Monsoon Season Prep Checklist for West Valley Homeowners

Monsoon season in Arizona officially runs from mid-June through September, and if you have lived in the West Valley for even one summer, you know what that can mean: towering dust walls, sudden downpours, wind gusts strong enough to snap a palo verde, and power flickers in the middle of a 110° evening.

The good news is that most monsoon damage is easier to prevent than to fix. Here is a checklist to work through now, while the skies are still mostly clear, along with the kinds of professionals who can help.

Outside the house

Roof. Look for cracked or slipped tiles, lifted shingles and worn flashing around vents. Flat roofs and patio covers deserve a close look too, since water tends to pool there. A roofer can inspect and patch before the first heavy rain finds the weak spot for you.

Trees and large shrubs. Heavy canopies catch wind like a sail. Thinning trees, removing dead limbs and cutting back branches that hang over the roof, the pool or the power line are some of the best monsoon investments you can make.

Gutters, scuppers and drainage. Clear out leaves and debris. Make sure water flows away from the foundation, not toward it. If your yard floods every time it rains, a landscaper or drainage specialist can help regrade or add proper channels.

Loose items. Patio furniture, umbrellas, trampolines and trash cans become projectiles in a microburst. Decide now where each one goes when a storm warning pops up.

Pool. Dust storms and debris can throw pool chemistry off quickly. Know how you will clean up after a storm, or line up a pool service that can.

Inside and around the systems

HVAC. Monsoon humidity makes your air conditioner work harder, and dust clogs filters fast. Change filters more often during the season and have the system checked if it has not been serviced this year.

Power protection. Lightning and outages are common. Plug computers, TVs and other electronics into surge protectors. If you work from home, think about a battery backup for your modem and computer.

Electrical. Flickering lights, breakers that trip during storms or outlets that feel warm are worth a call to a licensed electrician before peak season.

Windows and doors. Check weatherstripping and seals. Fine monsoon dust gets through the smallest gaps.

Paperwork and planning

• Review your homeowners insurance. Know your deductible and what is covered for wind, hail and water damage. A quick conversation with your agent now beats discovering a gap after a storm.
• Take photos. A quick walk-through video of your home and belongings makes any future claim far easier.
• Build a small storm kit. Flashlights, batteries, water, a phone power bank and any medications your household needs.
• Know the driving rule. If you get caught in a dust storm on the road, pull aside, stay alive. And never drive through a flooded wash.

The pros worth knowing before you need them

Here is the part that matters most for business owners. When a storm hits, everyone calls at once. The homeowners who already know a trusted roofer, tree service, electrician, HVAC company or insurance agent get through the season with a lot less stress.

That is one reason referral networks like BNI exist. In a chapter with one member per profession, you get to know these people week after week. When a friend calls you the morning after a storm asking, "Do you know anyone who can look at my roof?", you have a real answer instead of a search result.

For the pros: this is your season to help

If you are one of the businesses on this list, monsoon season is a great time to:

• Share prevention tips with your customers and your referral partners.
• Tell your networking group exactly who you want to meet, such as "homeowners with large trees near the house" or "people who have not reviewed their insurance in over a year."
• Team up. Roofers, tree trimmers and insurance agents often serve the same homeowners on the same week. Introduce each other.

Get ready now

A couple of weekends of prep can save a lot of headaches between now and September. Work through the list, and make sure you know who to call when the sky turns brown.

Want to meet trusted local pros? Visit BNI A1 Networkers any Thursday at 7:00 AM at Brothers Family Restaurant in Peoria. Plan your visit.