Preparing Your Home for Monsoon Season

The first heavy rain of the monsoon finds every weakness in a house at once. An afternoon of checks in June saves most of the repair calls in August.

Roof and drains

• Clear leaves and plastic from roof drains and gutters
• Look for cracks around water tanks and parapet walls, where most roof leaks start
• Check that water can actually flow off the roof rather than pooling

Walls and damp

• Walk the house looking for fresh damp patches, bubbling paint or salt marks
• Seal gaps around window frames and AC pipe holes

Electrical

• Check that outdoor sockets and lights have covers
• Make sure no wiring runs where water collects
• Know where your main breaker is, and make sure everyone at home does too

If water reaches wiring, a socket or the distribution board, switch off the power at the main breaker if you can do so without standing in water, and call an electrician. Do not touch anything electrical while standing in water.

Doors and wood

Wooden doors swell in humid weather. If a door already sticks in June, it will not close in August; a carpenter can plane it now.