Cleaning Up After a Window Damaging Storm

Violent winter storms that are strong enough to cause broken windows are one of the worst storms homeowners have to face over the course of the year. Having a broken window after a regular storm is bad enough, but when you throw in freezing temperatures and snow coming in your home it is exponentially worse.If you are unfortunate enough to have to go through this ordeal, here are some tips to help get through it as fast as possible.Record the Window DamageAs soon as you discover the broken window, take pictures of the damage. Take pictures of the broken window, what caused the window to break, how far the glass went, and also any additional damage from snow or wind entering your home.Once you have recorded the damage, then start the cleanup.Clean up the Glass from the Broken WindowTo get up all the glass from a broken window ideally you are going to need a vacuum cleaner that can pick up glass, like a shop vacuum. If you can’t get a hold of a shop vacuum, then a regular vacuum for carpet and a broom for non-carpet areas will have to do.When glass shatters it has a lot of energy behind it, so expect it to travel out further from the window than you would normally expect it to. It is actually best just to clean up the entire room where the broken window is, rather than assume there are no glass pieces on the other side of the roomTo protect yourself from injury, enter the room with shoes and working gloves before you start.Secure Window OpeningsTo prevent further damage to your home, you will need to cover the broken window. Screwing in pieces of wood, like plywood, is what you want to aim for. However, if you have no wood to use for the broken window a tarp can also be used temporarily.Get the Window ReplacedOnce the area is cleaned up and secure, contact your insurance company if you plan on filing a claim. Your insurance company can advise you if they recommend anyone to repair your window or if it is up to you to find someone.If you don’t plan on filing a claim, contact a professional that an access your window and advise you as to whether the whole window will need to be replaced or just the glass.Either way, it is important to start the process of getting your window fixed as quickly as possible.