Part 1: Preparing Your House
Springtime means warmer temperatures, longer days, and more time outside. It also means the start of spring storm season. What can you do now to prepare for (and hopefully minimize damage from) spring storms?
- Inspect foliage:
a. Walk around outside of your house and look at trees, bushes, and landscaping that may be too close to your house. An extra year of growth may be too much before pruning. Now is the time to cut back any trees or shrubs that are too close for comfort, and anything that is in contact with the exterior of your house. This includes the roof, gutters, windows, and even siding.
b. Clear a walkway around the home perimeter – this will also help to minimize future damage from weed eater line or projectile debris from a lawnmower.
c. If you have concerning limbs that overhang your roof, call a tree service to inspect. Avoidable damage is often the most expensive! - Look at your roof:
a. Check to see if you have missed or slipped shingles
b. Any lifted edges or cracking along pipe boots
c. Any areas where debris has accumulated? Make sure to clear your roof regularly – a leaf blower can work wonders for this task! - Look at your eaves and rakes:
a. Slow melting snow and heavy ice may have left a lasting mark on your gutters and soffits. Telltale signs include rotting wood, bubbled or blistered paint, severely bowed or sagging gutters, or separation between the gutters and fascia board. Sometimes, homeowners can avoid a full replacement, and a small repair is all that is warranted IF you address the problem quickly.
b. Check those gutters! If you can safely access the gutters, check to see if there is debris that needs cleaned out and ensure that your downspouts are flowing freely. A garden hose can help to verify that there are no clogs.
c. Are there fasters backing out of your rake metal? These are especially prone to blowing loose in strong winds once your nails start to back out of the holes. - Outdoor ornaments:
a. Take stock of the items outside your home that could come inside if strong winds are expected. High winds can create a hazard when children’s toys, trampolines, and garbage cans get blown around. Every year we get calls about siding and downspout damage from these sorts of outdoor elements.
b. Double check that flag poles, basketball goals, and other posts are secure in the ground and not at risk of blowing into your property. High winds, water logged ground, and leaning posts/poles can be a bad combination. - Be proactive with any known issues:
a. Small roof leaks can be addressed before the damage gets worse. Slipped, broken or missing shingles are no match for heavy spring rains.
b. Check for water pooling/puddling in low areas of your yard. Add extra drainage or soil to ensure that water flows away from your buildings. - Have emergency supplies on hand in case of a power outage.
a. Know where flashlights, battery powered lights, extra phone chargers are stored. Keep these charged and ready for emergency use.
b. If you take medication that requires refrigeration – be sure to have options available for that purpose if a power outage is prolonged.