Should You Open Your Windows During A Hurricane

Being prepared is the best choice for any natural disaster, and hurricanes are no exception. Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions about hurricane protection and preparedness.

Should I Open My Windows During a Hurricane?

For case, ane of the biggest myths is that cracking your windows during a hurricane will stabilize the pressure in your abode. Yet, the last matter you desire to practise in the eye of a hurricane is to open your windows.

Here'due south some reasons why you should go on your windows tightly sealed during a storm:

Opening your windows during a storm allows air current, water and droppings to enter and cause interior impairment to your abode.

Even cracking your windows can have detrimental furnishings on your habitation, assuasive in wicked winds, rain and storm droppings. In fact, respected sources such every bit the National Weather Service advise tightly sealing windows during a hurricane every bit ane of their core safety action steps.

For starters, opening your windows during a storm will only increase the likelihood of moisture and flood harm. Even a few inches of water in your home can result in thousands of dollars of costly repairs. If you don't already accept a flood insurance policy , the cost tag will likely be fifty-fifty higher.

Additionally, when your windows are open, flight droppings is more likely to enter your home. This volition not merely cause impairment to the inside of your habitation , but it can as well crusade injury to yourself or your family.

Opening your windows during a hurricane or tornado tin cause large-calibration structural damage to your house.

When air enters your home with a significant amount of forcefulness, information technology volition need a way to exit. If the wind is potent enough, it may blow the roof off of your home! How? Wind travels over pinnacle of your home at extremely high speeds. Combine this with boosted wind within your dwelling house, and you're causing an effect that's like to the strength that allows airplane wings to generate lift.

Fifty-fifty if your roof doesn't blow off, opening your windows can still cause extensive damage the interior structure of your home. Houses aren't airtight— with openings all throughout for current of air to travel— possibly causing neighboring windows or doors, even entire walls, to blow out. Hurricane windows which are tightly sealed should be safe, merely for optimal protection, discover a room in your home without windows, such as a bath or closet, and don't come up out until the tempest has passed.

The harm caused by opening your windows tin can also touch your neighbors' homes.

Non only would a "fly away" roof— or office of your roof— threaten all your habitation's contents and your family within, only nearby backdrop may be afflicted. If function any piece of your home, let'south say a door or shingles, collide into your neighbor's home, the damage could spread across only your lawn.

Taping or padding your windows during a storm is pretty much useless.

Up until the 1980s , the National Hurricane Middle advised putting masking tape on your windows as additional protection confronting storms. Later a serial of tests, the official government communication was modified, finding it did little to protect against storm damage.

Interior padding of any sort won't help either, as if the window is comprised, winds and pressure are certain to blow it abroad. The best way to add extra protection surrounding the windows is to add hurricane shutters to the outside of your habitation, ones which have been rated for tempest forcefulness— and definitely not something you congenital from scratch. Instead, accept these steps to hurricane proof your home , such as reinforcing your roof and beefing up your doors.

Keeping your Windows Tightly Sealed

When a hurricane hits, the last thing yous should do is open up your windows. Always continue your windows tightly closed during a hurricane.

Opening your windows during a storm is not but costly, but information technology can exist incredibly dangerous to your domicile and your family. Unfortunately, even tightly sealed windows might not be enough to protect yous against a hurricane— if they aren't storm-rated.

How secure are your windows? Protect your abode with specialized hurricane shutters or bear upon-tested glass.

It'south never been easier with Storm Solutions. We have a guide to help you lot measure out your windows and get a quick guess today. Download the guide today!