7 Ways to Prepare Your Home for the Arizona Monsoon Season

Rain. Wind. Dust. Hail. Ready or not, monsoon season is here, and is a reoccurring weather phenomenon that is something to be prepared for, regardless of how old your home is. While the rain can provide some relief from the Arizona summer heat, these summer storms can wreak havoc for homeowners who are not prepared.

WHEN IS MONSOON SEASON IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA?

The Arizona monsoon season officially began June 15 and will be here until September 30. So, if you live in the Phoenix area, now is the time to prepare and handle the potential problem areas of your home, in order to avoid larger repairs down the line. Here are our top seven tips to get your home ready for the monsoons season.

1. Check your Roof

There’s nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night to the “drip… drip… drip…” of a leaky roof. Before the monsoon rains come rolling in, inspect your roof or have a professional do it for you. Patch up any cracks or holes, and get recommendations on good roofers, just in case you need to call in the professionals.

2. Prepare Plants and Trees

Protect your plants (and your home!) by preparing in advance. Trim any big tree branches that could snap off and damage your roof. Stake down young trees that might not make it through an intense storm. And remember, the heavy monsoon rains that often come before the strong winds can loosen the soil and make trees more prone to becoming uprooted.

3. Evaluate your Home’s Drainage

If you’ve noticed drainage issues in your yard that cause pooling of water during a rain storm, make sure you have it taken care of before the monsoons hit. You may need to hire a landscaping company to provide a drainage solution that will keep your yard and home protected from possible flooding.

4. Seal up Any Openings

If you do have drainage issues, not only can this impact the outside of your home, but it also effect the inside. Make sure to seal up any openings and cracks around the base of your home, as water can easily pool up and find its way into your home during a monsoon. Caulk any cracks and use proper weather stripping for your windows and doors, as heavy winds can also push water in. You should even consider gap filler near your home’s foundation to prevent issues with mold and mildew.  

5. Install or Clean Out Rain Gutters and Downspouts

Rain gutters and downspouts are the best way to direct the rain that comes from monsoon microbursts or macrobursts away from your home. Don’t wait until it’s too late to make sure yours are ready to do their job and divert the rain away from your home’s foundation.

6. Familiarize Yourself with Your Home’s Electrical Panel

The last thing you want during a power outage is to be stumbling around in the dark because you do not know where your breaker panel is. It is important to not only know where it is, but it be familiar with your home’s electrical panel. Make sure to take the time to familiarize yourself with your electrical panel and to have all your circuit breaker switches clearly marked.

7. Clean out the Garage

Now is the perfect time to put the family to work and clean out that over-stuffed garage. Parking your car on the street or in the driveway could put it at risk during the monsoon storms since flying branches and falling trees are common occurrences when the wild weather comes to town. Make room in the garage for your car and keep it safe from flying objects, as well as hail, rain and wind.

For more information on the June 15th through September 30th monsoon season in the Southwest, visit the National Weather Service website.