walls and ceilings When walls and ceilings get tarnished, it’s sign that moisture is already inside the house. Through leaks, water seeps in and escapes through the walls and ceilings. Aside from staining these, moisture can also create unsightly air bubbles in painted walls, as well as ruin the floor. What to do about it: Have a professional inspect the waterproofing in the external walls and roofing of your house and if needed, re-apply. Replace rotted beams and plywood sheets. If condensation is a problem, install vents near the areas of your home that are prone to moisture. Cracks on walls It could be because of a bad paint job, but the deeper cracks on the walls of your home could be caused by moisture. If the cracks on your wall begin to crumble and emit rotting odor, that could be a sign of water in the wrong place and, therefore, poor weather-proofing. What to do about it: While you can DIY your way into repairing minor cracks using a drywall compound (available in hardware stores), deeper recurring cracks need the work of a professional. They will be able to troubleshoot and repair your wall and, even more important, get rid of the pervasive moisture that threatens your home. COCOGEN Home Excel Plus covers all the risks your home faces year-round. Be it a leaking roof or flood damage, Home Excel PLUS provides protection for you—from insuring your damaged personal property (for you, your family, and even your kasambahay) to giving rental assistance if you need to evacuate your home. Home Excel PLUS is the protection you need in the midst of erratic Philippine weather. So before it’s too late, get Home Excel PLUS now, and face typhoon season without worries. ***

The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of COCOGEN Insurance.

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