1. Check Gutters Routinely There are too many damage possibilities in your gutters no to check them routinely. In the rainy season, water can build up and leak on to your roof or pound against the side structure of your home, wither of which can cause serious damage over time. In the summer, leaf pr debris build up can cause a serious fire if ignited. Play it safe and check or clean out your gutters at least twice a year.

2. Observe Sprinklers Sprinklers can get easily re-positioned without you noticing, and cause damage if not put back in to place soon enough. Make sure none of your sprinklers are pointed towards or spraying on your home. Even if your outer walls are coated with a water-resistant paint, water can pool up at the base of your home and cause damage.

3. Know your Gradient It is sometimes difficult to tell what the grade is like all around your home. It is important, however, that any water running around your home flows away from the house and not towards it. Do a test with a hose and go around your home making sure the water flows away. If high grass or plants have hidden the grades slant with out you realizing it, now is the time to get a landscaper in to change it.

4. Roof Maintenance Roofs are made to last and protect your home from water, but this does not mean that they cannot be damaged and let water through. You should check your roof after every rainy or stormy season to be sure no shingles or tiles have shifted, and no debris have piled up in one area. If this does happen, water can seep through and give you both water damage and mold problems in a hard-to-fix area of the home. If you live in an especially windy or stormy area, you may even want to have your roof checked mid-storm season.

5. Proper Drainage and Irrigation Having plants and foliage around the home looks beautiful, but it will not be so pretty when you discover the irrigation system watering them has been malfunctioning. Be sure if you have a irrigation or watering system put in that it id done by a trained professional who knows what they are doing. Systems installed improperly can be leading water in to your homes structure without you even knowing it.

6. Lawn Maintenance It is important that your lawn is evenly distributed and there are not multiple “holes” for water to seep through. An uneven law can allow water to pool up and become a potential hazard to the structure of your home if it gets to bad without your knowledge.

7. Further Prevention The best way to prevent the outside elements from entering your homes structure is to properly prepare your home for the possibility. Make sure the edges of all doors and windows are properly caulked, and any weak spots in your foundation are carefully observed. In the winter, take an extra precaution and disconnect hoses from the spigot when you are not using them, to prevent equipment from becoming brittle and defective.