Rain damage can be quite costly because it results in mold development and affects the foundation of your home. If you want to protect your home from the devastating effects of brain damage, here are some tips that will ensure the safety of your family and home:
Make Sure there is Good Drainage
The roof is the most important structure that keeps your home safe from rain damage. For this reason, you should ensure that your roof has a solid construction and does not have any damage. Even the tiniest leak in your roof can cause untold water damage that might be costly to fix. Moreover, you need to make sure that the slope of your backyard is directed away from the foundation; the gutters are well cleaned, and the downspouts are facing away from your home.
According to the owner of https://www.southjerseyroofers.com/, if fixing your roof is too expensive, you should consider installing a new one: you will not end up paying too much for repairs that might not even last.
Fix Water Leaks
If left unresolved, plumbing leaks can lead to catastrophe. Instead of waiting for things to escalate, you should address leakage problems promptly by checking for water damage along with your wall and leaking pipes then replace any cracked caulk. You should also take some time to inspect your roof for missing or lose shingles.
Trees and poles can fall on your house if it rains heavily, so you need to cut off any dangerous branches around your home. Moreover, you should raise any downward facing slopes near your foundation to prevent water from accumulating around it.
Check Your Sump Pump and Chimney
If your sump pump and chimney fail, rainwater can get into your home and cause damage. You should get in touch with a licensed HVAC contractor for an annual inspection. The chimney should also be analyzed operationally and visually after heavy rains or during extraordinary weather like hurricane seasons.
Have a professional check the chimney bricks to ensure that there are no gaps and that they are tightly sealed. You should also waterproof the bricks to ensure that no water from the outside can get in your house. Moreover, you should consider installing a chimney cap before the rainy season arrives to keep water outside.
Beware of Potential Hazards
If your house does suffer from any damage during the rainy season, you should call a restoration company to fix it as fast as possible. The presence of moisture promotes mold growth as well as other dangerous organisms, increasing the risk of serious health problems. When you expose yourself to these types of growths, you can also aggravate asthma and allergy symptoms in people with weak immune systems.
Safeguard Climate and Electrical Systems
You need to raise circuit breakers, sockets, and switches at least a foot above your expected flood level. Doing so will minimize the risk of electrocution if your house floods. To be on the safe side and to keep your family safe, you should consider turning off the electricity altogether when it starts flooding.
Make sure that you modify your water heater and furnace as well as any anchored equipment to ensure that it is above the expected flood level.
Modify Water Valves
If the sewer system floods, the sewage might end up flowing back into your home. To avoid finding yourself knee-dip in human waste, you should install an exterior or interior backflow valve.
Make sure that you opt for gate valves because you can operate them by hand. Moreover, they provide stronger seals than check or flap valves, which open to remove water.
Author: Matt Collins
