Hailstorms are among the most unexpected and dangerous natural phenomena that can cause vehicles great damage. A calm day can very quickly change into a hail storm within seconds with no protection from dents, broken windows, and expensive repairs for one’s car. The bright side is that some measures put in place beforehand may greatly reduce the possibility of one’s car being destroyed due to hail. This document provides useful insights on how to prepare your car against extreme weather conditions so that your vehicle retains its excellent condition.
The primary measure in hail damage control should be to keep tabs on the weather. Weather applications, alerts, and local broadcasters should be used in the anticipation of storms that might be forthcoming. Most contemporary weather applications are equipped with facilities that warn users of even the most severe weather such as hailstorms. Keeping an eye on the forecast in advance can help make timely arrangements which will save the car from exterior harm from storms. Protection of the vehicle is best done in advance rather than waiting for the storm to pass.
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Another practical way to protect one’s vehicle during a hail storm is to cover the car inside a building or a strong structure outside the house. Garages enable one to completely avoid hail storms while carports provide limited but reasonable coverage. If you are somewhere out running errands when the storms come, then you should look for parking areas such as parking towers or underground sections to shelter your vehicle. Where there is no parking for the car, it is advisable to park the vehicle near a tall building such as an office block or a bank, or under very thick shrubs or trees to shield it from the gale.
When one does not have easy access to under-roof parking, a car cover designed for hail attacks is a must-have. Such covers are structured in a manner that they withstand the force of falling hailstones and therefore do not allow dents and scratches on the body surface of the car. They are made from tough and waterproof materials that are suitable even for hefty size hailstones. Hail car covers are lightweight and simple to use making them a perfect option for people who experience hail storms often or reside in places with harsh weather conditions.
Place soft domestic materials around the car’s exterior
There can be instances, where, it appears without prior notice to the affected car and there is no opportunity to drive that car to safety, Protecting one’s hail battered car by placing soft domestic materials such as supple blankets, cushioned seats or thick towels around the car exterior helps in surcease of damage. All that is required is that these items be placed on the car in their most susceptible areas, the roof, wind shield, and the hood. These items assist in cushioning part of the hail’s effect and reducing the possible threat. This is not a permanent remedy since blankets will not completely cover the car’s body from the impact but it will come in handy in avoiding deep dents and broken surfaces until the storm is over and proper measures are in place.
Refrain From parking Under Trees or Power Lines Pocketing Trees may be one of the best places to hide in any hailstorm however it is vegetation that can more often than not do the most damage. Hailstorms almost always come with strong gusting winds, causing branches to whip and debris to fly, often colliding with vehicles. In fact, oftentimes, such debris causes more harm than the hail itself. On the other hand, power lines should generally be avoided as they may result in injury or damage to the car from falling power cables. It is advisable to look for open areas for parking rather than under a tree as large tree branches could break and fall during a storm.
Every precaution in the book, there comes a time when your vehicle faces hail damage and there is nothing that one can do about it. This is the point when many people look for comprehensive car insurance to cover for the damages incurred. Normally comprehensive cover comes with a protection against such calamities, volcanoes and even hailstone rains. For instance, if you reside in a storm-afflicted region, you might want to consider this policy to avoid incurring repair costs unexpectedly. Insurance is a good idea when the car is already damaged but does not help in preventing damage from occurring.
Windshields and windows are often the most susceptible parts of a vehicle within the storms. In such situations, large hailstones can easily crack the glass or shatter the glass entirely and cause a significant amount of damage, making it the most expensive damage type to repair. In order to mitigate this problem, you can place a thick blanket or use a special windshield cover on the front windshield of the vehicle. If these are not available, sunshades or floor mats can also help. Making sure that the windows and the windshield of your car are properly covered can help avoid expensive replacement costs and also protect your car from the dangers of the storm.
If you are driving and a hailstorm struck you while you were still driving, the best thing to do is to try and get off the road immediately to a safe area. Depending on your surroundings, you can try to find a gas station, a parking garage or an underpass. If your vehicle is stopped in a wide-open zone, it is likely that the car will more than likely be hailed on resulting in damaging effects to the car. By doing this you can still remain seated where the storm cannot reach your car and there’s no fear that the vehicle will be struck. Most importantly, do not forget that protecting yourself and other people is the main goal – select the position carefully so that you and other drivers do not get into trouble.
In addition, to ensure that your vehicle is safe from hailstorms, it is advisable to use simple protective implements like hail guard shields or the inflatable covers for cars. Installation of these tools takes less time and forms a shield between your parked vehicle and the hailstones. To illustrate, an inflatable cover for a car helps in forming a ring-like protective cover around the vehicle which lessens the impact of hail on the vehicle. Although these items may come with a cost, more often than not, the value-added compensation is favorable particularly for people living in frequent storm areas.
Hailstorms may be over, but you will be able to check your vehicle’s outside for any damage. A particular shipment may incorporate some after-salvage repair kits. Check for hail-related damage on the body and trim of your vehicle including but not limited to dents, gouges or paint scratches, broken glass or mirrors, etc. If that is the case, if you spot something serious, it is important to deal with it as soon as possible as the issue could get worse. Some quite minor dings if the surface underneath is clean and dry can be performed using easy-paintless-dent-repair treatment that strikes less on the pocket and saves on time than other repair methods.
If you want to know particular devices or tools to shield your vehicle from hail, please access this link for more explanations. The simple fact is that knowledge and readiness are essential to lower the damages as well as to keep your vehicle in good condition irrespective of the weather.
Driving a clean and well-kept car after all that driving rain and storms is no doubt a great experience. After the rain has stopped, everything seems to be calm and considering going for a drive doesn’t sound tedious at all. Be it going on long drive country trips or driving on a coastal road, keeping a clean vehicle increases the enjoyment of the experience. It does justice to the work you put in that particular car and enhances the pride you hold for the vehicle. Unsurprisingly though, nothing beats a spotless car shiny in the sun after a storm.
Addressing the issue of preservation of one’s vehicle from the effects of hail is not an overwhelming challenge. This is achievable by using these simple suggestions to reduce the amount of damage and ensure the vehicle’s appearance is the best throughout the year.