As you know, after a blazing summer with high humidity which left you all sweaty, comes thunder, lightning, and torrential rains. Monsoons are here to stay in Arizona for a couple of months (at least), you need to be sure if your home is ready for that! Homes become more vulnerable during monsoon season and it is highly crucial for you to protect your home from the rains. So, we are here to help you and give you some ideas to protect your home.
Clean your gutters
If your gutters overflow, excess rainwater can flood your gardens and saturate your home’s foundation, which, can make your home more unstable and may ultimately cause your foundation to shift or even collapse.
To avoid these issues, please be sure to clean your gutters at least once a year (yes! that’s enough!). You can do this yourself with a few simple tools or you can hire someone to come clean your gutters for you. For extra protection, you can install gutter covers to prevent debris from getting stuck. (We can do that for you! Thanks in advance for contacting us!)
Be aware of downspouts
If your gutters are working correctly, they will effectively push water down to the ground through downspouts. Ensure that your downspouts are placed so that they do not release water right next to your home, which causes water to seep directly into your home’s foundation.
If your downspouts are not in the right spot, you can try extending them so they release water in a different location, like a side yard, instead of close to your home.
An extended downspout is essentially a series of small, underground drainpipes that move water to a location where it is safe for water to seep into the soil. This project does require some digging to place the pipes underground, but it creates a great drainage system that does not interfere with the beauty of your landscaping.
Wall Cracks
Ok, This is important too!
Another important check to be made is the walls of your home. When the rains affect the exterior of the walls, it damages the walls thus paving the rain water to seep in and cause cracks. It could even result in the fungal growth, thus putting your family’s health on stake. This can be prevented by painting the walls with water proof paints and continuous monitoring of the walls twice a year.
Check for the imperfections in doors, windows & air conditioner ducts
You have to make sure that both doors and windows close and seal properly. Do not take it lightly as it can cause the leakage of rainwater inside your home and cause your discomfort. Air conditioner ducts can leave the trail of rainwater streaming across the surface of exterior walls. Plan and fix the problem while you are preparing your home for this rainy season.
Waterproof entryways
Make sure that your doors, windows and entryway flooring are adequately waterproofed and can withstand a good amount of moisture. However, waterproofing these areas once will not get the job done for future monsoon seasons.
Weather strips on doors and windows should be replaced regularly, as they can tear and bend over time, which lets our precious air-conditioned air out and rain water in. Good waterproofing on the outside of your home will keep the inside of your home safe and dry.
If you are looking for ways to protect your indoor flooring from water, try sealing your floors. Many sealers will help make your flooring water-resistant. While this is not the same as waterproofing, sealers provide one extra layer of protection from the rainwater, dirt and other debris that might make its way into your home.
Be mindful of yard grading
Water will run down your yard and build up quickly if your yard is angled even slightly toward your home. You need to beware, because can seep into the ground after the storm, potentially ruining landscaping and saturating your home’s foundation.
Try installing a retaining wall close to your home. Retaining walls can be a great spot for a small garden, an outdoor fireplace, or bench seating, and can be made of beautiful stone. Installing a drain pipe, sort of like the extended downspout mentioned above, in front of or behind the retaining wall can also help divert water away from your home. These walls can be practical and luxurious.
Rains can bring you happiness and make your mind soothing and relaxed. Do not let monsoon season sneak up on you this year! They may be harmful to your home in certain ways but with the above tips taken seriously and acting wisely by taking necessary precautionary steps, you don’t have to worry about the devastation caused by monsoon rains. Make sure to look out for flood advisories (we can help you with this) and monsoon warnings and stay safe during the storms.
If you need to do any of the corrections advise above, contact us, we can take care of it. Sit back, relax and relish the rainy moments knowing that your house is guarded totally safe. For more information, click http://wp.talaveracustom.com
