Are you ready for the incoming rainy season? July is the month when our climate and weather changes from dry, sweltering heat to constant tropical storms and typhoons. On one hand, it’s a welcome change from the hot summer season. On the other, constant rain and wind can cause damage to your home. It’s best to prepare your home for the rain to keep yourself safe and save yourself from repair costs. Here’s how to prepare your home for the incoming rainy season.
Preparing your House for the Rainy Season
Check your roof.
The roof is your home’s first line of defense against storms and typhoons, so you have to be sure that it’s ready for them. You can hire a roofing contractor to inspect your roof for any issues and do the proper repairs. If your roof has sustained too much damage, it’s more practical to replace it entirely instead of repairing it. Make sure to communicate with your roofing contractor to properly consider your options.
Clean out your gutters.
Gutters catch and redirect rainwater from your home to protect the outside walls and foundation from water damage. Lots of debris might have accumulated in your gutters during the dry season, especially if your house is surrounded by trees and other plants. Clogged gutters can cause a domino effect of causing leakages into your walls, which can then cause structural issues in your house’s foundation. Plus, water damage invites mold growth into your home, which can be bad for your health.
To make sure your gutters are always clear and functioning, it’s a good idea to clean them once every few months. If you have any trees around your house, you can also trim any spare branches that can put debris in your gutters.
Clear out your house’s surroundings.
Speaking of your house’s surroundings, cleaning up the space around your home can save yourself a lot of hassle down the line. Trash, leaves, or branches can cause worse floods at best and property damage at worst. Keeping your house’s surroundings clean throughout the rainy season and doing a more intense clean before typhoons can minimize damage and help you get through the season easier.
Also, if you have outdoor furniture out, consider keeping them inside for the rest of the season. After all, it’s likely that you won’t be doing any outdoor activities at all because of the constant downpour. Moving your furniture inside, or in a garage or shed if you have one, protects them from the rain and helps them last longer.
Preparing your Condo Unit for the Rainy Season
Urban living has become much more accessible thanks to the rise in condo buildings. But since a condo building is structured very differently from a house, you’ll have to take different steps when it comes to preparing your home for the rainy season. Here are a few tips to get started!
Prepare your balcony.
As your home’s “outdoor area,” your balcony will be the most prone to rain and typhoon damage. There’s a lot you’ll have to check to make sure it’s ready for the season change.
Firstly, make sure that your drain is clean and unclogged. This makes it easier for the drain to clear out rain water and prevent flooding. Clear out your balcony of any debris too so that the rain doesn’t sweep it into the drain later.
Bring any outdoor plants you may have inside, especially if a typhoon is approaching. Strong rain and winds can uproot your plants, tear off the leaves, or drown the roots with too much water.
Seal your windows and doors.
Winds are stronger higher up, which can pelt rain onto the windows of your condo unit pretty hard. If your windows and doors aren’t sealed properly, rainwater can start seeping into your home fast. Even worse, that rainwater can then leak into the unit below you, which could cause issues and arguments with your neighbor.
Thankfully, it’s easy to seal your doors and windows to make sure nothing gets in. First, make sure to properly align your windows. This ensures that they close properly, without leaving any huge gaps. From there, look into the best way to seal your windows and doors. You can apply sealant, use weather stripping, or get your windows and doors caulked, depending on your home’s structure.
Keep an eye out for leaks.
It’s possible for your condo unit to still get leaks, even if it doesn’t have a traditional roof. Units that are in the middle floors might not experience ceiling leaks, but water can still end up in the inside of the unit’s walls and flooring. Water damage isn’t just a bad look on your unit’s quality and visuals, it can also lead to dangerous mold growth. Keep a good eye on your walls and ceilings throughout the rainy season so that you can have any water damage repaired as soon as possible, without letting it get any worse.