Monsoon in India is always unpredictable, and the intensity of showers may vary greatly from place to place, with time. While the heavy rains might not create much havoc in a well planned housing society that has a good drainage system and well established monsoon measures, sometimes due to unprecedented showers, water stagnation and subsequent flooding might occur if the drains get blocked.

This might not have much of an effect on all residents, but the ones residing in the ground floor will feel the pinch as water may creep into their homes through cracks and faults, if any. Preparing your ground floor flat for the monsoon and fixing any blatant issues beforehand can help in this regard.

What You Can Do

• Check the walls and ceiling for leaks

Even minor cracks along the walls can bring about heavy leaks due to the monsoon rains. There are many home care and maintenance products that are available in the market and you can use these to fix minor leaks. If the cracks or fissures are major, opt for professional help and fix them well before the monsoon, because fixing a leak may be tedious at that time.

• Check the wiring and electrical equipment

Indefinite electrical shutdowns or power cuts are quite common during the rainy season. Additionally, water can seep into faulty electrical panels or equipments around the house and this may create an environment that’s conducive to electrical shocks and breakdowns. List out your electrical appliances and check their wiring. Cover all appliances properly and replace old wires with new quality wires while making sure that they have been proper earthed.

• Check all wooden doors and windows

Apartments in the ground floor tend to collect more moisture owing to the stagnant water bodies around the outside walls during the monsoon. Increased moisture may cause your wooden doors to swell, and this may ruin the decor of your house and jam the door temporarily as well. Chipping off the section of the door or window that gets stuck will solve the problem in this case. Also, the hinges and locks must be checked for proper operation.

• Cover the windows and open areas

The windows on the ground floor can be partially covered to guide the rain water away from the wall. This will also allow less damping, ensuring lesser chances of seepages. Also, open areas like balconies can be covered to restrict rain water from stagnating around the house, which may promote the growth of mosquitoes.

• Roll up your carpets and heavy curtains

Staying on the ground floor results in lesser cross ventilation, leading to more humidity inside. Remove all carpets and heavy curtains and pack them up before the monsoon starts. You can facilitate ventilation by using lighter curtains, as these will help you avoid a damp and humid environment.

• Maintain all wooden cupboards and drawers

High levels of moisture on the ground floor can often cause your wooden cupboards and drawers to get jammed. You can place camphor in your drawers and cupboards as this will effectively prevent them from getting stuck and causing any inconvenience. Chip off the swollen sections that you find in your cupboard doors.

Planning for the monsoon season well in advance and taking up these preventive measures can help you bring down the issues that ground floor residents normally face during the monsoon.

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