12 Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Storms
As severe weather continues to dominate the news, it pays to take observe and prepare for the worst, even if your house isn't in the direct path of present storms. If you live in or near areas where storms and heavy rains are predicted, here are 12 ways to get your house in order.
A home that isn't prepared for rain can end up being a winter season nightmare as water leaks through the roofing and ceilings, floods the ground floor or basement, and compromises the house's structure. Here are 12 things you can do now to get all set:
Tidy your downspouts and gutters. When downspouts and gutters clog with leaves and particles, water overflows and spills down where it can harm walls and footings. If your home is beneath numerous trees, it's smart to clear the gutters at the start of the season, then tidy them once again after the first rain to eliminate leaves and particles that wash down from the roof.
Examine your roofing, skylights, and flashing. The roofing system is the most apparent point of entry for rain.
Repair gutters and downspouts. Fix loose, drooping, or dripping gutters and ensure downspouts bring drainage well away from the house.
Inspect the house siding. Look for damage, cracks, and holes. Seal up leaks with paintable or clear caulk. Make sure the paint remains in good condition. If it isn't really, consider getting the house painted prior to winter really embeds in.
Have trees trimmed, specifically if they've become weakened by dry spell. When packed with rainwater, weak trees can snap or end up being easily uprooted.
Be ready for the worst. Put together a disaster supply kit, and have it easily accessible. Scan and store essential files on thumb drives or hard disk drives located away from your home.
Exactly what occurs when you don't clean your gutters?
Clean out your gutters! Here are some possible mishaps when you do not keep your gutters throughout the year.
Dripping gutters
Perhaps the most common ailment to both cleaned and uncleaned gutters is a leakage. Easily discovered and repaired during routine examination of the gutter, a leak that goes unfixed can trigger major damage to the exterior of your home as well as the gutter itself. A leakage can trigger mold and decaying, causing the gutter distributing and falling from your roofing.
Leaking roofings
A dripping roofing occurs when your gutter can not maintain the water drain from your roof. Throughout cold weather condition, gutters may fill with ice, causing snow accumulation on the roofing.
Leaking basements
Many gutters drain pipes toward the bottom outside of the home. If they are not working effectively or aren't cleaned up, the excess water will collect around your basement and eventually leakage in. A leaking basement is one of the most dangerous possibilities, because it can lead to a gas leak, electrical shock and contaminants in your house.
Decayed wood
Some homes have foundations made from wood. Without a gutter for the water to drain pipes correctly into, the water will fill and collect into your house. Over time the wood will rot, causing possible foundation damage and concerns with your home's structure.
Structure cracks
Like decaying wood, structure cracks occur when water is soaked up into the home. Most likely to take place during colder months due to freezing temperatures and possible "frost heave," water buildup will trigger wall cracks and cracks in the foundation itself. Not as simple to see, this damage occurs in between walls and can ultimately result in mold in your house.
Insect invasion
Where there is moisture, bugs will go. Without a properly maintained gutter, bugs will grow to enjoy your wet and moisture-filled gutters. Nasty critters like carpenter ants, roaches, earwigs, mosquitoes as well as termites are most likely to trigger an infestation in a non-maintained gutter.
Sidewalk/driveway damage
Not just can water cause your pathways and driveway to become slippery from excess water and ice, however it can likewise cause damage. The extra water can trigger a sagging and cracked foundation. To prevent this, direct your drain spout in another direction.
Drowning landscape
When a gutter is damaged or unable to maintain water, the water then leakages out to the landscape, including your outside plants. Overwatered plants can turn dull and pass away, triggering an awful and drowning landscape.
Gutter maintenance is incredibly important to the outside of your house. Assurance house safety by cleaning out your gutters at least 3 times a year. We suggest doing so at the end of each season to prevent any seasonal weather damage.
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