We’ve had an impressive year when it comes to rainfall and we’re not even half way through February. While the rain is much needed, especially after being in a drought for the past few years, it can cause problems if your home isn’t prepared.

If your house is anything like ours, this list (and quite a few sandbags), may be just what you need. Here are some tips and tricks to help your home manage the weather through the rest of the season.

Roof

The roof is by far the most important defense against inclement weather. How old is your roof? Have you had it looked at it recently and checked to see if it’s vulnerable to leaking? If the answer is no, you may want to have it inspected. Periodic roof maintenance will help you detect potential issues early before they arise. The last thing you need is water coming through your ceiling into your home.

Gutters

If you have trees near your home, you should probably be cleaning your gutters at least twice a year. When gutters become clogged it can be difficult to remove the debris. When they start overflowing it puts a lot strain on them and they could break, fall off, to start to leak at the joints. Also, if they do overflow, the water runoff may end up hitting your foundation and going under your house.

Gutter Extensions

If your gutters don’t feed into a underground drainage system, having gutter extensions is a must. Depending on where you live and if your lot is fairly level, you may need longer or shorter extensions. The idea is that you divert the runoff away from your foundation to other parts of your yard.

Crawlspace

I don’t think I’ve seen a house that doesn’t have at least some moisture in the crawl space. Having water in the crawlspace can lead to soil instability, foundation/structural problems, mold, and other issues. The key to keeping water/moisture out, is having a solid drainage system, like a french drain. If you don’t have good drainage in place, you may want to make it a priority to have a system installed.

Sump Pump

Depending on where you live and your drainage system (if any), you may need a sump pump. A sump pump can be installed under your house and will pump water that enters your crawl space out. 

Siding, Windows & Doors

Like your roof, you want to make sure that your siding, windows, and doors are all leak free. You can add weather stripping to help stop leaks and/or install flash guards above windows if your roof line doesn’t offer enough protection.

Exterior Paint

If the exterior of your house hasn’t been painted in 5-10 years, you might want to consider having that done as well, which can prolong the life of you house and help keep it leak free. Make sure your painter does a good job prepping before painting and they use good paint/primer. 9 tenths of a new paint job is prepping (caulking, sealing, replacing damaged materials).