During heavy rainfall, you may worry about water making its way into your home. If you don’t prepare, you may even find yourself dealing with water damage from rain storms. But, there are several actions you can take to prevent this water damage before the rain falls.
At Liberty Restoration, we want homeowners to be prepared to prevent water damage from rain storms. There are many things you can do to protect your home before storms roll in, and it is important that you know each of them to stay safe.
1. Clear Your Gutters
Dirty gutters on your home are often very unforgiving and can quickly lead to water damage from rain storms. They can very easily go from flowing properly to backing up and pouring water straight onto your house. If left unchecked, this water flow can cause substantial damage to your home.
Often, homeowners who experience clogged gutters and subsequent flooding deal with wood rot, as well as wall and ceiling damage, as it seeps inside. Over time, this seepage can also create a perfect living situation for mold, which is a much more costly problem.
To protect your home from this water damage, you’ll want to ensure you’re cleaning your gutters twice a year. This will guarantee that, when rain storms roll through, there are no blockages stopping water from flowing out and away from your home. Without proper cleaning, you’re almost certainly going to deal with unsightly and irritating water damage from rain storms.
2. Check The Seals On Your Doors And Windows
There is a chance that you’ll notice problems with the seals on your doors and windows long before a rain storm rolls in and allows water to flow into your home. But whether you notice it due to flooding or a cold draft in the winter months, checking the seals on your doors and windows is essential to preventing water damage from rain storms.
If the seals on your doors and windows are in need of replacing, you may notice condensation forming in the window or your energy bill going up. These signs, in conjunction with any drafts or leaks you may notice, are a good sign it is time to replace your door or window’s seals. When left unattended, these broken seals will allow water to flow into your home.
During a less aggressive rainstorm, this may not be such a problem. But as heavy rain storms roll in, you may notice significant flooding in your home. This water can cause damage to any surface it touches, including your walls and floors. If you are trying to prevent water damage from rain storms, it is best that you replace these seals as soon as possible.
3. Maintain Your Roof
Your roof acts as protection over your entire home, but if there are problems with it, you may end up dealing with some significant, unforeseen problems. During storms, your roof can sustain some pretty frustrating problems, including broken or missing shingles and holes. This can lead to serious water damage from rain storms.
Before any storms roll in, it is important to take a quick look at your roof. You’ll want to ensure there is no debris sitting on the roof and that there are no missing shingles or holes. Holes in your roof will allow water to come right in, causing water damage to insulation and structural supports, as well as your walls and ceilings.
By properly maintaining your roof before and after storms, you ensure no water can get inside your home, protecting you from water damage that may stay out of sight until the problem is larger. This maintenance guarantees you won’t have to deal with water damage in your home and that your family can stay warm and dry away from the storm.
4. Make Sure Water Drains Away From Your House
The last thing you want to find out during a heavy rainstorm is that your yard is pitched toward your house and water is pooling or flooding into the lowest parts of the house it can reach. Often your yard is pitched in order for water to flow away from it and toward the closest drainage system, preventing water damage from rain storms. If you’ve recently done yard work and have moved soil around your yard, you may notice that the pitch has changed just a bit.
When completing landscaping jobs, you’ll want to ensure that the pitch of your yard is still angled away from your home. If it is off, you may want to consider hiring a professional to come in and regrade the ground. This will ensure water isn’t pooling against the sides of your home or leaking into your basement.
If water sits against the foundation of your home for too long, it can lead to incredibly costly damage. Unchecked water damage can cause cracks in the foundation, which impacts its structural integrity. If you want to prevent water damage from rain storms, especially if you live somewhere that receives heavy rainfall, it is crucial that your yard angles away from your home.
5. Ensure Your Sump Pump Is Working
You might not even learn about the sump pump in your home until it’s too late, and we don’t want that for you or your home. Your sump pump is located in the lowest portion of your home, and it acts as a preventative measure to ensure heavy rainwater doesn’t seep into the floors of your home. But, if your sump pump is broken, you may find yourself with a flooded basement.
To prevent water damage from rainstorms, you should ensure your sump pump is working. Ideally, you should check your sump pump every three to four months to ensure it is working well. This maintenance includes emptying any debris and checking to see if it is still free floating. If it is not, there may be a problem with your sump pump.
Finally, you’ll want to fill the pit your sump pump sits in with enough water to trigger its switch. When the switch is activated, it should pump water outside. This is also a good time to check the discharge pump for any blockages. If your sump pump is in good condition, you should be safe from flooding or any other substantial water damage from rain storms.
6. Patch Holes In Broken Siding
Broken siding on your home is often unsightly, but the visual appearance of it might be the least of your concerns following heavy rain. If you notice that you have broken siding on your home, it is essential that you patch these holes to prevent water damage from rain storms before they lead to even more significant problems.
When holes in your siding appear, they allow in a multitude of problems, including insects and rodents or water damage. During heavy rain, water may begin to seep between the siding and your interior walls. Over time, the presence of water may lead to staining on your interior walls or mold and mildew growth.
If you notice holes in your siding, it is important to replace the damaged panel before it causes more significant damage. You’ll be grateful that you replaced it when the next significant rainstorm rolls in and your home is battered by rainfall. It will prevent water damage and keep your home safe.
Repairing Water Damage From Rain Storms
If you are dealing with water damage from a rain storm, you should work with a team who can help mitigate the damage as soon as possible. At Liberty Restoration, our team is skilled and ready to help return your home to its original condition as quickly as possible. If you are dealing with water damage from rain storms or would like to speak to a member of our team, contact us today.