It’s been an unending raining season, although it helps to stop the heat of the temperature in our home to cool down a bit. But from another angle when it rains, it often makes many family headaches because of the problems that come with the rainy season.
Many Nigerian homeowners face the threat of water damage, especially in the rainy season. Months of consistent rain and wind take a toll on your property. However, the Nigerian weather can be quite tricky and unpredictable this time. The weather could go from sunny to rainy real quick.
But, if you’re considering preventative maintenance, it can be difficult to know where to start, or what to do in case of an emergency. As with most elements of homeownership, it pays to plan ahead. In this post we have put together some tips to get you started, so, here’s how to prepare for the wet weather.
Fix Leaking Roof
Did you notice a leak in your ceiling after a recent rainstorm? In order to prevent a ceiling leaking from rain, you must understand what is allowing water to get into your home. This will save you time and money on tools needed for repairs and fixing multiple leaks.
The key to ensuring you and your family remain safe and dry during the raining season begins at the roof of your house. Make sure you have thoroughly checked your roof for cracks, if you can do it yourself. These are easily noticeable and if you are unsure of what you should be looking out for or you feel it is unsafe, call in a professional for this. Make sure you repair every crack, big or small.
Check for Cracks in the Walls
Over time, the walls of your house can develop cracks, which typically starts near the door and window frames. These cracks allow moisture to get into the structure of your building and cause damp patches. All these gaps need to be filled.
Once the gaps and cracks are filled, all the loose plaster is removed and the wall is then re-painted. Just make sure you do this. The corrective measures have to be taken before it becomes worse and allows molds to grow. Painting over damp walls is never a good idea, without fixing the root cause of the issue.
Clear Scrubs and Tress
Planting large trees near the house is beautiful but when it rains strong winds my cause the branches or trunks of that big tree to fall over the house and damaged your roof. Solutions for prevention are not planting too many large trees near the house at first.
Regularly prune the branches of the big trees beside the house. Do not let any part sticking out or overflowing across the house. Because of danger in the rainy season.
Clear Out Your Gutters
Your gutter is an integral part of your home and keeping it clean is your responsibility especially in the rainy season. When it rains along with strong winds, it is exposed to a lot of additional dirt. The storm makes leaves fall and sometimes the weak branches even break making the gutter hard to clean. Hence it is important that you take care of your gutter from time to time. Generally, it is important to do proper cleaning of your gutter 4-5 times monthly during the rains but if you are a working individual, then you must clean it at least twice every month.
Also, keep a thorough check that there is no discarded bucket or any other container kept in your yard that may accumulate rain water as that can act as the breeding ground for the mosquitoes and other germs. Always remember to keep the drains unclogged and clean and in case of any damage or leakage, go for immediate repair
Dispose Your Garbage
The scent of fresh rain is one of life’s simplest pleasures. It is a common practice to keep the doors and windows closed when it rains. However, if you do this for a prolonged length of time, you’ll end up with stale air in your home.
At the same time, the smell of undisposed refuse can give your home an awful smell. Even after taking out the trash, lingering garbage can smells can stink up the whole kitchen and even seep into other rooms.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to open your windows and doors once in a while to let in the cool monsoon breeze to flush out the stale smell. You can also use air fresheners, aerosols, scented candles and floor cleaners to freshen up the air inside.
Electric Connections
Call an electrician to get all electrical connections checked. Also, get the external electronic switches checked to see if they are exposed to rain. Cover those connections and switches to avoid the chances of electric shock or short-circuit. Also, repair all damaged electrical cords to ensure a safer environment at home during rainy season.
We are sure these tips will help you keep your home clean at all times during the monsoon season.