extreme weather

How would you prepare for extreme weather? Recently, we had a heat wave in the San Francisco Bay Area with temperatures in some areas nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This was still technically in winter, so many of us were shocked that it could happen. Many lost power, and some wondered what else might be next. Want to know some ways to prepare? Then read on.

Consider additional insulation

Many older homes have inadequate insulation. Although this might not be something you could do yourself, it could be a good project that will not only pay dividends down the road, but make you more comfortable. Having an extreme weather event isn’t just an inconvenience; huge temperature variations can actually cause bodily harm. There are a few reasons to insulate your home better.
Here are a few:

Maintain comfort
Save on heating and cooling bills
Reduce condensation risk

The U.S. Department of Energy has an information-packed article to tell you more about insulation.

Keep a Go Bag packed

After the fires in California and other parts of the western states, many of us keep a Go Bag (or emergency kit) handy and packed. A Go Bag should have at a minimum three days worth of supplies. Inspect your Go Bag occasionally and ensure everything is updated. If you have old snack bars, for instance, toss them and replenish your supplies. Make sure the batteries are fresh in the flashlight. Also (and this is from personal experience!) bring a deck of cards or a book, as boredom can be a problem when you’re evacuated. A couple of items no one ever mentions? How about slipping in some chocolate and wine? On a more serious note, The New York Times, in conjunction with WireCutter has a very thorough explanation of what should go in your Go Bag. But the following is a short list and good place to start.

What to put in your Go Bag

Water
Flashlights
Crank radio
First aid kit
Cash (ATMs may not work if power is out)

Choose your insurance wisely

Are you friends with your insurance agent? A quick call to them could give you some ideas about what to add or delete from your policy. Maybe you don’t have adequate insurance for extreme weather. Take an hour or two to ask some basic questions. By the way, you may be eligible for discounts if you take measures to protect your home or business against floods or fires. Check out Firewise, below.

Questions to ask your insurance agent

Does my insurance cover floods? How about mudflows, landslides, or sinkholes?
What coverage can I expect in a fire?
Does my insurance cover a hotel if I’m evacuated?
Would I get a discount if I’m enrolled in a Firewise neighborhood?

Keep printed maps

Yes, printed maps seem like ancient history! But in an emergency, and if cell towers go down, it could help your peace of mind. We’re big on peace of mind around here! Remember Thomas Guide maps? You can still get a nice spiralbound edition for less than $100. If nothing else, it’s a good coffee table book, and you could play Thomas Map trivia–a game we just made up!

Know your neighbors

Keep a list of your neighbors, with addresses, names, and any other information about them. These days, hardly anyone seems to pay attention to their neighbors, but you could be different. Neighborhood block parties are fun and you wouldn’t even need a designated driver to get home. Of course, you don’t have to invite hundreds of people–you could just invite the neighbors who live the closest to you.

Add window film

You just knew we’d have to talk about window film, didn’t you? Didn’t you? Window film will not only prepare you for upcoming weather emergencies, it will also let you save money on your energy bills. There are so many different kinds of window film now. For instance:

Graffiti film (we talked about this recently)
Window film to stay cool (contains more tips to stay cool)
Window film for the summer (even more ideas to stay cool)

Still have questions?

Call us and we’ll tell you all about ways to stay cool and protect yourself against extreme weather! We’ve had lots of experience with different issues in all sorts of weather. And if you already know that you need help with window film, fill out our Quick Residential Estimate form if you need us to install some. We’d love to help you choose the best film. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California (Costa Mesa) and Scottsdale, Arizona, too! Give us a call at our San Francisco location at 415.623.8700.

How to Punch the Polar Vortex in the Nose with Window Film

As I write these words in December, shivering, because polar vortex–everybody else is also wondering what gives with the extreme weather lately. The citrus trees are frozen in California, and people are buying up heated seat kits for their cars. What is happening, and when do we get to the part about punching the polar vortex in the nose? To distract you farther, here’s our previous article about why not to do your own window film installation.

Polar Vortex: What the Heck is it?

According to NASA’s website, “A polar vortex is an area of low pressure—a wide expanse of swirling cold air—that is parked in polar regions.” Contrary to popular belief, it is not a violent washing machine cycle–although you migt wish it was! If it was, we could just turn it off with a giant button. The weak polar vortex is causing extreme cold weather all over the place, which again is confusing, because you’d think a strong polar vortex would cause cold weather. Like the unstable drunken holiday party guest, the unstable polar vortex causes all kinds of trouble–which is why we’d like to punch it in the nose!

tahoe snowstorm photo — Photo by hillary h

Extreme Weather

You’ve already heard about how window film can keep you cool in the summer, but what about during cold snaps? Most people don’t realize that window film can keep your home’s temperature more stable. So that means warm in the winter as well as cool in the summer. And most people believe that weather is becoming more unstable–that is, colder in the winter, and hotter in the summer. So what’s a good home owner to do?

Does the Polar Vortex Even Have a Nose?

That is an excellent question! According to many sources, including NASA, polar vortexes have eyes. So–stick with us here–we’re going to make the leap in logic to assume that there is a face, of sorts. And most faces have noses. Probably in the 99% range. So there you have it.

Maybe Not So Literal

The point is, we’d like to not feel so afraid when people mention the phrase polar vortex. We’d like to be inside our snug homes and office buildings and feel that the weather, while frightful, would not bother us quite so much.

One Window Film to Rule Them All

There are many types of window films–decorative, security, etc. But in terms of protecting you against the weather, the one we like is 3M™ Thinsulate™. It adds an invisible layer of insulation between you and the outside world. And we think that’s a lot like punching the Polar Vortex in the nose.

Questions About Window Film?

Call our office in Santa Clara, California! We work all over the Bay Area, including the peninsula, San Francisco, and Marin (as well as other parts of the state and country!) We can help.

marin snow photo — Photo by Eric Fischer