How to Prepare Your LA Home for El Niño This Winter

From clearing gutters to testing detectors and packing an emergency kit, these simple fall tasks help your home weather a stormy winter.

Autumn has finally arrived in Southern California, and after a sizzling summer it brings a welcome sigh of relief. Temperatures are cooling, the leaves are turning gold, red, and yellow, and there’s a little less sweating all around. Forecasters are predicting a very rainy winter with a super El Niño heading our way. Now is a good time to get our homes ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store.

Start with your landscaping. It’s the first thing that meets the eye, and after last year’s devastating fires, preparing our properties for the rainy season carries extra weight. Walk the exterior and trim overgrown foliage, branches, and hedges, particularly anything growing close to your walls. The fire department calls this creating defensible space, which simply means giving your home a little breathing room. Honestly, your house will probably appreciate the haircut.

Adjust your sprinklers for cooler weather. While you’re outside, check your automatic sprinkler system. As temperatures drop and the rainy season approaches, adjust the watering schedule to match. Your lawn may have been thirsty in July, but it doesn’t need a daily spa treatment in November.

Clear leaves from gutters and downspouts. Fall is a gorgeous season, and our neighborhoods are soon covered in shades of yellow, gold, and red. Those beautiful leaves also have a second career clogging your gutters. Before the rains arrive, make sure your gutters and downspouts are free of leaves, debris, and those prickly little balls that seem to be everywhere in our neighborhoods. A few minutes of maintenance now can keep water from finding its way into places where you definitely don’t want it.

Give your roof a closer look. After months of scorching summer sun, some roofing materials and other roof components may have dried out or developed cracks. It’s worth taking a careful look before the first major storm. If you have heating and cooling equipment on the roof, check the hoses and connections, too. Some may have turned brittle or cracked in the summer heat. It’s far better to discover a small problem on a sunny afternoon than during a downpour, and your future self will thank you.

"Better to discover a small problem on a sunny afternoon than during a downpour."

Check or replace your HVAC filters. Then focus on the air inside your home. If you live in an area affected by last year’s devastating wildfires, this is a good time to check or replace your HVAC filters. Clean filters improve indoor air quality and keep your heating system running more efficiently. It’s a small task, and you’ll notice the payoff as we spend more time indoors.

Test detectors before the first fire. As the weather cools, fireplaces become far more inviting. Before you light the first cozy fire of the season, make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly. Test them, check the batteries, and remember that detectors have a lifespan, too. If yours are more than 10 years old, replace them. A cozy fire is wonderful, but a smoky house is considerably less charming.

Seal gaps in your weather stripping. For better energy efficiency and lower utility bills, check the weatherstripping around your doors and windows. Look for gaps or worn or damaged seals, then replace the stripping or seal the gaps. The goal is to keep cold air out and warm air in, since we don’t necessarily need to heat the great outdoors.

Double-check your emergency kit. Given what we experienced with last year’s fires, this final reminder is especially important. If you had to leave your home suddenly, would you have everything you and your family need? Go through your supplies, medications, important documents, flashlights, batteries, water, nonperishable food, and anything else you might need in an emergency. Make sure everything is current, accessible, and ready to grab. The best time to discover your flashlight has no batteries is not while you’re standing in the dark.

Fall is the perfect time to tackle these small home maintenance tasks. A few hours of preparation now can save you headaches, expense, and a great deal of stress later. Enjoy the cooler weather and admire the fall colors, and while you’re at it, give your home a quick fall checkup. After all, winter is coming. It’s much nicer to welcome the rain when your gutters are clear, your roof is ready, your detectors work, and your emergency kit is packed.

If you have questions about your home or the Los Angeles market, I’d be glad to talk them through. Call me at (818) 903-5854, email me at [email protected], or visit blog.tammyjerome.com. Here’s to a cozy, well-prepared winter.