The rain has arrived: 3 quick early season tips

If the coming winter is anything like the last one, Puget Sound residents will want to do everything possible to prepare their homes for nasty weather.

Here are three basics to consider the next time you see a break in the skies:

Keep the wet out. Water is a major enemy of your house. Check each season for signs of water damage to your home. Flashing, the metal pieces used to seal the areas between roofs and chimneys and around doors and windows, are especially vulnerable to damage by wind or age. Loose flashing can let water seep under a roof or inside walls, which in turn can cause mold.

Get to the bottom of things. Look at the ground around your house. Check your home’s foundation for cracks or gaps that could let in water or varmints. As homes age, they often sink slightly below the surrounding ground. This settling lets water puddle against the foundation and possibly damage it. Your major summer landscaping project could alter the way water flows toward the house.

Look up. Chimneys take a great deal of weather abuse. Visually inspect them each year for signs of loose mortar or loose or missing bricks. Have the insides of chimneys cleaned every two to three years. Also if you see any for loose roof shingles or clogged gutters, now is the time to get them fixed and for more rain and wind.