From drought to downpours – How to protect your home as the rain returns
Households are being urged to check their properties for potential problems as rain finally returns following weeks of exceptionally hot, dry weather.
Property maintenance company Aspect is warning that the switch from dry to wet conditions can expose problems around the home – with its own data showing callouts for leaks, plumbing and drainage, roofing and guttering all rose during a similar change in weather at around the same time last year.
Building fabric callouts – including roofing and guttering issues – rose 16%, with leak detection up 14% and plumbing and drainage 9%. The findings are based on more than 3,000 callouts analysed through Chumley, Aspect’s AI-powered operating system.
Martin Mackie, plumbing and drainage expert at Aspect, said:
“After a summer of extreme heat, homes have been under prolonged stress. A switch to heavy rain can be when problems that have gone unnoticed during the dry weather suddenly make themselves known.
“The key is to get ahead of heavier rain. Look at your property as if a downpour were happening now: where will the water go, what could stop it draining away and where could it find a way in? A few simple checks could help you spot a problem before the weather does.”
Aspect recommends making the following checks as wetter weather returns:
Visually follow the route the rain will take
Stand outside and follow the rain’s route with your eyes: roof, gutter, downpipe, drain. From ground level, look for slipped or missing tiles, gutters clogged with leaves or moss, disconnected downpipes and drains covered with debris – anything that could stop water getting away from your home.
Check the drains outside your home
Look at the roadside gullies and storm drains near your property. If they’re covered with mud, litter or debris, water may struggle to drain away during a downpour and can quickly start pooling at the lowest points in the road.
Get the garden fork out
Weeks of hot, dry weather can leave lawns and flower beds hard and compacted. Spike hard ground with a garden fork to help rain soak into the soil, rather than running straight across the surface when a downpour arrives.
Check your windows’ hidden drainage holes
Some window frames have tiny ‘weep holes’ or drainage channels that allow water to escape. Check yours for obvious pollen, dirt or debris so water can drain as intended when rain hits the windows.
Take a ‘before the downpour’ photo
Photograph any existing cracks, ceiling stains, damp patches or marks around windows before heavier rain arrives. If anything changes afterwards, you’ll have a dated comparison and putting a ruler next to a crack gives you an easy way to see if it has grown.
Find your stopcock now
Do you know where your stopcock is? Find it now and make sure other adults in the house know too. If water starts appearing inside and you suspect a plumbing leak, you’ll be able to isolate the water supply quickly rather than hunting for it in an emergency.
Get valuables off the floor
If you have a basement, garage, lower-ground room or another area vulnerable to water getting in, move electrical items, valuables and sentimental belongings off the floor before heavier rain arrives.
Checking these areas now can help homeowners spot potential weak points early and take action before they develop into more disruptive or costly problems.
Aspect provides property maintenance and emergency response services to homes and businesses across London and the South East, covering all trades 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
