6 Effective Tips to Prepare Your House for The Rainy Season

While your house can remain in pristine condition during the dry days, is it ready for the rainy days, though?

You may have come across the expression – when it rains, it pours. And that’s true. The rainy season usually catches homeowners off guard as it brings a unique set of challenges for them.

Heavy rainfall may cause basement flooding, water leakage from ceilings, mold and mildew growth, clogged gutters, attract termites, damage your landscape, and pose electrical hazards. All of this can wreak havoc on your house and weaken the foundation of your property. As a homeowner, you must remain prepared for any unforeseen occurrences that may arise due to the rainy season.

Do you know that the United States witnesses an average annual rainfall of 30.21 inches? Even though many people have become accustomed to torrential downpours, there’s still a good possibility our houses are not yet ready to withstand heavy rains.

That said, here are a few tips you must follow to prepare your house for the rainy season:

1. Inspect and Maintain the Roof

What’s the most obvious entry point for rain in your house? Of course, it’s the roof. Before any preventive measures, inspect your roof for repair and maintenance. Do you reside in Lansing, MI?

Then, you probably know the city receives slightly more rainfall than the overall average of the US, which is 33 inches. And this gives you all the more reason to check your roof and perform any repair and maintenance tasks before the rainy season.

Check if there are any loose or missing shingles. You can also inspect the ridges and see if there are any cracks. Next, call the roof maintenance experts to repair and fix your roof. Look up roof repair experts near me and let the professionals tackle the issues promptly and efficiently.

2. Seal Your Doors and Windows

At times, rain goes on for days. And it may seem like it is entering your house from all directions. Therefore, inspect the windows and doors of your home. Be sure that there’s not even a tiny crack.

If your windows are new, you should be good. But, if they are old, they may not open and close properly. As a result, you may witness rainwater penetrating these tiny gaps and flooding your property. It can damage your furniture, peel the paint, and promote the growth of molds.

So, if you are looking for an excellent temporary solution to seal the gaps and one that is also easy to remove, rubber sealant is the perfect choice. For a more permanent option, you can use rigid foam insulation, caulk, weather stripping, or a window film.

Properly sealing your windows and doors will also reduce electricity bills and enhance your home’s energy efficiency.

3. Make Sure the Gutters are Clean

The primary objective of gutters is to ensure water gets directed away from the house. Therefore, you must keep it in the best condition to ensure it functions properly. For this reason, you should inspect them before the start of any season. And if your property has many trees, you must do this more frequently.

Gutters should be free of debris and leaves. If not, the garbage may clog and block your gutter. As a result, water may enter your property and cause damage to the walls, deteriorate the woodwork, and affect your house’s structural integrity.

Furthermore, avoid cleaning the gutter right after the rain. Instead, it’s best to wait a few days and let the debris dry out. This way, the clearing task will become considerably easier. Lastly, if you wish to clear it yourself, ensure you have the right tools specifically designed for this task.

4. Take a Look at Your Drainage System

Sure, you are inspecting and maintaining the gutters of your home. But what about the drainage system? You must ensure it retains functionality when preparing your home for the rainy season.

Check the drainage system of your house and see if there are any signs of leaking or damaged pipes. If you don’t know how to keep the drainage system functioning well, don’t fret. A viable alternative is to call a professional Plumber Lower North Shore Sydney (or wherever it is in the world you may be). The professionals can assess the condition of pipes and ensure water doesn’t cause any problems around your property when it rains.

5. Check Electrical Wiring

There’s no denying that this tip is highly essential. After all, you would never want your loved ones to suffer due to negligence. Since electrical issues or defective wiring can result in electrocution, frequently monitor the electrical system.

Sometimes, heavy rains may damage the insulation of power lines. Due to this, there is a high possibility of power outages and voltage disruptions. So, ensure the circuit breaker is in proper working order. If there are any exposed wires in the house, cover them to prevent yourself and your loved ones from shock.

Moreover, you can purchase surge protectors. These devices are perfect to protect your appliances and electronics from getting damaged if lightning suddenly strikes.

6. Focus on the Outdoors

In preparing your house for the rainy season, you may be paying too much attention to the inside of your house, but let’s not forget the outdoors also play an equal part. In other words, how you keep the outdoors can impact your house significantly during the rains.

So, check your garden, if you have one, and see for spots where the water is always accumulating. It may be a sign of poor grading, which could potentially harm your property’s foundation.

Moreover, if you have plants or trees surrounding your house, see if they have overgrown or have loose branches. If that is the case, they may pose serious risks. Trimming them can prevent damage to your property.

Conclusion

Although maintaining your property may seem time-consuming and grueling, its payoff in the long run is worth your time, energy, and money. It’s even more vital when the rainy season is about to come.

Regardless of how strong your home’s foundation and structure are, sometimes rains come with surprises. Taking preventive measures, like inspecting roofs, caulking the doors and windows, cleaning gutters, trimming trees, etc., will prepare your house and can considerably lessen the extent of damage.

This way, your mind will be at peace, and you can enjoy the rain without getting anxious.