What Steps Can Newtown Square Property Owners Take to Protect Their Homes from Storm Damage?

10/19/2021 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO of Media shares strategies for protecting homes in Newtown Square, PA, from severe weather, heavy rain, and storm damage.

As a local leader in storm damage restoration, SERVPRO of Media is aware that Newton Square, Media, and the greater Lancaster County area have faced extraordinary amounts of rainfall on several occasions over the last year. In August 2020, Media and Newton Square received more than five inches of rain from tropical storm Isaias. As recently as September 1, 2021, areas of the Mid-Atlantic, including Lancaster County, Media, and Newton Square received between 3.5 inches and 8 inches in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. Flooding and property damage were extensive. An average of 6 inches of water fell on this region of Pennsylvania in twenty-four hours or less.

Potential Catchment: Water on the Roof

The catchment is an area that serves to catch water, such as a roof. Potential catchment refers to the amount of water that a roof can catch and direct into the gutters and away from a structure. The potential catchment for a 2,000 square foot home is 2000 X 0.56 per inch of rain. When six inches of rain fell on roofs in Media, Newton Square, and the greater Philadelphia area, 6,720 gallons of water flowed over the shingles and into the gutter system.

Media, PA, and the surrounding communities average 43 inches of rain per year. In 2020 and then again in 2021, two months’ worth of rain fell in just one day. The result was massive flooding and property damage. By following the basic maintenance steps outlined below, the homeowner can prevent leaks and protect the home from rain throughout the year.

Tip #1: Maintain gutters and downspouts.

Begin by cleaning out gutters and downspouts twice a year. The ideal times are late spring and fall after the leaves have fallen. Gutters and downspouts free of debris are much less likely to clog and cause roof leaks leading to water damage.

Keep trees trimmed and keep branches away from the roof so that few, if any, leaves will land on the roof. Fallen leaves will end up in the gutters and downspouts. Intentional pruning by an experienced arborist can keep trees healthy and beautiful and the roof free of leaves.

Then, inspect the gutter slope. If needed, adjust the gutters to gently slope toward the downspout; the correct gutter slope will prevent water from pooling in the gutters. Downspouts should funnel water away from the foundation of the home. Excess water accumulating at the foundation is an invitation for the basement to flood.

Tip #2: Inspect window air conditioners for leaks.

Window AC units are growing in popularity in the Mid-Atlantic and northeast. Listed below is a checklist to guard against any water damage from a faulty installation or equipment malfunction.

• For wall-mounted units, make sure the size of the internal drainpipe is sufficiently large enough to allow for water to flow freely out of the unit.
• Maintain fresh caulking and weather stripping around the unit to ensure a water-tight seal.
• Ensure that the unit is sloped at a two-degree tilt so that rain will be directed off of the air conditioner.

Tip #3: Consider sealing the roof deck.

High winds can cause havoc with the shingles and underlayment on the roof. Water can then seep through the cracks in the sheeting, flooding the attic and walls. Sealing the roof deck can prevent up to 95% of this type of water intrusion.

A Glowing Review of SERVPRO of Media’s Storm Damage Restoration Services

A satisfied customer provided this glowing review of the storm and water damage restoration services they received from the SERVPRO of Media team: “We had a lot of water in our basement after the big snowmelt and rainstorm. SERVPRO had done good work for us on smaller issues in the past, and we called them immediately.  Even though it was Christmas Day, they had a team on-site within a few hours, and that team worked very hard well into the night to get the water pumped out and start the drying process.  The next day they came back to do the baseboard work.  The team had a positive attitude and did good work, and we were pleased with their responsiveness.”

When storm damage strikes, call on the team of professionals at SERVPRO of Media. They are on call 24/7 and can respond in an hour. When storm damage has resulted in a major water intrusion through the roof or gutters, a quick response can prevent secondary advanced water damage, which adds time and expense to the restoration project. Pre-qualify SERVPRO of Media today so that when a property damage disaster does strike, one call is all that is needed to have a team of professionals on the scene and ready to restore the damage.

For more information about Newtown Square, PA, storm damage restoration service, contact the SERVPRO of Media office by phone at (610) 566-5720 or by email at office@SERVPROmedia.com