Storm season leaves its mark on every home, even the sturdy ones feel the pressure of the weather. This past week, the sudden high gusty winds, and excessive rain has left a lot of damage. If you’re a homeowner, and you’ve gotten away with the repercussions of the storm, then you’re really lucky, but before you write away the weather and give yourself the all clear, make sure you take a closer look at a few things to ensure everything was left in working order, even after the storm.
 
The obvious damage is easy to spot. If you have patio furniture, a barbeque or potted plants outside, you would have noticed immediately if there was anything broken. A family that I know of, had a lot of damage to their gazebo. Of course all this is part of weathering the storm, so we all pick up the broken pieces, if we didn’t get a chance to put them away in time.
 
The bigger things are easy to spot, but there’s a lot more you need to look into. There are a list of things you should take a closer look at after every storm, to ensure your home is safe from the aftermath.

1) Drain Pipes - A lot of the time they take a good knocking around, and sometimes the front funnel will blow off, leaving all the excess water to drain right into your home! Make sure all pipes and fixtures are still intact, and pointed well away from the foundation of your home.

2) Basement Leaks - You might also want to take a trip into your basement to ensure there are no leaks or drips. We don’t realize this, but water damage is more likely after a heavy storm, and even if it doesn’t flood your   basement, it might have started to trickle in slowly. Take a close look at the walls to make sure they are still dry and no outside water is coming in.

3) Roof - Another key point to check is the roof. Sometimes the exhaust vents blow out of place during strong winds, coupled with heavy rainfall, you’re looking at a sure leak!

4) Fencing – Take a closer look at the fence across your backyard. Some of them are not made for extreme weather, and you’ll notice cracks and in the wood, maybe even a broken piece. If you have a gate that leads to        the backyard, then check the hinges to make sure they are strongly fixed into place. They might have loosened up by the wind, and can be an easy way for someone to get access to your home 

Although most homes are made to handle all types of weather conditions, it’s still important that we all take responsibility and check in on things after every storm. If you keep an eye out, then you won’t have to worry about bigger damage in the long run. A simple look into the aftermath of gusty winds and heavy rains, will help you save through the trouble of having to get leaks fixed and broken things repaired.
 
Here’s hoping that your home weathered the storm, and left no traces of the aftermath.

Cheers
Bill