A few weeks ago, a major storm raged through Colorado. It brought a deluge of rain, massive winds, some snow, and the most devastating element: Hail. One of Mother Nature’s meanest tools are these chunks of ice that hit the ground(and other things) at terminal velocity. From tiny pea shooters to massive golf-ball sized chunks, the damage for the Denver area alone rose quickly from the initial 1.4 BILLION dollar estimate by the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. This number comes from breakage that has been reported from home and car owners. It’s just Hail. How bad could it be?
Were you one of those that was affected by the storm? True Performance wants you to be informed about the types of damage that hail can do to your home so we put together a list of things you need to check after a hailstorm; starting from the top.
Roof Hail Damage
If your roof is more than 5-6 years old, it is susceptible to hail damage. Once the storm has died down it is vital that your roof is checked.
Start out by looking for random damage that has no real pattern. This will let you know if any other signs that you find are from the hail or some other source. If hail has hit hard enough to break the wood of your roof, the hits will usually look black in color due to granules being knocked from the shingles. Shiny asphalt or mat is another indicator that your roof took a pounding.
Press on these spots. Do they feel like a bruised apple? If so, it’s time to make a few phones calls.
Window Hail Damage
Obviously shattered glass, torn screens, and cracked glazing will tell you how hard the hail hit, but most homeowners don’t look any further at their windows than that. The smart owner will check the frame and flashing around the window for damage. Hits and dents in these can cause breaks and openings that allow outside air to seep in which can raise heating/AC bills dramatically.
Outside Appliance Hail Damage
Does the condenser on your AC unit look as pockmarked as a golf ball? Even if it doesn’t, look closely at the fins inside to be certain that they haven’t been damaged. Once a certain percentage of fins have been bent or broken, the condenser can no longer circulate air which drops the efficiency of the unit. Lower efficiency means higher utility bills.
So What Do You Do If You Notice Hail Damage?
DON’T WAIT!
If your house was hit, then you can be sure that others around you have suffered too and your local agent will be inundated with calls. Take pictures of the damage and get on the phone immediately. Fast reporting will usually lead to fast repairs.
Hail storms in Colorado are brutal. Don’t take chances with your home.