When rain falls on your roof, it flows over the gutters and down to the ground. If the rain is heavy or combined with melting snow, rain gutters will fill up, and rainwater will start to back up around the foundation of your home. Other natural disasters such as flooding and storm surges can also trigger rain gutters to overflow. If rainwater enters the foundation of your house, it will cause deterioration that leads to leaks and water damage. To protect your home from rain and flooding, do these nine things:
Make sure rain gutters are clean
Overflowing rain gutters are caused by clogged drains caused by debris like rotting leaves, insects, or animal nests. Remove all debris downspout regularly so rainwater can flow freely out of the drain pipe. On rains with heavy rainfall, make sure you dump buckets or hoses to remove excess water from your gutter system before this backs up on your home’s foundation.
Keep rain gutters clear of snow in the winter months
As rain is not always a welcomed sight, you can select from many ways to protect your home’s roof and foundation from rain damage. First off, rain gutters should be clear of snow before it melts and drains down the gutters. If rainwater can’t flow freely from your rain gutter system, water will back up, causing damage such as leaks and rotting wood.
Keep rain gutters free of debris at all times
Maintaining rain gutters doesn’t mean just cleaning them before heavy rain falls. You also need to remove any leaves, twigs, or other debris that’s wedged into the rain gutter system, so rainwater flows freely out of the drain pipe and back to ground level.
Install roof vents and chimneys cap to avoid rain buildup near your home’s foundation walls
Rainwater can penetrate through your home’s materials and cause water damage and mold. To keep rainwater from directly entering your home, install roof vents and chimneys caps. With these rain-resistant devices, rainwater will flow through the rain gutter system instead of through foundation walls. This also helps prevent rain gutters from overflowing.
Add more rain barrels if needed
To capture rainwater, rain barrels should be installed near downspouts to collect rain where it first falls on your property. If you’re having difficulty maintaining your amount of rain barrel containers, set up more rain barrels that can hold at least 50% of all the runoff on your property after it rains or during snow melts. You can even use recycled items like old bottles as long as they are clean.
When rain barrels are full, overflow the rainwater into lawns or gardens
If rain barrels are already full due to rain or melting snow, you can overflow rainwater into your garden or lawn areas. While rain barrels are great options to capture rainwater for rain gardens and rainwater gardens, it’s also beneficial to let excess rain flow down your yard because it will provide enough nutrients to grow healthy plants. Overflowed rainwater is very important for maintaining rainfall levels in our environment.
Install a French drain around the home foundation
French drains are effective in protecting your home from heavy rains. This excellent drainage system directs water away from your home’s foundation by surrounding the entire structure with perforated pipe partially buried in the ground. The rainwater will rush into the perforated pipe and drain away from your home’s foundation.
Build a rain garden near downspouts
A unique way to protect your home and garden is by building rain gardens where rain runoff collects after it falls on your property. Rain gardens are near your rain gutters and downspouts, and they support healthy plants that can filter rainwater runoff like grasses, bushes, vines, and small trees before this water trickles back into the groundwater supply. This provides needed natural drainage and works as a water storage area for heavy rains or snow melts.
Keep gutters clean at all times!
Not doing anything to maintain rain gutters will result in overflowing rain gutters after rainstorms or snow melts. And with rain overflowing down your rain gutters, water can flow over the top of rain spouts and pour directly onto your home’s walls surrounding the foundation. Overflowed rainwater will not only cause water damage but can also lead to mold. Ensure you clean out rain gutters at least two times every year when the weather is warm enough for this maintenance routine. It’s best to wear gloves when cleaning rain gutters because it can be dangerous when doing this job if rain gutter parts are loose.
Rain is beneficial for your home, but extreme rain can damage it. You need to know how to protect your home from rain and flooding because this will help you avoid expensive repairs. Follow the rain-resistant tips written above to keep the rain out of your home’s foundation walls, roof, and gutters.
Meta title: Ways to Protect Your Home from Rain and Flooding
meta desc: Protecting your home from heavy rains and other more serious natural disasters is essential. You don’t want your house to experience water damage. Read on to learn more.
