How to Prepare Your Home for Heavy Rain

There's nothing like a heavy rain to expose your home's flaws.

It just takes one stiff downpour to lead to indoor leaks that can cause property damage.

Here are some tips for preparing your home for rain, compiled from various sources:

*Clear your gutters of leaves and debris. Clogged gutters cause rainwater to pool, and if you've got an older roof, that rain will find its way into your house. Check the down pipes as well. Make sure the output has somewhere to go, to avoid pools near your foundation.

*Get your roof inspected. Granules or roof debris in the gutters are not a good sign.

*If you do have recurrent leaks that you can't get immediately fixed, consider buying a few hurricane socks, a nifty super absorbent product that can be tucked into windows or doors. It's also reusable, so you're being green as well.

*Keep large trees around your home trimmed and inspect for dead and dying branches that could come down in a storm.

*Lower water levels in swimming pools to avoid flooding.

*Secure loose outdoor items such as patio furniture and trash cans, which can be blown around by wind and cause damage.

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