Which Appliances to Cover During Hail?

While hail storms might not last very long, they can come on suddenly and develop very quickly. Hail storms can often be extremely harsh and leave a lot of destruction in their wake. It is essential to keep up with the weather predictions if you live in an area prone to hail and take all necessary precautions to prevent damage to your home, your vehicles, and yourself.

Try and stay indoors or under shelter if you can, and avoid driving during hail. It would help if you also took measures to keep your outdoor appliances and the rest of your house protected.
Here are some appliances and other vulnerable property that you should cover during hail and take extra care to protect:

AC External Units

The external unit of your air conditioner, also known as the air compressor unit, is vulnerable to hail damage during a severe storm. Hail can fall onto the unit and dislodge or bend the fins. Damaged fins would mean that your AC must work harder and stop performing efficiently. Additionally, larger hail can cause damage to parts of the coil, including the copper and aluminum tubes. 

To keep the AC external unit safe from hail, you can install a fiber hail guard over the unit. The fiber is strong enough to withstand hail and lets air flow through to the unit. A temporary tarp is better than nothing if you don’t have time to install a hail guard. 

Solar Panels

Solar panels are usually very strong and can withstand severe weather. They can even withstand hail that is as big as a golf ball! However, if there is very large hail or the frequency of the hail is much higher than usual, your solar panels could face some damage. The hail can crack the glass surface of the panels or cause damage to the solar cells. 

To avoid this, you should consider getting a protective wire cover built. You can also add a protective layer of Methacrylate on the surface of your solar panels. In a situation where you do not have the time to take these preventative measures, you can cover the panels with thick blankets and a tarp to hold off the worst of the damage. 

BBQ Grills and Other Outdoor Cooking Equipment

Outdoor cooking equipment like BBQ grills and cooking ranges have small components that can get damaged by strong hail. If the hail is very big in size, it can even cause big dents in the hoods of the grills and ranges. If you have the space in your home or garage, you should temporarily move all of the equipment inside to protect it. If there isn’t any other option, move the equipment as close to the house’s walls as you can and cover it all up with tarps and thick blankets.  

Lawn Mowers and Gardening Equipment

Your lawn mowers, leaf blowers, rakes, trowels, and other gardening equipment should be moved into a shed or garage to keep all of it protected during a hail storm. If you do not have any sheltered area to move the equipment under, you can use cardboard boxes and tarps to create a temporary cover. 

Outdoor Furniture

If you have outdoor furniture like a patio set or a swing set, it might become damaged by heavy hail. You can remove all the cushions and fabrics and bring them inside temporarily. The rest of the furniture should be covered up with special furniture covers. It might also be good to weigh down the furniture with metal weights or sandbags to prevent the lightweight furniture from toppling over with the wind. 

Cars and Vehicles 

Move your cars, bikes, and other vehicles out of the driveway and into the garage as soon as you can. Hail can cause dents to appear or even crack the windows and windshields of your car. If there is no sheltered area available, you should cover all of the vehicles with thick and heavy blankets and tarps to absorb the shock of the hail and prevent too much damage from occurring. 

Skylights, Windows, and Glass Doors

The best way to keep skylights, windows, and glass doors safe from cracking or shattering due to hail is by installing shutters. If you do not have shutters installed, the next best thing you can do, according to Ready, is to keep all of the drapes and curtains drawn over the windows and glass doors. This way, if any of the glass is broken, it won’t enter your home or cause injury to you.  

911 Restoration of Northwest Arkansas 

Whether you are looking for water damage restoration, sanitization services, disinfection solutions, mold removal, sewage backup cleaning, fire and smoke damage restoration, or restoration after hail, tornadoes, windstorms, or hurricanes, 911 Restoration of Northwest Arkansas is always in your corner. Whatever your restoration and clean-up needs are, we’re here to help. 

We provide our services in Northwest Arkansas in Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville, and the surrounding areas. Our office is open 24/7 and 365 days a year so that you can contact us the very moment a disaster occurs. 

Our technicians are guaranteed to arrive within 45 minutes of receiving your call. Call us at (479) 223-5148 or visit our website for more information on our services.