Prepping your home for April showers…
We all know that “April showers bring May flowers.” We’ve heard that since we were children. But when we were children, the rain didn’t affect our lives much – except for creating puddles to splash in and maybe getting us wet at the bus stop. Since we’re no longer children, the rain can have more of an impact on our lives.
First, the showers do lead to flowers. For those who are gardeners, landscapers, or farmers – the rain is highly needed to bring our plants to life. It’s always exciting to see the first sets of tulips popping up from the ground and buds forming on the trees! Rain is definitely needed and helps new growth come to life all around us.
When the water is everywhere
This time of year, when the snow on the ground is melting, the ground typically tends to get very soft and wet. When the rain falling from the sky gets added into the mix the moisture starts to go places it wouldn’t typically go. So, this time of year is a good time to look around your home and property to be prepared for the showers that are sure to come.
Though we still have cold days, and we don’t know if all the snow is past us, it’s good to make use of the longer days and some of the warmer temperatures to get prepared for what we know will be coming soon. Since April showers bring May flowers, lets think about using March to get prepared for the showers that we know are on their way.
6 Ways to Get Prepared for April Showers
1- Clean debris from your gutters
Though you might expect a roofing contractor to go straight for things to look for on your roof, the gutters also have a huge impact on keeping water from getting into your home or creating damage and havoc around your property. Believe it or not – even if there are no trees on your property, leaves from trees around the neighborhood can get blown around and end up on your roof or in your gutters. Leaves, branches, and any other obstructions can keep water from flowing through your gutters properly and then down and away from your home.
Obviously, gutter-guards or gutter-protectors will be helpful in taking care of this issue. But if you don’t have them right now, putting them up will not have any impact on the debris that is already in your gutters. Leaves that have been in your gutters since Fall (or even as recently as this month) start to collect and retain moisture. But the purpose of a gutter system is to get water away from your home. You don’t want gutters getting clogged by sticks, wet leaves, or any other debris (whether its in the gutters themselves or in the downspouts, it can have an undesired result at your property). You can also look for a local roofing contractor to install gutter guards or see if they may provide gutter cleaning services, as well.
While you’re checking to make sure your gutters are free of debris that will impede flow of water away from your roof and your home, this is also a good time to look at your down spouts. It is not uncommon for storms to disconnect the last piece of the downspout that is designed to make water flow away from the foundation of your home. Make sure they are connected, secured in place and that they divert the water to a place where the ground slopes away from your home (it doesn’t do any good to kick the water away from your home, only to have the ground slope right back toward the foundation of your house). If you find the downspout material itself is not long enough to get the water sufficiently away from your home, it may be worth looking into and investing in flexible drainpipe extensions that can be found at your local building and supply stores.
2- Clean debris from your window wells
If you have windows in your basement (unless they are above-grade) there is likely to be a window well on the outside of that window. This is another place that excess water could possibly get into your home. Many window wells have drains, at the bottom, that are designed because of water that could get into the window well. Basement windows are not the same as submarine windows, and if the water-level gets too high, water might start leaking through the window opening itself. So, those drains are put there to keep the water level from rising and it is critical to make sure there isn’t anything in your window well that could clog the drain.
If you have a deep window well, you should take caution in entering the window well to clean it out. Make sure you have a helper that can help you enter/exit the window well as well as watching out for your safety. It is also helpful to have a bucket to collect debris and maybe small garden-spade to scoop up the material in the window well, if there is a lot of it. Another helpful thing to consider is getting window well covers. These are made in many different formats and multiple kinds of materials. It is likely you can find a window well cover that will do sufficient job of keeping debris and water from collecting inside of your window wells.
3- Make sure your sump pump is turned on and functional
Fortunately, it’s not visible and it doesn’t have an affect on our everyday lives, but as the ground outside our home gets saturated with water, that water seeps down around the walls of our basement and under the basement floor. If you have a sump pump that is in working order, that water is pumped out from under the basement floor, out into your yard, and runs away from your home. When that sump pump isn’t working properly is when that water does become visible and can definitely affect your everyday life. Water in your basement really can be catastrophic. Not only does it take a lot of work and effort to clear out and clean up, but it can also cause major amounts of damage to your home and property. Hopefully a roofing contractor never tries to scare you about water getting into your home or your basement, but if your sump pump does not work properly, it really can lead to scary outcomes.
This is a good time of year to make sure your sump pump is working properly. An easy thing to check is that it is plugged in. Electrical outlets can sometimes be hard to come by in a basement, and someone may have unplugged the sump pump to get access to that outlet. Once you know the sump pump is plugged in, it’s also good to test the pump and make sure it is functioning properly.
To do this, you’ll have to remove the cover of your sump pump pit and then fill the pit with water. One of the simplest ways to do this would be with a bucket. If you pour buckets of water into the sump pump pit and it fills up enough that you no longer see the pump at the bottom of the pit or any components next to it (sump pumps often have a float next to them that act as a switch to turn the pump on when the water rises) without turning on, there could be an issue with your sump pump. This is a good time to have it checked out and make sure that it is functioning properly. Though your local roofing contractor probably won’t do work on a sump pump, they typically have relationships with other contractors if you don’t know who to call.
4- Be Prepared for Power Outages
The storms that come in spring are notorious for creating power outages. Whether it’s a part of the electrical system that get struck by lightening or a tree limb that falls on a power line, both events can cause parts of town to lose power. Though we hope you don’t have to endure this, it’s aways wise to be prepared for a period of time when your power might go out. Typical preparations might include having candles and lighters/matches ready, having a portable radio, possibly having extra blankets ready if the power goes out on a colder night. Consider what kinds of meals you might have to prepare if the power stays out for a longer stretch of time. Also, consider activities to keep yourself or your family occupied during a power outage.
Though power outages aren’t typically a lot of fun, if well prepared for – these can be times where some good experiences and memories are created. Have some board games or card games in mind and available. Also, consider how you might charge your cellphones if the power remains out for an extended period and consider what kind of plans you would make if you had to leave your home during an extended power outage.
5- Address Leaks As Quickly As Possible
In the unfortunate event that water does end up getting into your home, it is crucial that the issue is addressed as quickly as possible. Though it’s not unusual for a homeowner to jump into action to get cleaned up from the mess that is created by water entering their home or basement, there are times when people aren’t quick to get someone out to investigate the cause for the water coming into their home. When the storm is over, the water will eventually stop coming into your home. But if the issue does not get addressed, there is a very good chance that more water will come into the home the next time a big storm comes through. Though it could be a full year before another big storm rolls through and causes that much water to come in your home, it’s also possible that another big storm is right around the corner and you could get caught having to clean all the water up again (even worse, you could have property or mementos in your home get permanently damaged and destroyed).
If you ever find yourself in the situation where water is coming in your home – be quick to clean it up, but also be quick to get someone out to investigate the cause of the water coming into your home. Cleaning up the mess is not the end of the problem. You also need to ensure that another mess will not be caused the next time a big storm comes around. If you see water marks on your ceiling, nails popping out of your drywall, or parts of the drywall coming off the wall or ceiling, you should call a local roofing contractor to come look at the issue as soon as possible. Water in your basement could be a result of a leaky roof, but you might also need to call another type of contractor or water remediation expert to keep water from getting in your basement again. Wherever the issue is, make sure to address it quickly. If it happens again, it’s likely to be worse the next time and no one wants to live through that challenge more than once.
6 – Visible Roof Damage Means It’s Already Too Late
Spring storms not only come with rain, but they often come with strong winds, as well. Because the wind is not visible, the affects of wind-damage can also go unseen. But when you notice a branch has fallen on the roof or a shingle has been blown off the roof, it is often the case that additional damage may have already been done and water could already be getting into your home.
When the wind is strong enough to blow down branches or to blow a shingle off the roof, it is likely that more than one branch has been blown around or more than one shingle has had to fight to stay on the roof. Branches and debris on the roof can cause damage to shingles that compromise their integrity and make it harder for the shingle to keep water out of your home – even if they look fine from the ground. If a shingle has been blown off your roof,
it’s likely that other shingles have been damaged by the wind – even if they were not completely removed. When a shingle is blown from your roof, that creates a place that water can penetrate the underlayment and decking of your roof and start causing damage inside your home. Like when water carves out a canyon, it can take time before significant damage occurs. But it is important to get a roof inspection done as quickly as possible to find out if water is getting inside your home and what kind of roof repairs are necessary.
An experienced roofing contractor will have tools to be able tell if water has penetrated your roof and will be able to let you know if a roof repair is possible or if an entire roof replacement is necessary. Though a roof that has already seen damage is likely to see damage again in the future, there are still times when it is acceptable – even appropriate – to do a repair, instead of a full roof replacement. Call a trustworthy local roofing contractor to get honest advice about what has happened to the damage you can see and about the best way to move forward.
Lastly, Make Sure to Enjoy the Rainbow After the Storm
There are many things to keep an eye out for if you own your own home. But there are many beautiful things to appreciate during Spring, as well. When you find the rainbow, take a moment to appreciate it. Maybe even call someone and pass the joy on to them by pointing out the rainbow. If you still have younger ones at home, maybe you can run outside after the storm and spend a few minutes splashing or dancing in a puddle. Moments like that are likely to be happily remembered by everyone for decades.
Of course, the saying is that ”April shower bring May flowers,” so get out there and get some flowers planted. You’ll enjoy and appreciate them, all your neighbors will enjoy and appreciate them, and so will anybody who comes to visit your home – maybe even the Amazon driver!
If you’re looking for help from a local roofing contractor in Roscoe, IL or another other part of Northern Illinois, we would be happy to be the roofing contractor you can trust. We believe that finding a roofer doesn’t have to be hard, so we make it easy to find a roofing contractor you can trust. It’s our mission to be the last roofing contractor you’ll ever have to call. We’re happy to help if you just have a question or if you need to have a Professional Roofing Consultant evaluate the condition of your roof.
American Modern Roofing
7330 Tulagi Trail
Rockford, IL 61108
(630) 580-8661
Proud to be the experienced roofer in these communities:
Belvidere, Byron, Candlewick Lake, Cherry Valley, Davis Junction, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Rockford, Roscoe, and Northern Illinois
