Prepare Your Home for Rainy Season

The rain can be a damper not only on your mood but also when it comes to your home. To avoid wet messes that you don’t want to deal with, prepare your home well for this time of year.

Clean Your Gutters

Gutters are an integral part of aiding your home in dealing with the rain. These are responsible for catching rainwater and directing it away from your home. Not only does this keep parts of your home and yard from becoming flooded, but it also works against rotting and mold.

Unfortunately, it’s easy for gutters to become clogged, and, in turn, ineffective in doing their job. Debris such as leaves and pine needles frequently takes up residence in gutters, causing a clog and in some cases, a dam that pushes water back up under your roof or down the side of your home.

Rinse your gutters with your garden hose to flush them free of any debris before the rainy season comes so that they’re in great working condition. During the rainy season, clean your gutters on a weekly basis to get rid of debris that could clog them.

Seal Windows and Doors

Your windows and doors present another potential entry point for water during a rainstorm. All windows and doors should be resealed prior to this season, which will not only help keep water out but will also help increase the energy efficiency of your home. Use weatherstripping, foam tape, and caulking to reseal these openings and to keep your home dry and well-cooled or well-warmed throughout all the seasons.

Prepare for Potential Flooding

Even if you take every precaution, there’s always the chance of flooding during the rainy season. It’s better to be prepared for this occurrence than taken off-guard. In your basement, keep electronics high off the ground and away from windows. Move any boxes with important documents or sentimental items to a high shelf in case of flooding to reduce the chance of water damage. Keep mops and water cleanup items within reach and even invest in a water vacuum if your basement is prone to flooding to make clean up a breeze and damage minimal.

Trim Trees

The trees surrounding your home certainly increase your curb appeal, but what you may not realize is that they present the risk of property damage, especially during the rainy season. In fact, fallen trees and limbs are the top cause of preventable property damage in the country.

During the rainy season, the weight of water combined with accompanying wind often brings fallen branches and even entire trees. For this reason, you should trim branches on trees as well as foliage on hedges and bushes. This minimizes the fallen debris during the storm, which protects your home and also makes cleanup easier.

Check for Leaks

One of the most important ways to prepare for rainy season is to check your home for signs of leakages and fix those areas accordingly. Failure to do so could result in flooding, mold, mildew, and other unpleasant issues. Inspect your ceiling for water marks and look for peeling paint, which are both signs of leaks.

On the outside of your home, look for cracks in the ridges as well as loose, curled, or missing shingles. All of these are signs of leaks that should be addressed before the rain arrives.

Stockpile Sand Bags

Especially if your home is prone to flooding, stockpile sand bags leading up to rainy season. These will help divert and absorb water, debris, and mud. These bags are a simple measure that you can set up ahead of a storm to keep your home and yard dry.

Survey the Yard

Take a close look at your yard before the rain begins and look for areas where the ground meets your house. If it's a spot that water can easily collect, dig a trench that will effectively redirect water.

Prepare an Emergency Kit

In case of flooding or storm emergency during this season, have an emergency kit at the ready for the use of you and your family. Include medication, medical records, food, water, and flashlights. Leave it somewhere easily accessible in case it’s needed.

It’s not pleasant to prepare for the worst when it comes to the rainy season, but your house and yard are certainly better safe than sorry before the drops begin to fall.