During the sweltering summer months, the land in Nevada heats up and brings humid air from the Pacific Ocean inward. As the air travels through late June to mid-September, it becomes unstable, and thunderstorms form. If you’re a homeowner in Nevada, it’s a good idea to be proactive in preparing your home for the next monsoon season to keep you and your family safe.
Turn Down Your Thermostat
During the monsoon season, power outages and surges present significant challenges. While it’s crucial to protect your air conditioning unit from potential damage during peak thunderstorm activity, maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature is important, even as the storms bring heavy rain.
The simple solution is to turn down your thermostat a few degrees before the thunderstorm arrives. This will help to pre-cool your home so that you can turn your HVAC system completely off when the storm finally arrives. Taking this measure will preserve your family’s comfort, and you won’t have to worry about any power outages or surges damaging your HVAC system.
Protect Your Outdoor Cooling Unit
Before a storm arrives, it’s important to shield your outdoor unit from the high winds and debris that thunderstorms typically bring. Covering the unit with a purpose-made air conditioner cover can prevent debris from being hurled into the fan grates. The aim is to secure these openings thoroughly to ensure that the interior of your AC unit remains debris-free and operational.
Remember to turn off your air conditioning system before covering it, and remove the cover before you start your system back up again. For added security, it can be extremely helpful to create a fence-like barrier around your outdoor unit to protect it from flying debris. Just ensure that you leave at least 3 feet of open space around the unit so that it can have adequate airflow when in operation.
Clean and Examine Your Gutter System
During monsoon season, your roof acts as the primary shield for your home, with your gutters serving as a critical second line of defense. To ensure efficient water management, it’s vital that rainwater can flow unimpeded from your roof into the gutters, and then be channeled safely away from your home foundation. Begin by thoroughly inspecting your gutter system to confirm there are no missing sections, and check that all gutters and downspouts are securely interconnected.
It’s wise to clear your gutters of debris before a storm to maintain an unobstructed flow of water. Proper gutter maintenance involves ensuring that rainwater is discharged at least 10 feet from your house. Check that all downspouts are positioned to prevent water from accumulating near your home foundation.
For the best results, you should hire a professional to inspect and clean your gutters. In addition, they can also spot problems and make any needed repairs. This way, you can ensure the job is done correctly, and you will have peace of mind knowing that your gutters will perform optimally.
Prepare Your Landscape
The arrival of monsoon season brings torrential rain and powerful wind gusts capable of sending outdoor items and tree branches airborne. To mitigate the risk of flying debris, it’s highly recommended to secure a safe storage spot for all outdoor belongings, such as patio furniture, in anticipation of monsoon storms.
Additionally, you’ll want to assess the vegetation on your property. Any low-hanging branches should be trimmed back to prevent them from falling on your home. Ideally, you’ll also want to stay on top of trimming shrubbery and picking up yard waste so that debris doesn’t end up negatively affecting the aesthetics of your home or causing property damage.
Weatherstrip Doors and Windows
All the doors and windows of your home are access points where water can come in and cold air can seep out. You want to do your best to seal up all these entry points with weatherstripping. This will give that extra tight seal that will ease your worry about rainwater infiltrating your home. Additionally, your cooling system won’t have to work as hard to produce cold air when you’re able to keep more of it inside of your home.
Get a Roof Inspection
Before Nevada’s monsoon season sets in, it’s prudent to schedule a roof inspection to pinpoint any existing weaknesses. Promptly addressing issues such as damaged flashing or missing shingles is essential, as they can leave your roof susceptible to severe weather damage. A single monsoon storm can inflict considerable harm on a roof that is not well maintained, so timely repairs by a professional roofer are crucial.
Invest in Dehumidifiers
Excessive moisture in the air can significantly reduce comfort levels in your home. Normally, your HVAC system helps by removing this excess moisture as it cools the air. However, during large monsoon storms, it may struggle to effectively manage the heightened humidity levels. Investing in a whole-home dehumidifier, or several single-room dehumidifiers, can be a wise decision. These devices are specifically designed to extract moisture from the air to make your indoor environment more comfortable.
Check the Exterior of Your Home for Cracks
Over time, it’s natural for homes to settle and shift, and this can potentially lead to cracks in the structure. It’s important to thoroughly inspect the exterior of your home for any signs of cracking. If you do find cracks, sealing them promptly with a waterproofing compound is crucial. Each crack represents a potential entry point for water, which can lead to severe damage. Properly addressing these vulnerabilities can help protect your home from moisture intrusion.
Consider Installing Awnings
Monsoon season often brings high wind gusts that can drive rainwater against your home from all directions. Entryways not protected by a porch or awning are particularly vulnerable to these upward drafts of rainwater. After a heavy thunderstorm, you might notice wet spots around any entrances that do not have this protection.
To mitigate this issue, you should install a cover over your entryways. If a permanent porch isn’t feasible, a temporary awning can serve as a practical alternative. Such coverings are essential for shielding these areas of your home from much of the rain, which will significantly aid in keeping the interior of your home dry during the challenging monsoon season.
Have Emergency Numbers Handy
While you can do everything right in preparing for this year’s monsoon season, your home may still be damaged to some degree. Having emergency numbers on hand so that you can contact your insurance company, HVAC professional, and any other help you may need is necessary. The last thing you want to worry about when you are contending with property damage is to try to find the contact information for the help you may need.
Reliable AC Service
Bumble Breeze provides reliable HVAC service for the entire Las Vegas, NV community. In addition, we can help with all your heating, cooling, plumbing, commercial, and indoor air quality needs. Simply contact our friendly staff today to schedule your next service appointment.
