Will you have time to take effective steps to reduce home water damage from a hurricane if you wait until the warning comes? Probably not. You'll be able to move your family to safety and perhaps safeguard some belongings. But if you live with the threat of hurricanes, long-term measures to stave off water and wind damage should not be left until the last minute.
"At Rytech Restoration, we understand the importance of proper preparation before a potential hurricane. By taking preventative measures such as sealing leaks, directing water away from the home, and installing a sump pump, you put yourself in the best possible position to avoid long-term water and wind damage. We want to remind our customers to start these projects now and not wait until the last minute."
Randy Arnold, Director of Training at Rytech Restoration
Here are five projects you can start now to reduce home water damage from a hurricane, while there's still time to do the job right.
- Seal leaks. Cracks and gaps in a home leak heating and air conditioning, but they also admit water during a wind-driven inundation due to a hurricane or tropical storm. Openings around windows and doors should be closed with weatherstripping. Large gaps such as openings where pipes or conduits enter the home can be sealed with polyurethane spray foam. Use household silicone caulk to seal small structural cracks along joints and elsewhere.
- Direct water away from the home. Check to see that the landscape grade diverts water away from the foundation. Make sure gutter downspouts are intact and convey water away from the house. Seal foundation walls with waterproof membranes. Seal any openings into the house 6 inches or less from ground level.
- Install a sump pump with battery backup in the basement floor and test it twice a year.
- Evaluate roof vents. Install operating shutters over gable vents. Replace standard roof vents with storm-rated vents that resist hurricane-force winds and water intrusion.
- Consider sealing the roof deck with a waterproof membrane that will shed water in the event the shingles or other roof covering are blown off in high winds.
For more ways to reduce home water damage from a hurricane, contact the water damage specialists at Rytech Restoration.

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