Prepping Your Home for Monsoon Season

Holy haboobs! Bring on the dust, wind, rain, and even occasional hail storm. This reoccurring weather phenomenon is most definitely something to prepare for, regardless of how old your home is. The Arizona monsoon season is quickly approaching, officially beginning June 15 and running through the end of September.

While the rain may provide little relief from the sweltering summer heat, these storms are know to wreak havoc for homeowners. If you live in the greater Phoenix/Scottsdale areas, time is of the essence to prep and handle the potential problematic areas of your home, in order to circumvent costly and damaging repairs down the line.

Follow these tips from Shea Homes to get your home monsoon season ready!

1. Check your Roof

There’s nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night to the “drip… drip… drip…” of a leaky roof. Before the monsoon rains come rolling in, inspect your roof or have a professional do it for you. Patch up any cracks or holes, and get recommendations on good roofers, just in case you need to call in the professionals.

2. Evaluate your Home’s Drainage

If you’ve noticed drainage issues in your yard that cause pooling of water during a rain storm, make sure you have it taken care of before the monsoons hit. You may need to hire a landscaping company to provide a drainage solution that will keep your yard and home protected from possible flooding.

3. Seal up Any Openings

If you do have drainage issues, not only can this impact the outside of your home, but it also effect the inside. Make sure to seal up any openings and cracks around the base of your home, as water can easily pool up and find its way into your home during a monsoon. Caulk any cracks and use proper weather stripping for your windows and doors, as heavy winds can also push water in. You should even consider gap filler near your home’s foundation to prevent issues with mold and mildew.  

4. Ensure Rain Gutters and Downspouts are Installed and Free of Debris

Rain gutters and downspouts are the best way to direct the rain that comes from monsoon microbursts or macrobursts away from your home. Don’t wait until it’s too late to make sure yours are ready to do their job and divert the rain away from your home’s foundation.

5. Prep Plants and Trees

Protect your plants (and your home!) by preparing in advance. Trim any big tree branches that could snap off and damage your roof. Stake down young trees that might not make it through an intense storm. And remember, the heavy monsoon rains that often come before the strong winds can loosen the soil and make trees more prone to becoming uprooted.

6. Be Familiar with Your Home’s Electrical Panel

The last thing you want during a power outage is to be stumbling around in the dark because you do not know where your breaker panel is. It is important to not only know where it is, but it be familiar with your home’s electrical panel. Make sure to take the time to familiarize yourself with your electrical panel and to have all your circuit breaker switches clearly marked.

7. Make Room for Your Car(s) in the Garage

Now is the perfect time to put the family to work and clean out that over-stuffed garage. Parking your car on the street or in the driveway could put it at risk during the monsoon storms since flying branches and falling trees are common occurrences when the wild weather comes to town. Make room in the garage for your car and keep it safe from flying objects, as well as hail, rain and wind.

For more information on monsoon season in Arizona, visit http://www.monsoonsafety.org/.