As the rainy season approaches, ensure that your home is well-equipped to handle the damp weather that comes with it. If you are unprepared, you might have to suffer in paying for expensive repairs if your property is damaged by heavy rains. So to assist you in preparing your home for the impending wet season, we have put together the following recommendations. We'll go through all the crucial actions you must do to safeguard your property from rain damage, from inspecting your roof for leaks to cleaning out your gutters. Grab a coffee, and let's get to work getting your house ready for the rain!
Check for water stains in the ceiling to ensure the roof will not leak.
Ensure that there are no potential leaks or damage now that the rainy season has arrived. So you need to search for water spots on the walls and ceiling. It's ideal to engage a professional roofer as soon as you notice any leaks, such as discoloration or mold growth, in order to prevent more serious damage.
Your next step should be checking whether there have been any holes punched into your roof by wind damage or fallen branches. These holes can cause serious problems with water leakage if they aren't repaired immediately.
Make sure roof drains are clear of debris.
When it comes to roof drainage, so check your drains regularly. If they're clogged with debris, rainwater will pool in your gutters and will cause some damage. Make careful to remove any leaves or additional debris that might have piled during the dry months before they get too heavy for the drainpipes to carry in order to avoid this from happening.
Drainage check.
As Pinoys, we know that this means more than just a change in weather. The start of the rainy season may mean bad news for some, especially if there's flooding. The best way to help prevent flooding as aresponsible homeowner is to ensure that your drainage is clean and does not have any object that will block the flow of rainwater when it falls heavily.
Trim trees and plants.
Trimming trees and plants is a way of showing that your home is well-maintained. If you have a tree and the branches are already hanging over your roof, then trimming those branches will prevent them from falling on the roof and damaging it.
Similarly, if you have plants growing close to the walls or drains of your house, then trimming these off will prevent roots from growing into them and causing a blockage in the drains.
Inspect wirings.
Inspect the wiring for loose or damaged wires. Check for exposed wirings, such as when you see a wire that's been stripped of its insulation and left bare or when a wire has been cut too short and is sticking out from behind your furniture. Look for breaks in the insulation on electrical cords, which could mean they're frayed or worn out. You should also check for any exposed metal parts on extension cords; these can be dangerous if you pick up the wrong end! Make sure all plugs are securely fastened into outlets--and not just the ones with switches turned off!
Examine doors and windows.
Check for cracks or holes in the door or window frames. Check for loose or missing window screens, damaged or missing glass (especially on older windows), and any signs of water leaks around the edges of these openings.
Be updated with weather reports.
Nothing beats being prepared! Weather reports can help you make informed decisions about when it's safe to go out, how much time you should allow for your commute, and whether you should bring an umbrella with you.
In addition to helping you plan ahead of time, weather reports will give you an idea of what to expect during the rainy season. If there are going to be heavy downpours, then this will affect where people choose their activities for the day.
Keep a first-aid kit.
If you have your first-aid kit at home, check the expiration dates of each medicine and replace them when needed. For reference, here are the things you must store in a first-aid kit:
Bandages
Antiseptic
Painkillers, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), can help decrease itching and swelling associated with insect bites.
Antibiotic creams, like bacitracin or Neosporin--this is especially important if you have cuts or scrapes that haven't been cleaned yet!
You should also keep some sterile gauze in case someone gets a cut that needs to be cleaned out before applying antibiotic ointment; this will prevent infection from developing further down the line. If possible, try not using regular cotton swabs because they could harbor bacteria themselves!
Update contact details of emergency hotlines.
Contact numbers for local police, fire, and rescue should be on your list. Also, add some local hospitals for emergency needs and utility companies like water and electricity in case there is an outage.
Have an emergency plan.
Have an emergency plan and make all the family members know it by heart. Know how to contact emergency services, as well as any other important contacts. Keep a list of phone numbers or social media accounts for local utility companies and your landlord or property management in case there's a power outage or other disaster that requires shutting off utilities.
Make sure that gadgets and power banks are fully charged.
As the rainy season approaches, it's important to make sure that your gadgets and power banks are fully charged. So having an emergency power bank, a solar charger, a car charger, and a backup battery are all vital. You will have enough energy to use in case of an emergency, even if a power outage occurs.
Prepare emergency lights or flashlights.
Emergency lights are a must-have during the rainy season. Make sure that all of your emergency lights or flashlights are fully charged before storing them away for the rainy season. Test these devices at least once a year so that you know they still work properly when needed most!
Restock pantry.
Purchase canned items. Make sure you have drinks and food to last for at least three days. Stock up on non-perishable goods such as rice, beans, pasta, and other dry items such as cereal or crackers.
Plan rainy season meals.
Plan rainy-season meals that will help you withstand the cold and gloomy weather. Keep on preparing healthy foods to keep energy and prevent flu.
Bring out those sheets.
It's important to have enough sheets and blankets on hand.
Bring out your comforters, thick fleece blankets, and pajamas galore! Keep your raincoat, boots, and umbrella within reach in case you need to get out when it is raining hard.
It may take some effort to ensure your home stays safe during this time. With these tips from my personal experience as well as resources from other bloggers who've been through severe typhoons before, I'm confident that you'll be able to prepare your home for anything even Mother Nature throws at us next.
Now that you know what's coming, there's no excuse not to get ready!
