Kathleen Finnegan

tips to prepare your home for a wet winter

It’s a tough thing to imagine when the  sun is shining and you’re making plans for the pool, but Californians should be planning for an onslaught of water that’s predicted to hit their homes this winter.

 I know—it’s still October, and California is in a drought. But meteorologists say a massive El Niño is forming—one that might be even stronger than the 1997 storm pattern that caused epic flooding and landslides. The time to prepare is now.

Since it’s hard to pinpoint when the bad weather will start, it’s a good idea to get ahead of the event and begin waterproofing your home.

Check the roof

You don’t have to risk life and limb, just take a look from the ground. You’re looking for misalignment in the roof—shingles that look bent or deteriorated, or are missing altogether. Keep an eye out for wave-shaped patterns in tile, which can be a sign of warping.

Cover your turbine vent

Specific covers for these rooftop vents can be bought for cheap at hardware stores, but you can also use a trash bag and duct tape to prevent excess rainwater from pushing through.

Inspect the gutters

Clogged gutters are the No. 1 issue when it comes to water intrusion. Grab a ladder or call a handyman and make sure they are clean of debris. Do the same for any drain grates and drainage systems.

Check your home’s drainage system

After it rains, take a walk around the outside and check the ground where the soil meets your house. You’re looking for spots that look soggy—an indication of pooling water. Use your finger to check for waterlogged areas.

If you do find waterlogging, you can dig a trench and lay a pipe, directing the water to a safe area. Or you can monitor the area when it rains heavily. If the water is pouring down from a particular spot, use a large basin or garbage can to catch the water, and keep an eye on it. It’s not a permanent solution, but it can do in a pinch.

Reinforce single-pane windows

Single-pane windows can only handle a certain amount of water around the edges before they leak, so use painters tape or duct tape to seal the sides.

Check your decks

Decks can be expensive to repair, so look for hairline cracks, bubbles, exposed metal, and exposed nail holes, most waterproofing companies will perform an inspection for free. While you’re at it, check electrical outlets for cracks and exposure to the elements.

Check your basement for mold spots

Mold can only thrive where it’s moist, so patches of mold may be indicative of a leak.

Stock up on sandbags

If you’ve experienced flooding or you know you’re in a flood-prone area, be safe and buy some sandbags for leak-prone areas like doorways. To keep water out, stack the sandbags 1 foot to 1-1/2 feet high. Use two or three, minimum.

Have an exit strategy

Sometimes, no matter how much you prepare, you may need seek shelter elsewhere. Plan ahead so you know which items you will want to take with you and which items you can leave.

Thanks for reading!

This entry was posted on Monday, October 26th, 2015 at 3:25 pm and is filed under Community Events, Item of Value. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.