Getting Your Home Ready for Storm Season

4/25/2022 (Permalink)

In theory, we still have a few months before monsoon season is here, but now is the time to prepare your home. Upcoming monsoon storms will leave behind plenty of local storm damages so preparing your home beforehand makes sense. We’ve listed a few activities you can do to protect your property from the monsoon damages.

Prepare Trees for Storm Season

One of the most common hazards that occurs during a monsoon storm is the uprooting of trees. Not only that, but heavy branches being also ripped off tossed about can cause some damage too. The microbursts tend to uproot trees of any size and carry outside furniture and play equipment down the street or a neighbor’s backyard if you end up finding it at all! Not only can this cause damages to your property, but it can also cause some danger if nearby power lines are affected. Be sure that all your smaller or newly planted trees are double staked; if you’re not sure how to do that, ask a landscaper to assist you in securing those trees. You want them loose enough to give enough room for the tree to bend with the gusty winds, but secure enough to prevent them from being ripped out of the ground or broken off by powerful winds. You should also trim the more mature trees to eliminate the branches that are thinner so that the limbs will have less weight. A professional tree trimming company will know how to do that safely without damaging the tree.

Check Windows and Doors for Sealing

Now is the time to go through your home and inspect all the windows and doors for any spaces or gaps where water and dirt can seep through. If you see any space within the frames where the seal is, it’s time to replace that weather stripping, or get a professional to come in and do it for you. While a tiny gap might be tempting to ignore, even the smallest amount of water will come in through that opening and cause mold which can spread around and will require professional mold remediation and removal. Replacing the weatherstripping will also prevent the dust from getting inside and settling on all the furniture, floors, and carpet after a heavy windstorm.

Check Out Your Roof

Get up on your roof (or have a professional do it for you) and look for any loose shingles or tiles before the storm season begins. This should be done regularly throughout the monsoon season. Strong storm winds often displace shingles and tiles which leave the property vulnerable to the storm elements that could cause even more damages. Missing tiles are more than a cosmetic issue; they protect your roof so be sure to be diligent here.

Check Drainage Around Your Home

In the past, have you ever noticed any issues with the drainage patterns which cause all the water to collect into pools? If you have, get that professionally addressed before the storms come. Protecting your investment from any potential water damages is obviously in your best interest. It’s important that water drains away from your home, not puddle up against it.

Make Room in the Garage Before the Monsoon

Unsecured items outside of your property leave everyone at risk. The monsoon winds can be extremely powerful, capable of picking up objects from the ground, and carrying them somewhere else. Just make sure to clear away enough space in your garage to put bicycles and whatever else you may have unsecured on your property, like patio furniture or pool toys. If microbursts can uproot large trees, knock down brick walls, and carry trampolines down the street then they can easily swipe your furniture and other items, potentially causing even more local storm damage.

We're here to help with storm damage

Regardless of how careful you are, life still happens, and there will still be some flooding and storm damages each year. That is why SERVPRO of Central Phoenix is here if it happens to your home. Available 24/7/365 for any emergency disaster! Contact us at 602-386-4268. Our technicians are highly skilled, and well-trained and are here to help if you experience any local storm damages during this upcoming monsoon season.