Getting Your East Tennessee Home Ready for Fall Rain

Here in East Tennessee, our falls get wet. The rain rolls in, the leaves come down, and a lot of small home problems suddenly turn into big ones. The good news is that a Saturday afternoon of looking things over can save you a real headache later. Here are the things I tell my own neighbors to check before the weather turns.

Clean Out Your Gutters First

Gutters are the first thing to fail when the rain picks up. Once leaves and pine needles pack in, water spills over the edge and runs right down against your foundation and siding. That is where the trouble starts.

Get up there on a stable ladder, or hire someone to do it, and pull the debris out by hand. Then run a hose through and watch how it drains. If water backs up or leaks at the seams, make a note. It is a small fix now and a costly one after months of overflow.

Look Up at Your Roof from the Ground

You do not need to climb on the roof to spot trouble. Stand back in the yard and look for shingles that are curled, cracked, or missing. Check the spots around your chimney and vents, because that is where leaks like to hide.

If you see dark streaks or areas that look worn compared to the rest, keep an eye on them. Catching a bad spot before the rain finds it is a lot cheaper than fixing a stained ceiling in December.

Walk Your Siding and Trim

Slow down and walk the outside of your house. Look for gaps, cracked caulk, or soft spots in the wood trim around windows and doors. Those little openings let water sneak behind your siding, and once it is in there, it does not dry out fast.

Press on any trim that looks weathered. If it gives or feels spongy, water has already gotten in. A little caulk and paint now goes a long way toward keeping the wet fall weather on the outside where it belongs.

Check How Water Leaves Your Yard

Even a good roof and clean gutters will not help if the water pools next to your house. Take a look at where your downspouts empty. You want that water carried several feet away from the foundation, not dumped right beside it.

Add an extension to the downspout if you need to, and clear any low spots where water sits. Grading the soil so it slopes away from the house makes a bigger difference than most folks realize.

Seal Up the Small Openings

Fall is a good time to walk around with a flashlight and look for the little gaps that let in water and cold air. Check around dryer vents, outdoor faucets, and where pipes or wires enter the house.

A tube of exterior caulk and some weatherstripping cost very little. Sealing these spots keeps the rain out and helps hold your heat in once the cold nights arrive.

Know When to Call for Help

Some of this you can handle yourself in an afternoon. But if you find a soft roof deck, siding that is rotted through, or water already showing up inside, that is worth a professional set of eyes.

There is no shame in getting a second opinion before the busy season hits. A quick look now beats an emergency repair in the middle of a cold, rainy week.