Storms can provide valuable moisture, but they can also wreak havoc on the structural stability of your home. The damage that can be caused by high winds, severe rain, or lightning could end up leaving you with a significant repair bill.

Here are three tips that you can use to better protect your home from storm damage in the future.

1. Trim your trees.

Flying debris is a common cause of structural damage to homes during severe storms. If you want to ensure that your roof, windows, and siding remain intact throughout storm season, it can be beneficial to invest in regular tree trimming.

Having your trees trimmed by professionals from companies like Affordable Tree Care removes any vulnerable branches that could be brought down by a severe storm. Getting rid of these branches makes your trees stronger, ensuring that they will not serve as a source of storm damage to your home in the future.

2. Check the quality of your windows.

To ensure that you are able to remain safely inside your home when a severe storm strikes, you need to take the time to perform a quality check of your home's windows. Examine each pane of glass for hairline cracks that could weaken the windows when they're exposed to high winds.

You should also take a close look at the weatherstripping and caulking surrounding each window's frame. Cracks in the caulking could allow water to leak in, leaving your home at risk of developing mold after a severe storm. Repairing or replacing damaged windows is a simple and effective way to prevent storm damage from affecting your home in the future.

3. Turn off your automatic watering system.

If your home is equipped with an automatic watering system, you should turn this system off in the days following a severe storm. The moisture provided by a severe storm will likely saturate the ground surrounding your home.

If you leave your watering system on, the excess water could find its way to your home's foundation, where it could create cracks or other structural problems. Check the saturation of the ground by inserting a screwdriver into the ground. If the screwdriver easily slides into the ground, then the soil is still saturated, and no additional water should be added.

Preparing your home to withstand severe storms will help you eliminate serious structural damage during the coming storm season. Be sure that you trim your trees, repair or replace damaged windows, and turn off your automatic watering system to provide your home with maximum protection against storm damage in the future.