People living outside Arizona know only about the scorching heat during summer. However, Arizonians are aware that summer also doubles as our rainy season. The official monsoon season in Arizona starts in mid-June and can last until the end of September.
Everyone copes with monsoon season in Arizona differently. Some appreciate the break from the 100+ degree heat and love the rain while others really dislike the humidity and clouds and are wishing for sunshine.
Regardless which group you fall into, you need to be prepared for the season which brings dangerous storms and heavy rain.
Dust storms
Thunderstorms in Arizona can create high walls of dust which can roll over the Valley, covering the sky and turning day into night. These are extremely dangerous conditions for driving and also bring health problems to those that have pre-existing conditions such as Asthma.
Flash floods during monsoon season in Arizona
You might wonder how are flood possible in Phoenix which is in the middle of the desert. Well, they are. Even though we might not get too much rain throughout the year (approximately 12.5 inches), it seems that we are getting all of it, at the same time.
To make maters worse, the soil which is generally very dry, isn’t that good in absorbing all that moisture. When it starts to rain, and it rains heavily, the water usually collects around the surface and washes. Those places are the ones you need to avoid (and existing water as well) because water collects there and travels and great speed.
When buying insurance for your home, the insurance agent will offer you to cover your house against flood damage. Don’t easily dismiss this suggestion. Hear him/her out, reconsider, because homes can easily be flooded in Arizona and you can end up with substantial water damage that you will need to repair. Insurance can help you in this.
In order to avoid or minimize water damage that can happen to your home, we recommend that you:
- Seal all your doors and windows against water seepage – Wooden doors and windows that receive a lot of rain water can star rotting quickly, making them inefficient in protecting you both from high winds and moisture. And they can also be vulnerable to subterranean termites. So, tend to your doors and windows regularly and keep them in good shape
- Do a thorough inspection of your roof and see if any of the shingles are damages – Monsoon season in Arizona means that your roof can experience extreme weather fluctuations, going from scorching hot and dry to being soaked like never before. During a proper roof inspection, you might learn about the roof’s “weak points” that you can repair and get the roof in tip top shape. Make sure that you do an inspection ahead of the monsoon season in Arizona, so that you have plenty of time to do the repair (if necessary).
- Clean the downspouts and rain gutters of any debris – The goal of gutters is to protection your home’s foundation against water damage. If the gutter isn’t clean enough, the water won’t be drained and the soil will get saturated, causing foundation damage.
- Install gutter guards that will prevent them from clogging – If your home doesn’t yet have gutters, we highly recommend that you install them as soon as possible. You will be doing yourself a huge favor and lower the risk of possible water damage to your house’s foundation.
- Reseal your basement
We understand that despite all the preparation efforts you do, your home might still get hit by water damage. But at least you can do your part in minimizing it. Once the water damage occurs, you should contact us so we can help you repair it and restore your home to its previous state.
