April Showers Can Bring Leaky Basements and Moldy Walls

April showers may bring May flowers, but to a homeowner starting their first spring in a new home, there could be a possibility of leaky basements, moldy walls and costly cleanup in their new neighborhood.

When you start your spring cleaning, don’t forget to check the outside of your home to make sure it’s protected from water damage and natural disasters.

• Make sure gutters are clean and stable. This ensures proper drainage and lessens the chance they will become flying debris in high wind.
• While you’re there, examine fascia or soffit boards. If they are rotting or soft, they may allow rain into your attic or atop interior walls.
• Make sure downspouts are sloping away from the house and carrying water at least five feet away from foundation walls.
• Lawn sprinkler heads should not spray the walls of the house. This moisture can lead to unwanted growths, wall failure and other destructive moisture problems.
• Examine your roof carefully, looking for worn, curled or missing shingles.
• If you can’t inspect your roof easily, your attic is the next best place to check for problems. Look for moisture or surface discoloration — and do this every time you go into the attic. The earlier you find a roofing problem, the better.
• Examine window and door flashing, seals or weather-stripping. If sealants around those openings are no longer pliable and continuous, reseal and caulk them.