El Niño can bring a dramatic increase in rains, something hoped for in drought-ridden areas but it does come with some downsides. For example, if your home isn’t ready to handle this inundation of moisture, you could be looking at costly water damage restoration costs. Here are some ways to get your home ready for the possibility of heavy rains.

Preventing Water Damage

Excess rain can seep into your home and cause mold and other damage, meaning you should get ready now by preventing as much water damage as possible. Some places in particular to look are:

• Roofing
• Siding
• Windows

If your roof has any leaks, these could get worse when the El Niño rains begin. However, if the weather has been very dry recently, you may not be ware of leaks that have developed between the last rains and now. Your roofer should check your roof for possible problems.

With siding, the key is to repaint anything that’s made of wood. Paint doesn’t just make your home look pretty, it keeps out water. Whether your entire siding is wood or just certain areas of trim, everything wooden should be repainted.

Finally, your windows should have a firm strip of glazing compound around the edges to keep out water. If it has been very dry or hot in your area, that compound could have shrunk or cracked. This is an issue you can fix yourself with some caulk.

Preparing for the Worst

To protect you, your home and your family, you should always prepare for the worst. When it comes to El Niño rains, that means looking into emergency supplies. Here are some things to consider owning:

• Backup generator
• Sandbags
• Heavy plastic sheets
• Sump pump

Should water get into your home, there’s no need to panic. Mold Masters is here to help you with your water damage and flood cleanup needs. To find out how we can help, just use our online contact page and we’ll be in touch soon.