What Should New Homeowners Check After a Storm?

Big storms have a funny way of making a house look totally normal on the outside, while still actually causing problems that show up days later. And if you’re a new homeowner, it’s honestly not like you’re going to know unless it came up in the inspection report. Like, everything seems fine, power’s back on, nothing’s dripping, and then a week later there’s a water stain on the ceiling or wall, a weird smell, and maybe even your drain just isn’t working the way it should be. So yeah, after a big storm, a quick check is worth it, even if the house looks innocent.

Start Outside Where Water First Causes Trouble

Well, the outside check is boring, but it’s where the real clues show up. And so gutters should be looked at first, because if they overflowed, water might have been dumped right along the foundation. If you’ve never owned a house before, it’s not like you’re going to immediately know anything like this either. But yeah, this can happen.

Actually, the same goes for the downspouts, cause it they’re disconnected or pointing water toward the house, that’s basically handing the storm a map. This part is easy, so just walk the perimeter and look for new pooling water, washed-out soil, or areas where mulch has shifted.

Watch for Plumbing and Drain Issues

So, this part was already mentioned, and it’s best for this to get mentioned again here. Yes, rain can mess with your drains. So, if sinks gurgle, toilets flush slowly, or a floor drain smells foul, that can mean the drainage system is stressed, or something’s backing up. It might be minor, or it might be the start of a bigger issue. Honestly, it’s really hard to say when this is all new.

But at the same time, here, you probably should guess or just inherently assume that everything is fine too, because it might not actually be fine. So it might honestly be a wise idea to look into calling https://metromechanicaldetroit.com or your local plumbing professionals to help you out.  Yes, this can turn into a full-blown disaster, which is why you need to get a plumber if your drains are now messed up

Check the Basement and Crawl Space

Well, if you don’t have these, then don’t worry, but if you do, then you absolutely need to check. Even if there’s no standing water, storms can leave behind moisture that hangs around. Look at corners, the base of walls, and anywhere storage sits close to the floor. Just pay attention to smell, because musty air is usually a warning, not a personality trait.

Also, if there’s a sump pump, it’s worth checking that it actually ran and didn’t struggle. If it sounds rough, runs nonstop, or the pit seems unusually full, that’s information, and it’s better to notice it now than after a soaked carpet moment (and then that means you have to pay a professional to dry the carpet, and that’s more money down the drain).

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