El Niño Fatigue? A Few Things Still Worth Doing

We have all heard (to the point of exhaustion) about El Niño and a likely wet winter. We are urging our friends and clients to take care of some basic home maintenance, including items many of us put off in years when rain is less of a concern. But this year, even the kids have gotten the message: Tregg's daughter, who is studying natural disasters in 4th grade, recently reported that flooding is the most common and most costly natural disaster in the country. FEMA agrees with her.

If your roof has leaked before, shows wear, or has not been looked at recently, now is a much better time to have it inspected than during the first heavy rain. Small issues around flashing, chimneys, vents and skylights ought to be addressed before water finds its way inside. Once the rain starts, roofers get busy quickly. A leak during an active storm may only get a temporary patch until the rain lets up and a more permanent repair can be made.

Gutters and downspouts have one simple job: collect water from the roof and move it somewhere it will not cause a problem. Leaves, pine needles and miscellaneous debris can interfere with that surprisingly well. Clean the gutters, clear the downspouts and check where each one ends. Ideally, the water should feed into a working drainage system or otherwise be carried well away from the house. A perfectly good roof does not help much if all of that water is simply deposited next to the foundation.

Yard and patio drains are easy to forget because they spend most of the year doing absolutely nothing. Clear leaves, dirt and roots from the covers, then run a garden hose into each drain and confirm that the water flows freely to the curb or wherever the system discharges. Think back to previous storms. Did water pool somewhere in the yard, collect against the house, or sit outside a door or garage? If an area has had trouble handling water before, it will happen again unless something has been done to correct it.

Beyond the drains themselves, notice where water naturally travels across the property. Soil and landscaping should slope to move rainwater away from the house. Check that plants have not grown over drains and that new planters, hardscape or construction have not changed how water moves. If the property has a sump pump, test it now.

Leaving a house unattended during heavy rain creates another risk, especially when there are decks or terraces over living space. These areas often rely on relatively small drains, and leaves and wind-blown debris can block them quickly. Once water begins to back up, it may find its way through a door threshold or another vulnerable spot. If you are traveling during a period of sustained rain, consider having someone check the house, including any roof decks, terraces, drains or areas that have caused trouble before. In some situations, raised or atrium-style drain grates can also help keep leaves from completely covering a drain, although they are not a substitute for keeping the area clear.

This is also a good time to understand how your insurance policy handles water damage.Standard homeowners policies generally do not cover flooding. That requires separate flood insurance. The federal flood insurance program generally has a 30-day waiting period before a new policy takes effect, so this is something to consider before a storm is already in the forecast. Other types of water intrusion may be treated differently depending on the cause, the policy and whether maintenance or long-term wear is involved. Your insurance agent can explain what flood insurance actually covers and whether you are, or can be, insured for other weather-related water damage.

None of this requires predicting what El Niño will actually bring; it is worth doing before every rainy season. But if we do get more rain than usual, better to watch the storm from inside than to be up on a ladder tarping the roof and scrambling for a roofer.

If you need a referral for a roofer, someone to evaluate site drainage or a plumber to clear yard drains, please just ask.