Climate Change Solutions That Could Help Homeowners Save Billions in Property Damage
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Climate change is a pressing and costly reality for homeowners. With severe weather events growing stronger and more frequent, millions of people face both physical and financial risks. In 2021 alone, the most recent year data is available, climate hazards affected 1 in 10 U.S. homes and caused nearly $57 billion in property damage.
In our 2024 Housepower Report, extreme weather preparedness emerged as an even greater priority for homeowners, climbing higher on the list of top concerns from previous years.
Proactive home upgrades and routine maintenance could make a difference if you want to rise above extreme weather challenges. See how taking action now can help reduce the potential for property damage, lower long-term maintenance and repair costs, and increase your home’s ability to withstand extreme weather.
Wildfires: Defending your home from increasing fire risk
Wildfires have become more frequent, intense, and unpredictable, putting countless homes at risk. Strategically upgrading and proactively maintaining your home can reduce the likelihood of fire damage, especially in fire-prone areas.
Creating a buffer zone around your home, called defensible space, is a key fire-prevention strategy. This area not only slows the advance of fire but also provides firefighters with a safer space to work. To design a defensible space, consider dividing your property into these zones:
- Zone 1 (0–5 feet from the home): Create an ember-resistant area closest to the home. Remove all flammable materials, regularly trim branches so they’re 10 feet away, replace combustible fencing with fire-resistant materials, choose non-combustible materials like gravel or stone, and relocate RVs or cars further away from the home.
- Zone 2 (5–30 feet from the home): Keep grass trimmed, prune tree branches to be at least 10 feet from each other, and space out plants to prevent fire from jumping easily between them. Also, make sure any liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks have 10 feet of clear space with no flammable vegetation or materials around them.
- Zone 3 (30–100 feet from the home): Remove dead trees and vegetation, thin our dense shrubs, and maintain a firebreak where possible.
For added fire protection, consider these tips:
- Review fire insurance coverage: All standard homeowner insurance policies generally include fire and wildfire protection, but it’s important to ensure your coverage limits are sufficient. For instance, you should consider if your policy could adequately cover rebuilding expenses and confirm that the contents of your home are properly insured. This is especially true if you live in a fire-prone area.
- Clear vegetation and debris: As we mention above, creating a defensible space is a great way to help protect your home from wildfire damage. Regularly remove dead leaves, branches, and any flammable materials that a fire could ignite and use to spread to your home.
- Maintain and upgrade your roof for fire protection: Regularly inspect your roof for damage and make necessary repairs to prevent embers from entering your home during a wildfire. Consider fire-resistant materials like Class A roofing if you’re due for an upgrade. This offers the highest level of protection against extreme heat and embers. Some city ordinances require specific fire classifications, so be sure your roof meets local codes.
- Install ember-resistant vents: Wind-driven embers are a leading cause of home ignitions during wildfires. Traditional attic and crawl space vents allow embers to enter and start fires inside a home. Ember-resistant vents, with fine mesh screens or intumescent materials, can help block embers while maintaining ventilation.
- Consider fire-resistant siding and windows: Materials like fiber cement, stucco, and brick provide better fire protection than wood or vinyl siding. Tempered glass windows are also more heat- and impact-resistant than standard glass, helping prevent breakage from intense heat or flying debris.
- Install exterior sprinkler systems: Automated rooftop or perimeter sprinklers can help keep your property damp and reduce flammability. However, since many wildfire-prone areas also face drought conditions, use these systems strategically and ensure they are connected to a dedicated water supply.
Home protection tip: Ensure you have accessible water sources to help protect your property before fires arrive. Use long garden hoses that can reach all areas of your home and keep large containers of water on hand to quickly wet down dry vegetation, your roof, etc. Taking these proactive steps before evacuation could help slow the spread of flames.
Hurricanes and tornadoes: Bracing for severe storms with high winds
While wildfires occur mostly in the Western U.S., hurricanes and tornadoes—and their devastating winds—are more widespread. It’s essential to prepare your home to withstand these high-wind events.
Here are the top ways to strengthen your home’s hurricane and tornado preparedness.
- Review your hurricane and tornado insurance coverage: A standard homeowners insurance policy typically covers damage from hurricanes and tornadoes, but it’s important to review your policy for specific exclusions. Keep in mind that home insurance does not cover flood damage, so consider separate flood coverage if you live in a flood-prone area.
- Seal gaps and reinforce doors: Wind-driven rain can seep into small cracks around doors and windows, leading to water damage and mold growth. Applying weatherstripping, using door reinforcement kits, and securing deadbolts can help keep strong winds and debris from entering your home.
- Consider gravel or mulch over stones: Small stones in gardens or driveways can turn into high-speed projectiles during hurricanes and tornadoes, causing serious damage to windows and siding. Using mulch or gravel instead helps reduce damage from wind-blown debris while still maintaining an aesthetically pleasing yard.
- Plant wind-resistant trees: Some tree species have deep root systems and flexible branches that make them more resilient to strong winds. Brittle trees, like pines, can easily snap. When landscaping, choose the right species for your location and space them away from structures to prevent them from falling and causing damage.
- Install impact-resistant windows and storm shutters: Standard windows can leave your home vulnerable to damage or water intrusion. Impact-resistant windows use laminated glass and reinforced frames to withstand extreme pressure, while storm shutters provide an added layer of defense for those in tornado and hurricane-prone regions.
- Use roof reinforcements: High winds can easily lift entire roofs off of homes. Hurricane straps and other reinforcement methods can reduce the risk of detachment. Roof tarps can also minimize the risk of damage by preventing flying debris from penetrating the roof's surface, creating holes that lead to flooding.
- Upgrade to a pressure-rated garage door: Garage doors are a common failure point in high-wind events. Strong gusts can blow them inward, creating dangerous internal pressure that may cause roof or wall collapse. A reinforced, pressure-rated garage door is designed to withstand these forces.
Home protection tip: If you’re prepping on a budget or are unable to evacuate, some homeowners use removable steel braces across their doors or plywood over their windows for temporary reinforcement during storms. However, investing in high-quality, impact-resistant materials provides greater long-term protection and even potential insurance discounts.
Floods and heavy rain: Defending against rising water levels
Flooding is one of the most pervasive and expensive weather events, causing billions in damages annually. In fact, the Department of Homeland Security reports that 90% of all natural disasters in the U.S. involve flooding, underscoring just how widespread and destructive it can be.
Our 2024 Housepower Report also revealed that while 42% of homeowners noted increased flood risks in 2024, there was a knowledge gap in flood insurance coverage. A concerning 63% of homeowners incorrectly believed that their standard homeowners insurance policy covered flood damage. No type of flood damage, no matter the source of the water, is covered by standard homeowners policies.
This highlights the need for increased homeowner education about how to prevent flood-related issues and the importance of knowing the type of home insurance you need for your property.
Here are some of the ways you can help safeguard your home against flooding:
- Review your flood insurance coverage: Since standard homeowners’ insurance does not cover flood damage, consider adding a separate flood insurance policy for an additional layer of protection. It’s important for homeowners to check FEMA flood maps annually, as flood risk for your property can change over time.
- Use water-resistant barriers and sealants: Applying waterproof sealants to basement walls and foundations can help prevent water seepage. Flood barriers or sandbags can also protect doors, windows, and entry points from rising water. Consider using flood skirts or vent barriers for additional defense against storm surges.
- Install backflow preventers: A sewer backflow preventer helps stop sewage from flowing back into your home through toilets and drains during a flood. This device could prevent thousands of dollars in water damage and is especially useful in areas prone to flash flooding or heavy rainstorms.
- Install a sump pump with a battery backup: A sump pump helps remove excess water from basements and crawl spaces during heavy rainfall or flooding. Choosing a model with a battery backup helps ensure it continues working even if the power goes out, which is common during storms.
- Leverage smart flood sensors: Early detection can mean the difference between minor water intrusion and severe damage. Smart flood sensors placed in basements, near sump pumps, and around entry points provide real-time alerts via smartphone apps, allowing you to take action before damage worsens.
- Upgrade to permeable driveways and landscaping solutions: Traditional concrete and asphalt driveways contribute to runoff, increasing the risk of flooding. Permeable pavers, gravel, or rain gardens allow water to absorb into the ground instead of pooling around your home. Installing French drains or bioswales can also help improve drainage.
Home protection tip: Specialized tape designed for flooding can offer a simple and budget-friendly solution for some homeowners in flood zones to help conceal water entry points. However, its use is limited to minor flooding incidents, not major events.
Extreme heat: Keeping your home cool as temperatures rise
With record-breaking temperatures becoming increasingly common, relying solely on air conditioning to keep your home cool isn’t always a viable option. Our heatwave survey underscores this concern. We found that 42% of homeowners have suffered HVAC system problems during periods of extreme heat, demonstrating the strain these systems endure during peak cooling periods.
As temperatures rise, heatwave preparedness is more critical than ever. Here are some ways you can keep your home cool and protect it from extreme heat.
- Maintain your HVAC system: To enhance airflow and cooling efficiency, clean or replace your air filters every one to two months. Schedule yearly HVAC maintenance to keep your system operating at its best and remove any debris from the outdoor AC unit to prevent overheating and inefficiency.
- Close curtains and blinds during the day: Limiting natural light during peak daylight hours helps prevent the sun from heating up your indoor space. This simple action can help reduce your home’s temperature and allow your cooling systems to work more efficiently.
- Use smart thermostats: A smart thermostat automatically adjusts your home’s temperature based on your habits, reducing unnecessary energy use. Many models can be programmed to pre-cool your home before peak heat hours, helping limit strain on your cooling systems.
- Inspect your roof and attic: Ensure your attic is properly insulated and ventilated to prevent heat buildup that can radiate into your living spaces. Be sure to also check your roof for any damage or missing shingles, as these can allow unwanted heat to enter and reduce your home's cooling efficiency.
- Upgrade your windows: About 25%-30% of your home's heating and cooling costs come from heat leaking through your windows. Consider ENERGY STAR certified windows to help keep your home cool and lower energy costs. Installing solar window films, thermal curtains, or exterior solar shades can also help block heat before it enters.
- Cultivate heat-resilient landscaping: Strategic landscaping can lower home temperatures and reduce heat absorption. Planting shade trees can lower surrounding air temperatures by several degrees.
- Invest in a cool roof: Traditional asphalt roofs can trap heat, raising your indoor temperatures and forcing your AC to work harder. Cool roofs absorb less heat because they reflect sunlight, keeping your home cooler.
- Consider solar power: During a heat wave, solar power can generate clean electricity, potentially lowering your energy bills when AC units work overtime. A home battery system paired with solar allows you to store excess solar energy produced during sunny hours, ensuring power availability even if the grid experiences blackouts.
Home protection tip: For low-income households, some of these options can seem out of reach. If that sounds like you, check out these State Cooling Programs to see if you qualify for government assistance during heatwaves.
Extreme cold: Winterizing your home for harsh conditions
Many U.S. homeowners are taking on both the sweltering heat of summer and extreme winter chills. Without proactive preparation, extreme cold snaps can wreak havoc on your home and wallet.
The Insurance Information Institute reports winter storms caused a staggering $6 billion in insured losses in 2022. Our own Winter Home Damage Survey echoes this, revealing that 69% of homeowners experienced winter-related home damage in 2024.
From icy blasts that freeze pipes to heavy snowfall that stresses roofs, winter's challenges are imposing. With proactive planning and the following upgrades, you can help protect your property this winter:
- Clean your gutters: Clean gutters are essential for preventing ice dams and water damage. Ensure that your gutters are free of debris and properly draining water away from your foundation. Consider installing gutter guards to prevent clogs and make maintenance easier.
- Seal gaps around windows and doors: Use weatherstripping or caulk to fill any cracks around doors and windows. This helps keep the cold air out and prevents warm air from escaping, helping your home maintain a comfortable temperature while potentially reducing energy costs required to heat your home.
- Tune up your HVAC system: Before winter arrives, consider scheduling a professional tune-up for your HVAC system. This will ensure that your furnace or heat pump is operating efficiently and reliably, preventing breakdowns during the coldest months. A well-maintained system also saves energy and extends the life of your equipment.
- Upgrade to heat-retaining windows: Drafty windows are a major source of heat loss. Upgrading to heat-retaining windows can significantly improve your home's energy efficiency and comfort.
- Properly insulate your home: Upgrading insulation in attics, walls, and crawl spaces significantly reduces heat loss, lowering your energy bills and preventing drafts. Proper insulation also helps prevent ice dams by keeping your roof's temperature more consistent.
- Install pipe heating cables: Frozen and burst pipes are a major winter headache and can lead to costly water damage. Pipe-heating cables wrap around vulnerable pipes and gently warm them, preventing freezing even in the most frigid temperatures.
- Reinforce your roof: Heavy snowfall can put immense stress on your roof. Reinforcing your roof structure, especially if you live in an area prone to significant snowfall, can prevent costly collapses. This might involve adding extra supports or ensuring proper ventilation to prevent ice dams from forming.
Home protection tip: If you’re new to colder climates—or homeownership in general—it can be easy to forget about outdoor plumbing. Some homeowners recommend installing frost-proof spigots to help prevent freezing, which can cause bursts.
Don't wait for disaster: How mitigation can save you thousands
The staggering price of climate-related disasters is skyrocketing. According to a 2024 U.S. Treasury report, the cost of climate and weather disasters exceeded $182.7 billion that year.
A new Consumer Reports study further highlights the financial impact of this issue, estimating that a child born in 2024 will face at least $500,000 in climate change-related debt over their lifetime. Of that large sum, increased floods and weather damage are projected to add nearly $900 annually to housing costs by 2044. This includes increased operating expenses, home maintenance costs, and insurance rates.
The good news? Proactive measures can make a difference. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), every dollar invested in mitigation could save $6 in future losses. This impressive 600% return on investment highlights how strengthening your home against extreme weather can help safeguard your physical investment and minimize the potential for costly repairs or even displacement in the future.
For example, a $5,000 investment in storm-proofing tasks (i.e., reinforcing a roof, upgrading windows, or improving drainage) could prevent up to $30,000 in potential damage.
Ultimately, climate mitigation is an investment in your home's resilience and your own financial security. That’s why knowing your area's risk factors and how you can be better prepared is important.
Know your climate risks and coverage options
Understanding the specific climate risks in your area is the first step toward protecting your home and your finances. Knowing whether you’re in a flood zone, a wildfire-prone region, or an area susceptible to severe storms allows you to make informed decisions about preventative measures and insurance coverage.
You can take action before disaster strikes. Learn more about the specific coverage considerations for your state with our homeowners insurance map.
For newer homes in historically harder-to-insure areas, Hippo offers specialized programs in California, Florida, and Texas designed to address the unique climate challenges in these regions.
Download the climate change solutions checklist
Ready to take control of your home's climate resilience? We've compiled all the essential climate-proofing tips from this article into a handy checklist, making it easy to prioritize and track your progress.
Download the checklist below to get started and ensure your home is prepared for whatever nature throws its way.
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