Preparing for heavy rain is something that you definitely need to do if you live in an area where this is a common concern. Heavy rain can cause all sorts of problems in and around your home, and it’s crucial that you know about it so you can plan for it. The good news is that if you’re able to step up to the plate and weatherproof your home, you’re unlikely to end up with serious problems. The bad news is that many people neglect this aspect of homeownership. Here’s the information you need about why you need to get ready for heavy rain.
Water Damage Is Common
As much as you might not think that you’re going to end up with water damage, chances are that you definitely will. It’s very common to experience water damage after a storm, especially in your home’s basement or crawl space. When you prepare for heavy rain early on, it makes it much less likely that you’re going to end up with that water damage. “Common” doesn’t mean “inevitable,” so if you take some safety precautions, you may be able to avoid water damage for the most part.
You Don’t Need a Lot of Water to Get Water Damage
Water damage can come from a variety of places, and that includes the humidity that arises when you have even a small leak in and around your home. Even if the concrete walls of your basement crack very slightly, that can be enough to let in a decent amount of water, causing high levels of basement humidity that turn into condensation and end up causing water damage. Even a small amount of water is something you need to tackle as soon as possible.
Water Damage Can Come From All Areas
Avoiding issues with water damage from heavy rain isn’t just about making sure that rain doesn’t come in through the door. Water damage can come from the walls as hydrostatic pressure mounts around the basement, from the floors as water collects underneath the crawl space, and even from the area around the home if there’s flooding. To avoid water damage, you need to make sure you’re keeping an eye on everything.
It’s Costly to Fix Water Damage
Water damage is some of the costliest damage to fix. If you have water damage in your crawl space or basement, you’re going to end up with a variety of serious problems. Plus, if you didn’t prepare for this possibility, it may end up destroying more than just pieces of your basement walls. You might end up with waterlogged, moldy boxes of stored items that you now have to fix. Instead, if you think about this and plan for it early on, you can avoid much of the cost.
Heavy Rain Causes More Than Just Water Damage
Sure, water damage is probably the first thing you think about when you think of heavy rain problems, but it’s not the only thing heavy rain can do to your home. Heavy rains typically go along with fast winds and sometimes issues like lightning. That means heavy rain could end up causing other problems like foundation damage due to wind pressure. If you’re dealing with heavy rain, it’s important to look at your home holistically rather than just assuming water damage is the main culprit.
How to Reduce Heavy Rain Concerns
With all this information, chances are you’re looking for ways to avoid the issues that often come along with heavy rain. There is good news: you can avoid a lot of the issues that homeowners typically have with heavy rain as long as you’re willing to put in a little bit of work. Here are 10 ways that homeowners can thwart heavy rain around their home.
- Plant Trees Away From the Home and Trim Branches Nearby
- Add Caulking and Weather Stripping to Entryways
- Fix All Damages to the Roof and Foundation, Including Small Ones
- Seal the Basement, Including Waterproofing Cement Floors
- Install a Sump Pump in the Basement or Crawl Space
- Keep Items in the Basement or Crawl Space Off Shelves
- Store Valuable Items Aboveground
- Keep an Inventory of All Your Valuable Items
- Make Sure Your Insurance Is Up to Date
- Get a Home Inspection Annually
Of course, these are all extremely important steps to take, and it’s important for you to take as many of them as you possibly can. However, there are also some steps that can be even more important than other steps. For example, although keeping an inventory is crucially important in the event of a serious weather event, it’s not the first thing you should prioritize. Preparation steps like maintaining a yearly inspection are even more important, and you should contact a home repair expert if you need one.
Conclusion
Especially if you live in an area that tends to be prone to issues with heavy rain, it’s a good idea to take preventative steps to avoid that heavy rain seriously damaging your home. You can take as many of these steps as possible to avoid issues with heavy rain, and you definitely should. Whether you’re implementing all 10 of the recommended steps or you just need to top up one or two, you can talk to a home repair expert to see what your home might benefit from the most.
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