Especially if you live in an area that’s prone to heavy rain, it’s important that you keep your eyes open for it and your home ready for it. There are many things that can cause serious problems with heavy rain, and some of them you may have never thought about. Especially if you live near an area that tends to have issues with heavy rain, make sure you do these things to avoid costly damage from heavy rain.
Plant Trees a Fair Amount Away From the Home
One of the biggest reasons for home damage during a storm is moving tree branches. If you can, plant trees relatively far away from the home; if you already have trees that are pretty close to your home, at least trim the branches that hang over the home. This will help you avoid a lot of damage in the case of strong winds.
Caulk Around All Entryways
Avoiding water entry into the home is one of the most important things you can do during heavy rain. That’s one of the reasons you might want to pay attention to all entryways in your home. Caulk around entryways including windows, doors, and even your HVAC system to avoid water coming inside your home.
Fix All Damages, Even Small Ones, in the Roof and Foundation
Small damages are just the beginning of a serious problem. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you can ignore problems just because they’re small. As a matter of fact, if you refuse to tackle small problems, you have a much bigger risk of ending up with large problems. Fix even the smallest damages you see in the roof and foundation early on.
Seal Your Basement Entirely
Sealing a basement against water entry can be difficult because the water is below ground, leading to massive amounts of hydrostatic pressure. However, it’s possible to caulk a basement door and invest in concrete waterproofing to make sure that there’s nowhere for water to enter your basement. This sealing process is crucial if you want to make sure your basement avoids water damage.
Install a Sump Pump in the Basement or Crawl Space
If water does manage to get into your basement or crawl space in one way or another, you need a way to get it out, ideally as the water is coming into the basement or crawl space. That’s where a sump pump comes into play. A sump pump will pump out water as it collects in the basement or crawl space, potentially saving you from a lot of concern.
Store Your Valuables Aboveground
It’s not a great idea to store particularly valuable items in your basement or crawl space. The possibility for problems is higher in the basement or crawl space than it is in areas above ground. Store these items somewhere in your home instead, ideally in a fireproof safe, to make sure they don’t succumb to any basement or crawl space issues.
Don’t Store Items in the Basement on the Floor
When you do store items in the basement, construct shelves instead of allowing things to sit on the floor. Even a shelf that keeps things up a few inches will be enough for a sump pump to kick in before water reaches them. If you have things resting directly on the floor, they’ll end up with water damage the moment the water enters the basement.
Keep Your Insurance Up to Date
Whether you have homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance, it’s crucial that you keep your insurance up to date at all times. This is true whether you live in an area with serious problems or an area that doesn’t typically have a lot of concerns. Either way, you really need to make sure that your insurance is always ready to catch you if something bad does happen to your home.
Maintain an Inventory of Valuable Items
Knowing where all your valuable items are and what types of valuable items you have can be extremely beneficial if something does happen. Maintain an inventory of what valuable items you have, how much certain items are worth, and where they are in your home. That way, if your home does end up at the epicenter of a serious weather problem, you have a starting point for insurance.
Get a Yearly Inspection of the Home
One of the best ways you can avoid issues with water damage in your home is by maintaining a yearly inspection of the home. Every year, it’s a good idea to request an inspection in your home. An expert can come by and take a look at your home, top to bottom, and give you an expert assessment. That way, you can catch severe problems before they spiral into something really serious.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, it’s crucial that you implement as many of these as possible if you want to avoid serious problems with your home in case of heavy rain. However, even just a few of them can significantly increase your ability to handle the fallout if there are serious problems with heavy rain in the area around your home. It’s a good idea to talk to a home repair expert to set things up and maintain your home’s health both now and in the long run.