The rainy season is a good time for lawns and gardens, but it’s the season that’ll require you to provide extra care to your property. If you take your home for granted before the rainy season comes around, your negligence may eventually result in loss or serious damage, which can cost you expensive home repairs.
Penetrating moisture or rainwater in the walls or structure of your property can have a negative effect on you and your family. Fortunately, those can be prevented by preparing your home for the rainy season, and below are some of the ways to do it.
- Clean Your Gutters
Gutters are your property’s first line of defense against heavy rains. They can go a long way to prevent mold, rot, and some rain-related issues as they catch rainwater and direct it away from your house. That’s the reason you should pay importance to your gutters and only purchase those of high quality. To find the best gutters for your home, you can check online resources such as EasyMerchant’s product page.
Make sure to keep your gutters clean, particularly when you’re expecting heavy rains. Although there are various ways to clean gutters, it’s enough to rinse them using a garden hose or call a Cincinnati gutter cleaning company.
- Have Your Basement Checked
If you’re living in a wet environment, your basement might be at risk of flooding once the rainy season starts.
With that in mind, it’s vital to ensure that you protect your home from water damage. The best solution for this is to have your basement inspected by professionals before the rainy season. They can assess your basement for structural weak spots, leaks, and some risk factors that might result in problems when it starts pouring outside for days.
- Clear Your Perimeter
Prior to the rainy season, one of the ways to prepare your home is to clean up the debris or broken branches on your property that might be damaging. Trim the branches hanging over your gutters and roof, and remove dead branches that may become dangerous in bad weather.
- Ensure Proper Flow of All Canals And Drains
While your local area might not be prone to floods, taking some precautionary measures is still essential. See to it that the drains in and around your house are fully functional without any blockage that may cause the water to accumulate and lead to extensive damage, turn into a breeding ground for pests or insects, or become a physical hindrance.
Keep in mind that even the most minimal repairs required for waterways must be done immediately. A recurring case when it comes to water damage is that the issue starts out small, but since it isn’t discovered or resolved at the onset, it becomes costly to address in the long run.
- Search For Leaks
Check for any signs of leakage around your home. When doing this, pay attention to the ceiling and around your exterior windows and doors. Make sure that all your windows and doors close properly. Look for an Orange County leak detection company to help. This is also the perfect time to do quick window maintenance.
- Seal Doors And Windows
Ensure that your doors are working properly and your windows are sealed because even a small gap may cause water to seep in. If your windows are new, there’s nothing you should worry about. However, if they’re old, you must inspect them since windows should be able to keep your house safe from outside elements and boost energy efficiency as well.
- Prepare Your Outdoor Storage And Furniture
Protect your power tools and lawn equipment by storing them in a dry area. If possible, make sure that they’re off the ground. If you have a shed, inspect its roof and check for leaks. Bring in any décor or furniture that can be damaged by the rain, and apply a waterproofing solution to your wooden furniture to protect it against water damage.
- Check Your Roof
Another way to prepare your home for the rainy season is to check the overall condition of your roof. Warped or worn shingles may crack, which can cause leaks.
To check your roof or repair a leaky roof, call a professional roofer for a thorough inspection, especially if you’re uncomfortable with heights. They won’t only determine the roof issues that need to be addressed before the rainy season but also give you an idea of the remaining life span of your roof and provide you with an estimate of how much roof replacement would cost.
It’s also a good idea to note that many home insurance policies cover damage to your roof that happens suddenly. However, damage due to wear and tear isn’t included. Therefore, it’s essential to check your roof’s condition once a year.
Conclusion
Precautions are necessary before the rainy season, especially if there’s already leakage somewhere around your house or your roof isn’t in good condition. So check your roof, clear out your gutters, and seal your windows or doors properly in order to stay safe and save yourself from any possible inconvenience once the rainy season starts.