Storm Season Preparation
If you live in San Antonio, TX, or many other parts of the country, you’ve likely started to notice some pretty severe weather in the region. This can range from severe thunderstorms, to seemingly non-stop flash flood warnings, to full blown hurricanes. In this week’s blog we’ll outline some steps to take to start your storm season preparation.
Prepare your roof. There are not many things that can make the stormy season as much of a hassle as roof problems, particularly because that’s when bad problems can escalate to become much, much worse. Especially if your roof is reaching past ten years old, inspect it for cracks, both along the roof’s ridge, and it’s valleys. There is also a part of your roof called the sheet metal flashing. You can find it along the sides of your roof, and likely around the chimney area if your house has one. Be sure to inspect it for rust and holes to keep any water from leaking into your home.
Check your gutters. You’ll want to take a quick look at your gutters to make sure that they drain well. Water back up can be a huge problem during the storm season and can even damage your gutters on its own. Also be sure to check your gutters for granules, which would be a sign that your roof’s coating needs to be resealed
Check inside your home for cracks and leaks. Same as outside, make sure you have no signs of leaks or water damage indoors. It takes two to tango, so even if you happen to miss the roof leak, there’s a chance that sealing the indoor crack could keep your floor dry during the rainy months. Though you may be creating a chance for mold buildup, so it’s best to perform indoor AND outdoor inspections.
Check doors and windows. These can leak water just like anywhere else if the seal, or weather-stripping fails. Be sure to keep this in mind as you prepare your home for the season.
Clear dead branches and overgrowth from trees around your house. Prevent the greatest potential danger on our list from being blown around by severe winds. Dead or dying branches have been known to break off during storms, possibly endangering you, your property, or another person. Overgrown branches can do a lot of damage rubbing or banging against an otherwise adequate roof.
Move furniture to the highest room if there is a high chance of flooding. The fastest way to save yourself money in the event of severe weather, like flooding, is also the simplest. If you know there’s going to be severe flooding in your area, move your valuable furniture into the highest room in your house. Whether that’s in another story, or simply uphill.
Prepare an emergency kit. Hopefully you never really have to use it. An emergency kit is one of those things where it’s definitely better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. If you need any help building one, www.ready.gov has a step-by-step guide on the process, and don’t forget to pack one for your pets as well.
Remember that at iClose Homes, we buy houses, we are cash homes buyers in San Antonio – we can close quickly and on your time frame, so if for whatever reason you can’t go through the normal drawn out “For Sale” process or simply don’t want to deal with the hassles of listing your house for sale, contact us at (210) 588-9999 or use the link below:
Photo Credit: www.ready.gov
If you have found yourself dealing with flooding or storm damage to your home check out this related blog for further information: What To Do When Your House is Flooded