Heavy rain and thunderstorms are common in Central and Eastern Pennsylvania. Not only that, they can harness enough power to damage both the interior and exterior of your home. After a storm has passed, it’s important to know what to look for, what can be handled yourself, and when you’ll need professional help.
Uncovering Damage in the Storm Aftermath
From windows to gutters, here are the parts of your home you’ll want to inspect for any storm damages:
- Window damage: Closely check your windows for any cracks, loose glass panes, damaged frames, or water that got inside.
- Roof damage and debris: Inspect your roof for missing or broken shingles and any visible debris, as well as mold or rot.
- Clogged gutters: Check to see if your gutters have come loose or if they’re blocked with leaves and small branches.
- Water stains and damage on interior and exterior walls: Look for damp patches on the inside or outside of your home over the course of a few days.
- Flooding in crawl spaces, basement, and attic: Inspect the crawl spaces underneath your home to see if water has pooled and check your basement for flooding. If your attic is flooded, water may have leaked through your roof.
- Yard debris: Check your yard for any debris and damage to your outside belongings.
Now that you’ve weathered the storm and inspected your home, it’s time to get things up and running again!
Getting Your Home Back on Track
Storm damage restoration can be a frustrating, confusing process. Knowing what you can handle yourself and what needs professional attention can help.
Post-yard Cleanup
Gutter Care
Clear your gutters of twigs, leaves, and other debris that got wedged during the storm, and make sure to inspect your downspout for any clogs and blockages.
Fallen Trees and Branches
Dispose of any small fallen branches, twigs, and leaves dispersed in your yard, but steer clear of collapsed trees and dangling branches. Those big, fallen trees and large branches will need to be cleared by a professional.
Storm Damage Repairs
While you can manage some post-storm cleanup on your own, some of your storm damage restoration will require an extra pair of hands. Here are more severe scenarios where you’ll need to call the pros:
Roof Damage
If your roof has a bunch of damaged or missing shingles, or any visible mold or rot, it’s best to have a professional come have a look. They can repair the issue, whether it be due to leaking, flooding, or debris, and ensure a sturdy roof over your head.
Interior Water Damage
Those leaks behind your walls can be sneaky, leading to mold growth and serious structural damage in your home– definitely not ideal. If you notice any musty odors, mold growth on walls and baseboards, staining, warped walls, or peeling wallpaper, call a professional to investigate and repair the issue before it worsens.
Don’t forget the area underneath your home! A wet crawl space can cause higher energy bills, unwanted pests like dust mites, and mold growth. If your crawl spaces are pooling water, it’s best to have Haller install a sump pump.
Flooded Basement
Dealing with a flood in your home or basement? Binge watching your favorite TV show down there will have to wait — it’s important to avoid all of the flooded areas until a licensed professional has removed the home’s electrical meter from its socket. Otherwise, you can risk being electrocuted.
A sump pump will be your best friend when it comes to combating a flooded basement! If you have one installed and your basement still floods after the rain, your sump pump may be broken and needs to be replaced.
Also be sure that your downspouts are pointed away from the foundation of your home, and that the foundation doesn’t have any cracks. Once the flood has been dealt with, having an electrician evaluate the damage to your electrical system can help you determine what needs replacement so you can get back to your late-night basement binges in no time.
If you experience frequent flooding after rainstorms, or if you’re dealing with severe basement flooding, call a professional to find the underlying issue and prevent it in the future.
Downed Power Lines
If you lose power during the storm, keep your family safe and don’t be in the dark about proper power outage protocol. When the storm has passed, steer clear of downed power lines and contact your utility company to make sure they’re aware of the outage so you can have electricity as soon as possible.
Remote Assist
Need assistance? We can lend a virtual helping hand! We’ll connect you with one of our HomeX Remote Assist Experts to walk through your home with you and discover any problems over video call! If you’re seeking help in the Central & Eastern PA area, Haller would be happy to have your home’s plumbing, heating, cooling, or electrical issues repaired.
